Russia begins to massively dilute gasoline, causing Chinese cars to break down

The aggressor country of russia has begun to dilute gasoline on a massive scale amid a fuel crisis provoked by Ukraine's strikes on oil refineries. This has increased the number of breakdowns of Chinese cars.

The head of the Union of Car Service Centers of russia, Yuri Valko said this in a commentary to russian media.

He said that gasoline producers have started saving money because they cannot raise fuel prices.

"Many began to increase the octane number through some additives... This already happened in our country at the turn of the noughties and tens at some gas stations. You could fill up with fuel and immediately go to a car service. Now, unfortunately, we can return to the same stage," Valkov said.

Recently, several dozen Geely cars released in 2025 have failed due to engine failure. The company said the problem was the level of oxidants in gasoline. Chinese engines are not adapted to such fuel.

In an attempt to solve the problem, Geely Motors has begun flashing the cars' software. Valko believes that "downgrading" the software to burn lower quality gasoline, such as 92, will help. Otherwise, it is unlikely to be useful.

"But the only thing that will really change the situation is to strengthen control over the quality of gasoline by the responsible authorities," he added.

As the Ukrainian News agency earlier reported, on October 14, the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine (FIS) said that by the end of the year, russia may become dependent on gasoline imports by 60%.

As a reminder, in early October it became known that due to Ukraine's strikes on oil refineries, stock exchange prices for gasoline in the russian federation have soared by 40-50% since the beginning of the year.