E20 fuel ‘contaminated’ during monsoon? Gas station owners say some vehicles can get a water-rich mixture if… — report | Today’s news
Three gas station owners highlighted a new challenge with E20 fuel, which contains 20 percent ethanol and 80 percent gasoline. The fault lies in the properties of ethanol to absorb moisture.
Petrol pump owners told The Hindu that ethanol’s hygroscopic nature (ability to attract and retain water molecules from the surrounding environment) leads to contamination of their E20 stock during monsoons and in coastal areas as the existing underground storage tanks were designed for conventional petrol and not higher ethanol blends.
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“Underground tanks that store fuel often have some amount of water due to ingress during rains or humidity or condensation or from the fuel tanker that supplies petrol to the petrol pump,” an industry veteran told The Hindu.
The expert said: “Now, when the water content of the entire E20 stock in underground tanks exceeds 0.5%, ethanol binds with water due to its hygroscopic nature or affinity for water.”
“This leads to phase separation, where the mixture of water and ethanol settles at the bottom of the tank, while gasoline forms a separate layer at the top,” they explained.
The pump owners went on to explain that as the dispensing unit draws fuel from the bottom of the underground tank, some vehicles may end up receiving a water-rich mixture instead of E20.
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“As a result, the vehicles may not start or break down after a certain distance. We come to know about the contamination only when such customers come to us with complaints,” one of the owners told The Hindu.
They also said concerns have been raised in coastal areas where groundwater is present, which can further contaminate E20 supplies if seals on underground tanks are not properly in place.
One gas station owner reportedly expressed concern that underground tanks and pipes made of mild steel could become more susceptible to corrosion, as ethanol’s tendency to absorb water could contribute to fuel contamination.
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Some have reported that OMC replaced the gaskets and washers in the fuel metering units with neoprene rubber in preparation for E20.
Fact Check: “Ethanol moisture absorption is a known property”
The Federation of Automotive Dealers Associations (FADA) has previously investigated claims that E20 causes water contamination that is unique to ethanol gasoline.
He said the claim was “misleading”.
“Ethanol moisture absorption is a known property that is considered in fuel, storage and vehicle design standards. Indian E20 meets stringent BIS specifications,” FADA said.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting also said that it is common knowledge that water entering the fuel tank is undesirable for any fuel, ethanol or otherwise.
“Modern vehicles are equipped with design features and safety features that prevent water from entering the fuel tanks,” he said. ministry he said.
The Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) program is one of India’s key energy initiatives.
It aims to improve energy security, support farmers and reduce environmental impact by increasing the use of domestic renewable fuels.
Several concerns have been raised about E20 fuel after India mandated that all petrol pumps stock and supply it as standard fuel.
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas issued a detailed explanation of the program through a press release dated June 23, 2026, addressing various concerns.
Automakers also issued their own clarifications during a press conference held on July 4, 2026.
