10/08/2025
Understand Ethanol
1.Ethanol is hygroscopic:
•It attracts and absorbs water from the atmosphere.
•Water can dissolve completely into ethanol up to a saturation point — meaning no visible layer of water separates out (as it does with pure petrol). When pure Petrol is mixed with water it clearly floats above water without mixing.
•In EBMS(Ethanol Blended Petrol), especially E10 or lower, most of the absorbed water remains dissolved in the ethanol–petrol blend — invisible and hidden. This is the main cause of corrosion of internal parts and thus the vehicle manufacturers are worried with the warranty of the vehicles offered.
2.Phase separation may occur, but unpredictably in E5/E10/E15/E20
•Once water absorption exceeds ethanol’s solubility limit, phase separation occurs, which is a contaminatied mix of fuel good for nothing. Just a trigger is needed and it very is random because there is nothing to find out how much water that Ethanol has already attracted. By then, fuel quality is already compromised ruining all the fuel present in the Under Ground Tank of the Petrol pump. The Dealership has to bear this loss which is in lakhs. They already have sleepless nights during rains praying each days passes good.
3.In E20/E30 blends, phase separation can occur more easily.
4.Under Ground Storage Tanks belong to the Oil Companies and are generally in very ill-maintained condition and cleaning the Tanks has been overlooked for decades. The Tank chambers are water logged having no drainage system.
Precautions :
1.Search for vigilant & aware Dealerships in your neighborhood. You will surely find one.
2.Generally Good & Aware Dealers keep the Oil Companies on toes and are prone to such mishaps because total stock loss is on head of Dealership and is a huge financial loss for them.
3.Don't open your fuel tank lid while it is raining heavily. Even one drop of water can trigger phase separation.
4.Take precautions during pressure washing the vehicle and parking in open spaces.
5.New vehicle have sensors installed and a light will show up in the panel on detection of water in fuel tank, keep an eye on it.
Be vigilant be informed:
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Chandra Filling Station
