TL; DR
- SIAM’s July 28 letter linked E20 fuel contamination to rising fuel injector and pump failures.
- Chloride levels up to 500mg/kg were reported, far above the recommended 10ppm ceiling.
- SIAM withdrew the letter a day later, citing the need for further data authentication.
A letter from India’s auto industry body, Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), warning of contamination in E20 petrol, triggered a brief but sharp discussion between auto enthusiasts and community forums last week. It seemed to highlight the issues faced by regular day-to-day E20 fuel users. However, on August 4, 2026, the organization walked back its own claims.
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What Did SIAM’s Original Statement Say?
SIAM’s prior communication to the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas flagged elevated chloride and moisture levels in E20 fuel. It also linked them directly to a rise in failures of fuel injectors, fuel pumps, and EGR valves, parts that are sensitive to the presence of other elements in petrol.
Vehicle tank samples reportedly showed chloride contamination up to 500mg/kg, while the recommended ceiling is under 10ppm. Moisture readings in some samples exceeded 10,000mg/kg, while the acceptable limit is 3,000mg/kg. This could lead to phase separation, where the ethanol in the fuel, combined with the moisture content, separates itself from the blend and sits at the bottom of a vessel.
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What’s The Current Stance?
Yesterday, SIAM issued a fresh statement, essentially backtracking on its initial findings. The statement claims the media had selectively quoted the letter. Furthermore, the organization now claims that the cited figures require further verification through wider regional data collection.
| Detail | Figure Cited |
| Chloride in vehicle tank samples | Up to 500mg/kg |
| Recommended chloride ceiling | Under 10ppm |
| Moisture in some samples | Over 10,000mg/kg |
| Permissible moisture limit | 3,000mg/kg |
| Chloride contamination cases confirmed by the ministry | 2, nationwide |
| Daily water ingress checks (per ministry) | 8-12 times, 87,000+ outlets |
The Petroleum Ministry, responding separately, said only two chloride contamination cases had been confirmed nationwide. Sales at those outlets suspended immediately.
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I find the walk-back more revealing than the original statement. Citing internal field data one week and calling the same numbers unverified and wanting more testing the next suggests this was less a factual retraction and more a reaction to how the story landed publicly, corroborating the issues E20 consumers have been flagging for months.
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