64.5% of the Russian car fleet, or about 30.6 million vehicles, require Euro-4 fuel and higher. At the same time, 100% of cars under 10 years old (produced since 2016) comply with Euro-4 standards and above, and more than a third of the fleet (34.5%) are designed for Euro-5, according to the Telegram channel "Avtovoz" citing Sergey Tselikov, director of the analytical agency "Autostat".

However, the government has allowed the circulation of Euro-3 gasoline until the end of the year, which contains up to 150 mg/kg of sulfur — 15 times more than in modern Euro-5. This measure is aimed at stabilizing the domestic fuel market amidst a shortage caused by attacks on refineries and repair work.

Engines with direct injection, turbocharging, and small catalytic converters will be the first to suffer, writes "Avtovoz". When sulfur burns, acids are formed, which accelerate engine wear and destroy engine oil. Among the models least sensitive to fuel quality deterioration are the Toyota Rav4 (third generation), Renault Duster, Hyundai Creta (first generation), Nissan X-Trail, and Lada Niva with naturally aspirated engines.

Car services are already recording an increase in calls from drivers whose cars have started to malfunction. For prevention, specialists recommend increasing the frequency of oil changes, spark plug replacements, and injector cleaning, but these measures do not provide radical protection — engine overhaul can cost from 100 thousand to several million rubles.

Amidst the crisis, Russians are actively looking for alternatives: demand for used hybrids increased by 60% by June 2025, electric car sales grew by 83% in a month, and demand for cars with factory-installed CNG equipment increased 12-fold in June. Experts advise temporarily buying a car older than 15 years that can "digest" lower quality fuel. The peak of problems is predicted for early autumn.