New Delhi: The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) on Tuesday raised concerns over the presence of high chloride levels and moisture contamination in fuel, claiming these had led to a significant increase in failures of vehicle components such as fuel pumps, fuel injectors, and exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valves. The industry body urged the government to strengthen fuel quality checks, warning that such contamination could create a negative perception of E20 fuel among consumers.
However, later in the day, SIAM withdrew the letter it had sent to the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas on July 28, stating that the concerns were based on preliminary investigations into vehicle component failures.
In a clarification, SIAM said that some figures cited in the communication required further verification through the collection of detailed data from different regions of the country and wider consultations with its member automobile manufacturers.
The organisation also acknowledged that the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas had already introduced a 3 ppm limit for chloride and sulphur in ethanol blended into petrol as a precautionary measure. Additionally, SIAM noted that oil marketing companies have implemented stringent quality-control measures, including water-ingress testing 8 to 12 times daily at more than 87,000 fuel outlets across the country.
In its original letter, SIAM had stated that investigations into failed vehicle components indicated that corrosion and wear caused by elevated chloride levels in fuel were responsible for the damage. It recommended that the government formally include chloride limits in E20 fuel specifications and ensure stricter monitoring by oil marketing companies and retail fuel stations.
According to SIAM, chloride is highly corrosive to engine components and can cause both immediate and long-term damage if it accumulates within a vehicle’s fuel system. The body argued that clearly defined chloride standards and rigorous quality control would help prevent such failures and improve consumer confidence in E20 fuel.
Following its clarification, SIAM maintained that the current safeguards introduced by the government and fuel suppliers adequately address the automobile industry’s concerns.
