The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : A simple test to check petrol quality

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Saturday, Mar 19, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

A simple test to check petrol quality

By Our Staff Reporter

The Chief Rationing Officer, Vaniprasad, explaining the method to check purity of petroleum products at a petrol bunk in Secunderabad on Friday. Photo: K. Ramesh Babu

HYDERABAD, MARCH 18. Are you aware that a simple test using a filter paper is enough to check the purity of the petrol? That the quantity of petrol delivered by the dispensing machine can be verified with the calibrated measure available in every bunk?

Many consumers complain about the quality and quantity of petroleum products, but are not aware of the simple tests which they can demand from every dealer to ensure value for their money, said the Chief Rationing Officer, Vani Prasad, here on Friday.

She led a team of Civil Supplies officials, voluntary consumer organisations and oil company officers who inspected various petrol bunks in the city for a quality and quantity check of petroleum products as part of the World Consumer Week celebrations.

Demonstration

After a demonstration was given to test the purity of petrol and diesel at Margadarsi Service Centre, Secunderabad, she said that one simple test for purity was two drops of petrol when put on a filter paper should evaporate without leaving a patch or stain.

"Every petrol bunk has filter papers and calibrated measures can be supplied by the Legal Metrology Department. Consumers can demand them and complain to the Civil Supplies or Legal Metrology Department for any discrepancy," consumer activists--Rajam Ganeshan and Om Prakash-- said.

Another simple test to check the density of petrol is through hydrometer and thermometer. The density at a given temperature should be within the range of standard levels chart given by oil companies. A consumer can always ask for density check and any variation beyond permitted levels means it is adulterated, they explained.

Permissible limits

Another bunk at Kavadiguda also passed the tests conducted by the consumer activists satisfactorily. But the petrol bunk dealer took some time to produce filter papers stacked away in some corner. It only showed consumers rarely asked for them. A difference below 15 ml between the quantity of petrol/diesel from the dispensing machine and the five-litre calibrated measure can is permissible, according to HPCL officials.

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