Fact Check: Post Claiming Fuel Tank can Explode due to Increase in the Temperature is Fake

A post has been doing round on social media and messaging platform claiming that Indian Oil Limited has issued a warning to the following effect, “Due to increase in temperature please don’t fill petrol to the maximum limit of the tank; it will cause an explosion in the fuel tank. If you want petrol, fill half tank and leave the rest for air.”

We at News Sense received several requests to verify the authenticity of the information. Accordingly we started our investigation. Following the procedure we approached Indian Oil and spoke to Mr. Tapan Kumar Pradhan, Manager, Corporate Communication, Indian Oil, Eastern Region Office, Indian Oil Limited.

Mr. Pradhan rebutted the claim saying “We are disowning the facts mentioned in the fake post. It is perfectly safe to fill the fuel in vehicles up to the full limit, as specified by the automobile manufacturer irrespective of winter or summer”.

He also added that the post has been doing round since many years and they have already issued a disclaimer to make people aware about the misleading information.

Furthermore if we look at the logo, it is in Bengali. Though Indian Oil Limited uses only two logos one in Hindi and other one in English.

So, with our investigation we can confirm that the post which has been doing round is misleading and the message conveyed is not correct.

Claim: Fuel Tank of your car may explode due to increase in the temperature.

Conclusion: It is perfectly safe to fill the fuel in vehicles up to the full limit, as specified by the automobile manufacturer irrespective of winter or summer.

NB: Don’t share or forward any misleading information on your social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter, and WhatsApp, by doing so you are also becoming someone, who is creating panic and confusion among the larger mass and this is a punishable offense.