Withdrawn SIAM letter flags chloride and moisture risks in E20 fuel

The Story in Brief

The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers withdrew a letter to the petroleum ministry after warning that chloride and moisture had appeared in some E20 fuel samples. The body linked the issue to the supply chain, not the ethanol blend itself, and said its readings required wider verification. SIAM later said existing measures by oil companies and the ministry meet the automobile industry’s needs.

The letter described possible corrosion in fuel injectors, pumps and exhaust components, along with stalling after refuelling if water causes ethanol and petrol to separate. The government says E20 is safe, does not damage engines and causes only a small mileage decline. Petrol dealers have sought testing procedures and equipment beyond their current checks for density and water paste.

The Indian Opinion

The loudest claims are too simple. Calling E20 universally harmful ignores the government’s position and SIAM’s withdrawal, while dismissing every complaint overlooks the reported corrosion mechanism and dealers’ limited testing tools. The immediate issue is fuel quality control, not just the blend’s headline percentage. Wider sampling, a clear chloride limit and outlet-level testing would settle the dispute better than political protests or industry assurances. Will future tests publish chloride and moisture readings across enough pumps to show how common the problem is?

Source: hindustantimes.com

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