A lawyer explained whether Russians can claim damages for car breakdowns due to Euro-3 gasoline.

      Recall that it was previously reported that the authorities are considering the possibility of temporarily allowing the release of fuel with certain Euro-3 level indicators to stabilize the situation in the oil products market. Experts have already warned that such fuel may accelerate the wear of the engine, catalyst, and fuel system of modern cars. According to Yan Chebotarev, in the event of a car breakdown, it is essential to determine the real cause first. "It is necessary to understand whether the low quality of fuel was indeed the cause of the malfunction or if it is a matter of violating the vehicle maintenance regulations, wear of parts, or other factors," noted the lawyer. If it is proven that the problems arose specifically after using fuel of a lower environmental class, it is unlikely that damages can be recovered. Chebotarev explained that for car owners, the main document remains the vehicle's operating manual. If the manufacturer recommends using fuel of a certain standard, and the driver consciously fills the car with different gasoline, the responsibility for the consequences falls on them. "If a car runs on a specific type of fuel, it is not recommended to fill it with another fuel. If the driver does so, they take on all the risks," emphasized the interviewee. According to the lawyer, each car owner will have to independently assess the possible consequences. If the manufacturer allows the use of Euro-3 standard fuel, there should be no problems. However, if the car is designed exclusively for Euro-5, using a lower standard may lead to breakdowns. "If the car can handle Euro-3 fuel, let it run. If the manufacturer does not recommend it, then for some time, one will have to use public transport. And if the driver still decides to drive, they take on the risks of possible breakdowns," believes Chebotarev. The lawyer noted that current legislation does not provide for the possibility of shifting such risks onto fuel manufacturers or the state. "We are all unhappy that we have some kind of commodity shortage. But shifting these risks onto the fuel manufacturer or the budget of the Russian Federation will not work. We do not have such laws," said Yan Chebotarev. According to the lawyer, the situation with fuel is not much different from the shortage of any other goods. "For example, we may have fewer Italian wines, French perfumes, or Euro-5 standard fuel. If a person wants to use their car, they must look for suitable fuel for it. Either change the car to a simpler one or put the new car in the garage until better times," believes Chebotarev. As an example, the lawyer mentioned that one of his cars was produced back in 1986 and can operate without any particular problems even on gasoline of a lower environmental class. "It ran on 70-octane gasoline during the Soviet era and can easily handle either Euro-3 or Euro-5," said the interviewee. However, the situation is different with more modern cars. "I also have a newer car. The manual states that Euro-4 standard fuel is recommended for it. If I cannot find suitable fuel, I simply will not drive it for some time," noted Chebotarev. According to the lawyer, it is the car manufacturer that determines the fuel requirements, and therefore the final decision always rests with the vehicle owner. If the driver consciously uses gasoline of a lower standard, the possible consequences for the engine and fuel system become their personal risk. Recall that earlier, automotive industry specialists warned that gasoline with increased sulfur content could accelerate the aging of engine oil, cause carbon buildup, reduce the catalyst's lifespan, and lead to expensive engine repairs. Modern cars produced after 2010-2015 are considered particularly sensitive to fuel quality.