Fuel Scarcity: 5 Ways Motorists Can Spot Adulterated Fuel In Black Market

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Nigerians are again enduring the anguish of scarcity of petroleum products, especially the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) popularly known as petrol which is most commonly used by motorists as well as business owners, and consequently the infiltration of adulterated fuel in the black Market.

Unending queues have formed at filling stations across the nation over the past few weeks. Firstly, owing to the proliferation of adulterated fuel (petrol with methanol quantity above Nigeria’s specification) in the country whose importation was confirmed by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority.

Secondly, vessels conveying petroleum products that are supposedly meant to reduce the effect of the scarcity, according to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) may be delayed due to the Russia-Ukraine crisis.

It is however no longer news that whenever there is fuel scarcity, black market fuel sellers throng out in their numbers to exploit the situation selling petrol, some adulterated, to the teeming crowd waiting on queues at exorbitant prices.

Petrol becomes adulterated when its quality has been weakened by mixing inferior chemicals into them. In the case of the Nigerian black market fuel sellers, adulteration is said to mainly involve adding kerosene or diesel to the petrol to increase its quantity in a bid to make an undue profit.

However, in a bid to ensure that you don’t put your engine at risk should you patronise the black market for fuel, EKO HOT BLOG has curated five ways you might be able to spot adulterated petrol or even check if you’ve bought one already.

Here Are 5 Ways to Spot Adulterated fuel In Black Market

Check Petrol Colour
Petrol should appear clear and bright, so if it is looking cloudy or dark, this may mean that it has been contaminated. If it is looking cloudy, there could be water in the fuel. Look out for this.
Smell The Petrol
Aside from the colours, be keen on the odour of your petrol. If it smells bad, then it’s a dirty fuel. Also, check the fuel with your finger; a normal fuel, like spirit, would dry of your skin fast, but dirty fuel doesn’t.
Vehicle & Engine Performance
The discovery of adulterated fuel can also be noticed when performance changes from the equipment using the supplied fuel. Signs like loss of acceleration and RPM, involuntary or volatile changes in speed, and sputtering are indications that your engine may be running on adulterated petrol.
Subject The Petrol To The Paper Test
Put a few drops of petrol on a paper. If the petrol is pure, it will dry off without leaving any stain. If the petrol is contaminated, it will leave some stains on the paper.
Check For Residue In Your Fuel Tank
You can also check your fuel tank for any sludge build-up. Residue at the bottom of the fuel you bought is a clear sign that your fuel is not 100 per cent.