Ethanol mixed petrol meets strong opposition in India

Despite strong public opposition, ethanol-mixed petrol is still being sold in Indian cities. Petrol pump owners agony is multiplied by the fact that ethanol is never properly mixed in petrol tankers. As such two-wheeler owners have been complaining that ethanol mixed petrol was damaging rubber parts of the carburettor.
The improper mixing of ethanol does not only burn rubber parts of the carburettor but also leads to frequent break-down of the vehicle.

HSD and Petro Dealers Association president Om Shanker Mishra remarked that generally petrol was filled in all four chambers of a tanker and later required quantity of ethanol (5 %) was poured from the top.
"Though oil companies have developed new methods of mixing ethanol in the petrol but the affect is yet not visible," added Mishra. He opined that a proper method of mixing ethanol in petrol was the only solution to the matter. According to him the ethanol poured from tanker's top floats on the upper layer whereas the petrol down below in least affected.

Though ethanol mixed petrol does not have much affect on four-wheelers the majority of complaints have come from scooter owners. Rohit Mehra of Arya Nagar had to get his scooter's carburettor repaired thrice in the last six months.
Mehra told, "for the first four months even the mechanic failed to understand the reason behind the problem." He added, "it was only when I read about ethanol mixed petrol that the problem came to my knowledge."
Petrol pump owners are irked by frequent complaints. General secretary of HSD and Petro Dealers Association Sunil Garg remarked "regular complaints have been forwarded to various oil companies." He added that a meeting was held by the association this year and a unanimous decision to apprise various oil companies about the issue.