BPCL Rejects Claims Linking Ants to E20 Petrol

Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) has officially dismissed claims circulating on social media that E20 petrol (petrol blended with 20% ethanol) attracts ants to vehicle fuel filler caps, calling the viral assertions completely baseless and devoid of scientific truth. The clarification aims to reassure Indian motorists worried by widely shared videos.

The public sector oil marketing company issued a detailed clarification to counter online rumors suggesting that because ethanol is derived from sugarcane molasses or grain fermentation, its inherent sweetness or odor causes swarms of ants to gather around car and bike fuel tanks.

BPCL dismantled the sugar-adulteration and insect-attraction claims using specific processing and chemical facts:

• Zero Residual Sugars: BPCL explained that fuel-grade ethanol undergoes strict industrial fermentation and distillation setups. The manufacturing refinement completely eliminates all trace sugars from the final chemical product, leaving absolutely no sweetness or glucose residue to function as food for insects.
• Built-in Insect Repellents: To make the fuel industrial-grade, the processed ethanol is mixed with denaturants. These specific chemical additives emit an acrid profile that natively acts as a powerful deterrent and repellent to ants and other insects rather than an attractant.
• Hydrocarbon Odor Dominance: The company pushed back against the idea that an organic ethanol scent masks the fuel tank, confirming that even after a 20% ethanol blend is introduced, the heavy hydrocarbon odor of pure petrol completely dominates the smell profile.
• Suppressed Vapor Output: Lab testing data shows that E20 ethanol-blended petrol actually exhibits lower fuel vapor formation and lower evaporation rates at normal temperatures compared to standard conventional petrol. Because less vapor leaks past a sealed filler cap, there is no physical or olfactory trail for insects to track.

BPCL has urged vehicle owners and the public to rely on verified technical assessments instead of unverified social media videos, reaffirming that any localized ant clusters on a vehicle are driven by external environmental factors, such as parked location or spilled food residue, and carry zero connection to the chemistry of E20 fuel.

What Is E20 Petrol?

E20 is petrol blended with 20% ethanol, a biofuel produced largely from sugarcane and grain. India has been rolling out E20 as part of its ethanol blending programme, which is aimed at cutting crude oil imports, supporting farmers and lowering vehicular emissions. As the fuel becomes more widely available at pumps, it has also become a magnet for online misinformation, including the ant claim that BPCL has now rejected.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does E20 petrol attract ants?

No. According to BPCL, the claim that E20 petrol attracts ants is baseless. Fuel-grade ethanol contains no residual sugar, includes denaturants that repel insects, and is dominated by petrol’s hydrocarbon odour. The company says any ants near a vehicle are due to environmental factors like parking spot or food spills, not the fuel.

What is E20 petrol?

E20 petrol is conventional petrol blended with 20% ethanol. It is part of India’s ethanol blending programme, which seeks to reduce dependence on imported crude oil, support the farm sector and cut emissions. Ethanol used in fuel is industrially processed so that no sugar remains in the final product.

Is E20 petrol safe for my vehicle?

E20 is approved for use in India and is being supplied through public sector oil companies. Many newer vehicles are designed to run on higher ethanol blends, while compatibility can vary for older models, so owners should check their manufacturer’s guidance. The viral ant claim does not reflect any safety issue with the fuel itself.