Back to the Euro: why Russia returned to gasoline of previous standards

The Russian government has temporarily allowed the production and sale of gasoline of environmental classes K2–K4, explaining the decision to avoid fuel shortages in the domestic market. For most motorists, the changes will remain almost invisible, but experts recommend that owners of modern cars pay more attention to the choice of fuel. What do the ecological classes of gasoline mean, why did the authorities go to soften the requirements and which cars are most sensitive to fuel with a high sulfur content — in the Izvestia material.

Temporary mitigation of gasoline quality requirements

The Russian government has extended until July 1, 2027 the possibility of producing, importing, putting into circulation and circulating gasoline of environmental classes K2, K3 and K4, conforming to Euro-2, Euro-3 and Euro-4 standards. According to the Ministry of Energy, the decision is temporary and is aimed at ensuring a stable supply of fuel to the domestic market.

The ministry explained that the measure would avoid gasoline shortages in the context of restructuring logistics chains, technological constraints and the need to maintain the smooth operation of the fuel market. According to the agency, the easing will help direct additional volumes of fuel to the domestic market, maintain the stability of fuel supply and minimize the risks of supply disruptions.

At the same time, the government canceled a previously valid decree that allowed the sale of K5 ecological class gasoline with a high sulfur content until the end of 2026. Instead, the regulator has again allowed the circulation of fuels of lower environmental classes.

At the same time, the Ministry of Energy emphasizes that the long-term state policy in the field of environmental requirements for motor fuels remains unchanged. The Agency considers the decision solely as a temporary anti-crisis measure designed to ensure a balance between environmental standards, fuel availability and the stability of its supply.

In order to inform consumers at gas stations, it will be mandatory to indicate the ecological class of gasoline sold. According to the Ministry, this information should be presented in a clear and accessible form.

How are the authorities stabilizing the situation in the fuel market

The decision to temporarily ease environmental requirements was part of a package of measures to stabilize the Russian fuel market, which has faced disruptions in the supply of gasoline and diesel fuel in recent months. The authorities explain the decisions taken by the need to increase the amount of fuel available for domestic consumption and reduce the risks of shortages.

Back in early July, the government allowed a number of Russian oil refineries to put gasoline in circulation that meets the Euro-3 environmental standard by the end of 2026. The Ministry of Energy explained that we are talking about gasoline with a mass fraction of sulfur of no more than 150 mg per kg and diesel fuel with a sulfur content of up to 350 mg per kg. As noted by Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, this measure is purely temporary and is designed to provide additional supply on the domestic market.

At the same time, certain requirements for fuel production were adjusted. In early July, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law that provides for the possibility of mixing straight-run gasoline with other components to produce high-octane gasoline. According to the government, this will increase the production of finished fuel without building new production facilities and increase the reliability of supply to the domestic market.

The need to take such measures arose against the background of disruptions in fuel supplies, which began to be recorded in the Russian regions since the end of May. In June and July, full or partial limits on gasoline sales were introduced in more than 80 regions of the country. Later, as government measures were implemented, some regions gradually began to abandon restrictions.

Against this background, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak noted that the measures being taken are already yielding results: the number of gas stations operating is increasing, queues are decreasing and restrictions on fuel sales are gradually being lifted. He also instructed to continue work on saturating the domestic market with petroleum products, price control and ensuring uninterrupted supplies to consumers.

What do the ecological classes of gasoline mean?

The environmental classes of motor fuel determine the requirements for its composition and, above all, for the content of sulfur and other components that affect the amount of harmful emissions from a car. The higher the environmental class, the more stringent the requirements are for the quality of gasoline, and the lower the negative impact of transport on the environment. In addition, higher-quality fuel increases the service life of modern engines, catalytic converters and other elements of the exhaust gas purification system.

The European environmental standards Euro, which began to be introduced in the EU countries in the 1990s, became the basis for modern requirements. They set the maximum permissible emissions of nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and particulate matter for vehicles, as well as define the requirements for the quality of fuel required to comply with these standards.

As standards became stricter, the maximum allowable sulfur content in gasoline also decreased. The Euro-2 standard, introduced in 1996, allows its availability up to 500 mg per kg, Euro-3 (2000) — up to 150 mg per kg, Euro-4 (2005) — up to 50 mg per kg, and the current Euro-5 standard in most European countries (2009) — no more than 10 mg per kg . Reducing the sulfur concentration can significantly reduce emissions of harmful compounds into the atmosphere and ensure the correct operation of modern exhaust gas neutralization systems.

In Russia, these requirements are met by the environmental fuel classes K2, K3, K4 and K5, fixed by the technical regulations of the Customs Union TR CU 013/2011 "On requirements for automotive and aviation gasoline, diesel and marine fuels, jet fuel and fuel oil." It is this document that sets the mandatory quality standards for fuel traded in the countries of the Eurasian Economic Union.

Today, the basic and mandatory for permanent circulation in the Russian market is gasoline of ecological class K5, designed for modern cars equipped with catalytic converters and other exhaust emission reduction systems. The use of fuels of lower environmental classes is allowed only in exceptional cases — according to special decisions of the government, which are taken as a temporary anti-crisis measure to ensure stable supply to the domestic market.

Which cars are most sensitive to fuel quality

The impact of gasoline of lower environmental classes largely depends on the design of the car and the requirements that the manufacturer imposes on fuel quality. Modern cars equipped with sophisticated exhaust gas injection and purification systems are much more sensitive to increased levels of sulfur and other impurities than cars of previous generations.

This is especially true for vehicles with turbocharged engines and direct fuel injection systems, including engines from the TSI, GDI, D-4S and SkyActiv-G families. Many modern crossovers belong to this category, including those from Chinese manufacturers using high-precision fuel systems. For such vehicles, long-term operation on fuel of a lower environmental class can accelerate the contamination of injectors, reduce the efficiency of the catalytic converter and shorten the service life of oxygen sensors. Although a single refueling will not lead to serious consequences, the systematic use of gasoline with a high sulfur content can increase the risk of expensive repairs.

At the same time, for cars of earlier generations, the negative impact is usually less critical. We are talking about naturally aspirated cars produced mainly before 2010, as well as models originally designed to meet Euro-2 environmental standards or earlier requirements. Their engines and fuel systems are less sensitive to sulfur content, and the design often does not provide for complex and expensive exhaust gas purification systems.

Experts note that this is why the risk of using gasoline of environmental classes K2—K4 varies for different categories of cars. If for modern models, compliance with fuel quality requirements directly affects the life of the engine and exhaust gas neutralization system elements, then for a significant part of the older fleet, the use of such gasoline is not a significant deviation from the conditions under which these cars were designed.

How to reduce risks when using a lower environmental class fuel

Experts note that the temporary return to circulation of gasoline of environmental classes K2—K4 in itself does not mean an increased risk to the car. It is not a single refueling that is crucial, but the long-term operation of the engine with fuel with a higher sulfur content.

Experts advise car owners to pay attention not only to the octane number of gasoline, but also to its environmental class. After the new requirements come into force, gas stations are required to post this information in an accessible form, which allows drivers to consciously choose fuel depending on the recommendations of the car manufacturer.

Another precautionary measure is refueling at large network gas stations, where fuel quality is monitored in accordance with the current requirements of technical regulations. According to experts, it is not legally sold gasoline of a lower environmental class that poses a much greater danger to the engine, but counterfeit or non-compliant fuel, the origin of which cannot be confirmed.

Owners of modern cars with turbocharged engines and direct injection systems, if they have a choice, should prefer gasoline of environmental classes K4 or K5. Using fuel that meets the manufacturer's requirements reduces the load on the fuel equipment, catalytic converter and exhaust gas purification system.

When regularly operating a car on gasoline with a higher sulfur content, experts also advise to pay more attention to maintenance. In particular, it may be justified to shorten the engine oil change interval and more closely monitor the condition of the engine and exhaust system. The reason for an unplanned diagnosis should be an increase in fuel consumption, a decrease in engine power, unstable operation of the power unit, or the appearance of an engine malfunction indication on the dashboard.

In addition, experts do not recommend using untested additives to independently change the characteristics of gasoline. Such means do not replace fuel of the required quality and in some cases can negatively affect the operation of the engine and fuel system.