Mangaluru: Fuel stations across the city are reporting an increase in complaints of engine damage allegedly linked to ethanol-blended E20 petrol, particularly during the ongoing monsoon. According to fuel dealers and service station operators, water entering fuel tanks through faulty caps or rain exposure is causing operational issues, especially in older vehicles, as ethanol readily mixes with water.
Water contamination raises engine concerns
Fuel bunk operators said E20 petrol, which contains 80 per cent petrol and 20 per cent ethanol, has been in full circulation in the city for nearly one-and-a-half years.
According to Bharath of Mangalore Service Station, even a small quantity of water entering the fuel tank can create problems. He explained that once water enters the tank, ethanol and petrol separate, allowing water to reach the engine and affect its functioning.
He said motorists in coastal areas should be particularly cautious during the rainy season, as heavy rainfall increases the chances of water entering fuel tanks. Bharath added that his service station had recently received around two complaints involving older autorickshaws where loose or damaged fuel caps resulted in engine breakdowns.
Older vehicles more vulnerable
Junifer Alvares, president of the Dakshina Kannada and Udupi Petroleum Dealers Association, advised vehicle owners to ensure that no water enters their fuel tanks. He said even a single drop of water could adversely affect engine performance when mixed with ethanol-blended fuel.
State secretary of the Karnataka State Federation of Petroleum Dealers Anand Karnad said such issues are reported every monsoon. He explained that water particles can accumulate inside fuel tanks due to condensation and eventually mix with petrol, resulting in engine-related problems.
Shivanand Prabhu of Prabhu Service Station on Balmatta Road said older vehicles equipped with carburettor systems are more susceptible to such issues. According to him, vehicles that are around 10 to 15 years old are more likely to experience engine trouble when contaminated fuel enters the system.
He noted that while water in conventional petrol would previously settle at the bottom of the fuel tank and could be removed, ethanol blends with water to form a sludge-like substance, making contamination more difficult to detect and eliminate.
Fuel stations follow monitoring procedures
Anand Karnad said fuel stations follow strict procedures to ensure underground storage tanks remain free of water contamination. These include daily inspections using automated tank gauge systems and water-detection paste to identify the presence of water in storage tanks.
However, he acknowledged that during periods of flooding or extremely heavy rainfall, completely preventing water ingress becomes challenging. While dealers take maximum precautions at fuel stations, he said contamination can also occur after refuelling if rainwater enters a vehicle’s fuel tank through defective fuel caps or other openings.
The manager of MA Krishna Nayak & Co. in Kodialbail also said the majority of recent complaints had come from owners of older vehicles after water entered their fuel tanks during the rainy season.
Centre dismisses misinformation on E20 fuel
Meanwhile, the Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has dismissed several claims circulating on social media regarding ethanol-blended petrol. The ministry stated that the Ethanol Blending Programme (EBP) is scientifically validated, thoroughly tested and continuously monitored to ensure consumer safety and compatibility with approved vehicles.
The ministry also cautioned that certain individuals were spreading unverified information and recirculating old photographs and videos to create unnecessary concern among the public about ethanol-blended fuel.
Fuel dealers have advised motorists to ensure that fuel caps are properly sealed, avoid exposing fuel tanks to rainwater and maintain their vehicles regularly, particularly during the monsoon, to minimise the risk of contamination and engine damage.