FAQs

Thanks for the interest shown by you in opening a Petrol Pump (Retail Outlet) Dealership of IndianOil.

We would like to bring to your notice that we set up Retail Outlets at a given location based on the feasibility study conducted by our field team. If the location is found feasible and included in our Marketing Plan, then an advertisement is published in the newspapers inviting offers from interested persons. An interested person is required to submit application along with prescribed documents and the selection is done as per extant guidelines for selection of retail outlet dealers.

In this regard, the brochure containing guidelines for selection of Dealers for Regular and Rural Retail Outlets is also hosted on our corporate website www.iocl.com

IndianOil for You > IndianOil for Channel Partners > RO KSK dealerships > Guidelines On selection of Dealers for Regular & Rural Retail Outlets Alternatively you can also get in touch with our Retail Divisional Office/Field Officer concerned whose contact details are available at IndianOil Retail Outlets (Petrol Pumps) in your area.

Network expansion has been an important business activity of IndianOil for increasing the reach of petroleum products, including LPG, across the country. IndianOil is engaged in appointing new LPG Distributors and providing accessibility of LPG to households as a continuous business process.

Public Sector Oil Companies are not vested with the authority to allot any Public LPG Distributorship to an individual / non-individual directly, whether on compassionate grounds or otherwise.

Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs, that is, IndianOil, HPC and BPC) plan to set up LPG Distributors at a given location based on the feasibility study conducted by our field team. If the location is found feasible and included in our Marketing Plan, then an advertisement is published in the newspapers jointly by the OMCs inviting applications from eligible candidates for appointment of LPG Distributors. Interested eligible persons are required to submit the application and the selection is done as per extant guidelines for selection of LPG Distributors. Interested persons can apply for selection of LPG distributorship for a location in response to the advertisement as and when released, if eligible. LPG distributorship is allotted by selection process through draw of lots out of all eligible applicants.

Detailed guidelines on eligibility, infrastructure requirements of land for LPG godown / LPG godown, approach road for godown, showroom, infrastructure for home delivery of cylinders etc., along with the details of selection process are given at www.lpgvitarakchayan.in

The applicants for Sheheri, Rurban & Gramin category of Distributor locations need to apply online for which a portal – ‘LPG Vitrak Chayan’ with URL www.lpgvitarakchayan.in has been created by the Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs). All candidates applying online have to register themselves on the website, fill in the details online and deposit the requisite application fee to the OMCs through online payment. The application should be submitted before the last date and time stipulated in the advertisement. The applicant need not submit / upload any certificate or undertaking at the time of application. Only a soft copy of his/her photograph and soft copy of signature need be uploaded.

For applying for Durgam Kshetriya Vitrak (DKV) locations, the application process is at present on manual mode, i.e., physical submission of filled in application at our Area Offices, the contact details of which are given in the advertisement.

For any query, you can get in touch with our Indane Area Offices concerned whose contact details are available on the website www.iocl.com or the website https://indane.co.in/new_offices.php

IndianOil not only imports crude oil, LPG and LNG, but also imports and exports other petroleum products through tendering procedure from suppliers / parties registered on its approved mailing list(s).

To register on IndianOil's approved mailing list(s) as a direct supplier or buyer for import or export of crude oil, LPG, LNG and petroleum products, please visit IndianOil for Suppliers section of our website (www.iocl.com) for registration as Vendor.

It is not compulsory to buy hot plate from the Distributors. A customer can buy BIS approved Stove from any source of his choice. However Distributors are advised to keep high thermal efficiency i.e. fuel saving and better quality LPG Stoves for offering to existing and prospective customers. For availing of a LPG connection, a customer should be in possession of an ISI mark hotplate and rubber tube.

Incase you have an ISI mark hotplate available with you, the distributor shall check it at your premises against a nominal payment (as per the table given above) The distributor has to complete such an inspection within 7 days from the date of such a payment by the customer.

For any assistance pertaining to supply of Indane supplies your distributor is always at your service to help you, however if you desire you may contact our Customer Service Cell or our Officer. At Indane Showroom name and telephone number of our officer is displayed.

Safety audit of the domestic installations should be carried out once in every five years. Your Indane distributor's trained mechanic carries out such an audit at your place. You need to pay nominal charges to your distributor for which a receipt will also be issued to you. The mechanic carries an identity card with him confirming his identity as an authorized person from your distributor for carrying out such an inspection. case of doubt, you may ask him to identify himself.

In case you require bulk LPG for your industrial/ commercial uses, you may contact the nearest Indane Area Office for necessary assistance.

Indane Distributors are offering value added services to their customers by way of offering products / services at highly competitive prices under one roof such as high Thermal efficient LPG Stoves, Higher safety longer life Suraksha LPG Hose, Fire Retardant Suraksha Kitchen Aprons, BIS approved Portable Fire Extinguishers for homes, e booking of Railway tickets Flame type LPG Gas lighters, domestic cylinder trolleys etc. Few more value added products / services for the benefit of the customers are being planned.

Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) is a mixture of hydrocarbons, which are in gaseous state at ambient temperature and pressure but these are liquefied under pressure for easy storage, handling and transportation in pressurized vessels. It is obtained through Crude Oil refining or from Natural Gas through fractionation. Butane and Propane are the main constituent hydrocarbon's in LPG. Others present in traces or small fractions are Iso-butane, butylene, n-butane, propylene etc. LPG is highly inflammable. LPG is odourless , color less and is heavier than air. Ehtyle Mercaptan is added as odouriser for detection of any leak. LPG as per IS: 4576 is being marketed in India.

If the rate of withdrawal of LPG is higher than the designed rate, the cylinder starts sweating and you would see condensation on the body of the cylinders. If the cylinders in the manifold are regularly sweating, it is advisable to check your LPG consumption rate vis-Ã -vis the Cylinder manifold design. Consult your nearest Indane Area Manager or a technical consultant, you may require to increase your cylinder manifold bank.

The right mix of LPG and air is required to give you the best blue coloured flame at your burner port. In case of any imbalance of Air-LPG mixture such things can happen. If air is more in the combustible mixture, the flame will lift off the burner port. You may get your burners checked as they may require a little repair or cleaning etc to ensure right combustible mixture at the burner port. In case the pressure is higher than the designed rating, the flame may lift off the port. Please get the pressure regulator checked.

LPG cylinder manifold should be designed and tested as per IS – 6044 (Part 1) : 2000

LPG Cylinders are manufactured as per BIS 3196 through manufacturers approved by the Chief Controller of Explosives, Nagpur (CCOE) and having BIS license. Each and every new LPG cylinder is checked at various manufacturing stages and marked by BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) after various tests carried out as per the BIS codes and Gas Cylinder Rules, 2004, before putting them into circulation by the Public Sector Oil Companies.

Thereafter, each LPG cylinder is checked at the LPG Bottling plants and only the ones which are meeting the Standards as specified in the Gas Cylinder Rules are filled, checked and sent to the Distributors for distribution to the customers. All new LPG cylinders are required to be put to first Statutory Testing after 10 years. Thereafter, the cylinders are put to statutory testing every 5 years. Such testing of LPG cylinders is done through agencies approved by CCOE as specified in The Gas Cylinder Rules 2004 and once again put into circulation only if the cylinders pass the required Pressure Tests.

LPG cylinder found requiring repairs is put to Hot repairs once in its lifetime as per IS code of practice. Each and every Hot repaired cylinder is also certified for use by BIS and is accordingly put into circulation. Any LPG cylinder which has undergone one Hot repair, if it is found damaged subsequently, is scrapped.

IOC strictly follows the above and introduces new LPG cylinders as replacement to the cylinders scrapped.

On one of three vertical stay plates (side stems) of the LPG cylinder, the date is coded alpha numerically as A or B or C or D and a two-digit number following this e.g. D10. The alphabets stand for quarters - A for Qtr. ending March (First Qtr), B - Qtr. ending June (Second Qtr), C-Qtr. ending Sept (Third Qtr), &D for Qtr. ending December (Fourth Qtr). The digits stand for the year when the cylinder is due for Statutory testing as explained above. Hence D10 would mean that the particular cylinder is to be taken for the next Statutory Testing by December 2010.

In any case, this is not the date of EXPIRY of PHYSICAL LIFE of the CYLINDER

It is further clarified that, during service, every empty LPG cylinder when it comes from the Distributor to the Bottling Plant for filling, is checked for its condition including the marked date for Statutory Testing due. Cylinders due for testing are segregated and sent for testing.

Every cylinder after its filling with LPG is checked for correctness of its weight and soundness, before despatch to the Distributors. Every care is taken to ensure that cylinders which are safe for use are only sent to our Distributors for further distribution. It means if a customer gets a cylinder in June 2010 with marking as B10, it does not indicate that the physical life of the cylinder has expired. It only means that this cylinder is due for Statutory testing by end June 2010.

Autogas is the brand name of Auto LPG marketed by IndianOil.

As on date, 368 ALDS have been set up in Metros / Major Cities. Another 3 ALDSs have been mechanically completed & are likely to be commissioned within two months.

Indian Oil ALDS are available in 202 cities of India. ALDS contact details(address & phone no.) are available on website www.iocl.com

Based on the demand, ALDSs will be set up in various other cities .

Presently ALDS are being set up at existing petrol stations only.

AUTO LPG SALES IN MT:

Indian Oil Corporation – 110601 MT

A) The consumption of AutoLPG is approx. 5 to 10 % more as compared to petrol for running the same number of kilometers. However, the price of AutoLPG per liter is apprx. 17.7% less than petrol (for Mumbai). Hence , there is saving of almost 7.41% on fuel cost. B) The table below indicates the advantages of AutoLPG vis a vis petrol (for Mumbai):

BENEFIT TO CUSTOMERS: AUTO LPG VS MS
(As on 06.01.2014)

The exhaust emissions of vehicles running of AutoLPG emit

• 75 % less CO
• 85 % less HYDROCARBONS
• 40 % less NO
• 87 % less OZONE DEPLETION as compared to vehicles running on petrol.
  

Conversion kits approved by authorized Govt Agencies like ARAI (Automobile Research Association of India , Pune ) and VRDE ( Vehicle Research and Development Establishment, Ahmednagar) only should be used.

• Only fixed LPG tanks should be fitted in the vehicle. Domestic LPG cylinders should not be used as they are potential safety hazards.
• The conversion of the vehicle to run on LPG ( Retro-fitment) should be carried out at an authorized conversion center approved by RTO.
• The RC book should be endorsed by the RTO once the conversion of the vehicle is completed.
• Refuelling of AutoLPG should be done only at AutoLPG dispensing stations set up by IOCL / Oil Companies at existing Retail Outlets.

1. The cost of legal conversion ( including approved conversion kit, CCOE approved LPG fuel tanks, piping, fitment charges and RTO endorsement ) is approx. Rs.15000/- to Rs.25000/- depending on type of vehicle.
2. However, lot of spurious conversion kits with domestic LPG Cylinder have been introduced in the market (illegal and without RTO approvals) which cost only Rs.5000/- to Rs.8000/-. These spurious kits do not yield optimum engine performance and emissions. The use of domestic LPG cylinder coupled with the entire fitment done by road side untrained mechanics further increase the safety hazards.
3. Awareness is being created through periodic press advts. Urging the customers to buy approved conversion kits only.

Autogas can be used for all petrol driven vehicles ( spark ignition engines) including two wheelers. AutoLPG is permitted to be used for 2/ 3 / 4 wheelers.

Conversion kits approved by authorized Govt Agencies like ARAI (Automobile Research Association of India , Pune ) and VRDE ( Vehicle Research and Development Establishment, Ahmednagar) only should be used.

Only fixed LPG tanks should be fitted in the vehicle. Domestic LPG cylinders should not be used as they are potential safety hazards. The conversion of the vehicle to run on LPG ( Retro-fitment) should be carried out at an authorized conversion center approved by RTO. The RC book should be endorsed by the RTO once the conversion of the vehicle is completed.

Refuelling of AutoLPG should be done only at AutoLPG dispensing stations set up by IOCL / Oil Companies at existing Retail Outlets Safety Tips : • The CCOE-approved LPG fuel tank has a multi-function valve which does not allow filling of fuel beyond 80% of the tank capacity. Consumer must ensure that the fuel is not filled beyond 80 % of the tank capacity.

Statutory Checks : -The LPG fuel tank has to be hydro-tested every 5 years through CCOE approved agencies.

Recruitment of officers in IndianOil is done either through campus selection (from short listed campuses) or open selection i.e. by advertising in the leading newspapers including Employment News. Induction is done at the junior most level that is Grade ‘A’ and mid level inductions are not practiced in our organization. Candidates interested in joining our organization can apply against the advertisement on our website in the prescribed format on fulfilling the eligibility criteria. They will have to undergo a written test after which the short listed candidates will be invited for GD/GT/ Interview. Based on the number of vacancies as well as reservations as per Government guidelines, candidates are short-listed for offering appointment letters.

You can avail the opportunity by responding to our press advertisement on fulfilling the eligibility criteria specified in the same. Please refer to the answer for FAQ no 1 for remaining details.

Applications are considered only against the press advertisement in the prescribed format on fulfilling the eligibility criteria. We do no accept random applications. You may kindly keep a look out for our press advertisements and submit your candidature in the format as specified in the advertisement.

On being approached by a bulk consumer, the field officer of IndianOil visits the site and assesses the requirement, storage, dispensing equipment (if available), NOC and explosive licenses and handling capability of the consumer. Upon assessment, IndianOil' s Divisional Office completes required formalities for relevant supplies from designated nearest supply point. In case, the bulk consumer does not have storage and handling facilities, IndianOil considers providing bulk storage / dispensing facilities. It is called a Consumer Pump for which an agreement is signed between the consumer and IndianOil.

The bulk consumer approaches INDIANOIL with the request for supply of requisite products viz. MS, HSD or SKO citing its usage and quantity. On approach by consumer, same method is followed as given above in answer 1.

Yes. MS, HSD and SKO are petroleum products, which require Explosive License as per Indian Petroleum Rules, 2002 by Govt. of India. As a pre-requisite of Explosive License, No Objection Certificate (NOC) is to be obtained from District Magistrate / Collector and then Explosive License is to be applied to Chief Controller of Explosives Office, Nagpur or to his subordinate Regional Office in the particular Zone. For dispensing of fuels through dispensing pump or flow meter, stamping of dispensing pump or flow meter is to be got done as per procedures of Local Govt. bodies at regular frequencies.

IndianOil considers provision of bulk storage and dispensing facilities as per mutually agreed terms and practice. It is called a Consumer Pump for which an agreement is signed between the consumer and IndianOil.

Aircraft can be refueled at 60 Civil Aviation Fuel Stations spread across the length & breadth of India.

No, fuel is not supplied on credit cards. However, IndianOil issues a prepaid card for domestic operators only (called Carnet Card) on application.

IndianOil accepts only AirBP & Avcard.

Cash, traveler cheques, Bank Drafts/Banker's Cheques, may affect payment. For international customers, the payment shall be in equivalent US Dollars at the rate prevailing at the time of supply of fuel. Passport is needed at the time of fuel supply to international customers.

Fuel is also supplied against specific authorization from the following on confirmation of balance available with us.

1. World Fuel Services
2. Colt International
3. United Aviation Fuels
4. Air Routing
5. Hadid International

No documents required.

Penetration Grade classifications are based on the Penetration value (degree of hardness) (Test conditions: 250C, 100 gm, 5 sec) while VG system is based on absolute Viscosity (degree of Flow Resistance) of the Bitumen samples measured in Poise (Test conditions: @ 600C, 300 mm Hg vacuum). It also includes Kinematic Viscosity measured in cst @ 1350C.

• VG system is based on fundamental engineering parameter (not empirical)
• Viscosity is measured at 60⁰C and 135⁰C, which takes care of both low and high temperature susceptibility of the binder, which is not possible with Penetration value @25⁰C. Hence, pavement engineers, contractors & consultants can have a better understanding about the binder’s performance in the field.
• Any two samples of same Viscosity Grade would give similar rutting performance in hot summer unlike Penetration Grade.
• Greater ease in handling for users as Viscosity Value at two different temperatures (@ 60⁰C and @ 135⁰C) is available, which would enable users to measure accurate mixing and compaction temperatures.
• Minimum specified Kinematic Viscosity value @ 135⁰C helps minimise the potential of tender mixes during construction.
• Viscosity Graded Bitumen is suitable for a wide range of temperatures:
  25⁰C for raveling / fatigue cracking, 60⁰C for rutting and 135⁰C for construction (mixing and compaction).
• IS 73-2006 has only seven tests to evaluate a sample compared to 14 tests in Penetration Grade system. This reduces time and cost of testing without sacrificing its quality.

• This gradation is based on an empirical test and not a fundamental test; it doesn’t have any relevance to field performance of the sample.
• Two samples having same Penetration value may show different behaviour at high and low temperatures.
• No Bitumen Viscosity is available near Bitumen mixing and compaction temperatures for the guidance of end-users.
• Penetration grading doesn’t control the temperature susceptibility of Bitumen. Highly thermal susceptible Bitumen grades are not desirable because they are soft at high service temperature and very stiff at low service temperature.
• It cannot be used effectively for Polymer Modified Bitumen.

Penetration test was developed in an era of significantly lower pavement loading. In the past, truck weights were less than 30 tons with tyre pressure at 75 PSI. Today truck weights exceed 35 tons with 125 PSI radial tyres. The 10% increase in truck weights leads to a 40% increase in the stresses applied to the pavement and is further aggravated by heavy traffic and change in weather conditions. Therefore, to cope up with the change in conditions, there is a need to shift from Penetration to Viscosity Grade paving bitumen. Both user agencies and statutory bodies are enforcing suppliers to supply VG Bitumen.

The pavement made from VG Bitumen will have better performance, because Viscosity value measured at 600C correlates well with rutting behavior and Viscosity value at 1350C gives sufficient idea about the mixing and compaction temperature and as a result pavement life is improved.

Yes, VG 30 can be used in high temperature zones as it has good thermal susceptibility.

The temperature of 600C is the near maximum Bituminous pavement temperature on a hot summer day, when rutting is likely to occur. It is useful to determine the stiffness (in terms of absolute Viscosity) of Bitumen at 600C so that we can specify its minimum stiffness to ensure adequate resistance to rutting during hot summer. Pavement rutting is the most prevalent problem in India.

Thin Film Oven Test (TFOT) is nothing but the simulation of aging condition during mixing and compaction. If the material shows good ductile characteristics after TFOT, it implies that the binder can be laid nicely on the road and will not age (deteriorate) much during mixing and compaction.

Some of the tests given in old Penetration Grade specification are the repetition of checking one parameter by different methods and some are redundant. For example, ductility measurement after TFOT ensures ductile property; there is no need to check it before TFOT. Penetration ratio, Paraffin Wax content and Fraass breaking point tests are redundant as these properties have been taken care in new Viscosity Grade specifications.

Ideally, selection of Bitumen grades should be based on high and low pavement temperatures (climatic conditions). For practical consideration, selections need to be based on air temperatures. Weather data can be obtained from IMO (Indian Meteorological Organisation) for the purpose of understanding regionwise requirement of binder grades. Selection criteria for VG paving Bitumen based on climatic conditions is tabulated below:

Due to high temperature in hot climatic areas, use of VG-10 would not provide good rutting resistance. Based on the highest daily mean air temperature, which generally ranges from 300C to 440C, VG-30 Bitumen can be used in this area.

Yes, process parameters need to be modified to produce VG Bitumen. It is produced by blowing bitumen with air.

A vacuum capillary tube viscometer is used to perform the Viscosity test at 600C. Viscosity test equipment consists of i. Calibrated Cannon-Manning Viscosity tube, ii. Oil bath maintained at 600C, iii. Vacuum pump and iv. Vacuum gauge, controller, thermometer, stop watch. Viscosity tube to be imported through an Indian distributor and remaining items are easily available in India. Generally Cannon Manning vacuum capillary viscometer, Cannon fenske viscometer.

For your individual lubricant requirements or for your own consumption SERVO is available at your nearest IndianOil Petrol Pumps or Bazaar shops, spare parts shops etc. All such resellers are supplied lubricants from area specific sole SERVO Automotive STOCKISTs.

No, fuel is not supplied on credit cards. However, IndianOil issues a prepaid card for domestic operators only (called Carnet Card) on application.

IndianOil supplies lubricants directly to customers whose requirement is above 30,000 liters per annum. If the requirements are below 30,000 liters per annum, then IndianOil services it through authorized sole SERVO INDUSTRIAL Stockists specific for that area. However all institutional customers will get due customized solutions and dedicated customer service from IndianOil.

Thanks for seeking clarifications. Every lubricant has to do basic function of eliminating / minimising solid friction & mechanical wear and tear. But expectation from engine oil as lubricant is very much beyond this, it has to act as coolant removing the heat, sealant to avoid blowby, protect from chemical corrosive wear and also act as cleaner to keep the engine parts perfectly clean to enable engine to perform at the highest possible efficiency. However good the engine may be, some soot / deposits are bound to form due to incomplete burning of some portion of fuel. This will tend to form black deposit on the engine part. Engine oil has to ensure that the deposit does not form/remain on the engine part. It sweeps the deposit and keeps the engine clean. Engine oil divides the deposit in miconic sized particle size so that the deposit does not settle down in the oil ducts. These properties are imparted by detergent dispersant additives.

Therefore if any engine oil gets darker during service, it means it is very good egine oil doing it's job perfectly in respect of cleaning the engine parts. Engine oil which does not turn dark, does not get dirty and retains original colour through out is actually a very bad oil, not cleaning the engine and thus actually harming the engine. However if the engine oil starts getting dirtier and darker very rapidly with lumps of deposits in it, then it means either the engine condition is extremely bad or lubricant is of inferior quality and by itself generates deposits. This aspect can be cross checked. This will be the case if engine oil is purchased from non reliable sources.

The pressure you observe in oil pressure guage is on account of resistance offered by the oil ducts, filters, bends, orifices etc in the oil flow system in the process of reaching adequate quantity of engine oil to all the parts to be lubricated. The oil pressure required between the rubbing metal surfaces to avoid physical contact of the metal surfaces may be more than 100 times the pressure observed on the pressure gauge. This very high pressure is created automatically by the physical movement of the parts like rotating shaft, sliding piston rings etc and by the viscosity of the lubricant by what is known in tribology ( science of rubbing surfaces including lubrication science) as elasto hydro dynamic lubrication regime. Engine oil has to lubricate some engine parts at very high temperature, beyond 1000C. Viscosity of lubricant changes very much with temperature. This could be 12 to 15 times or so between 400C and 1000C. For example viscosity may be 180cSt at 400C and say 15.5 cSt at 1000C.

This behavior can be changed by better refining ( more paraffiinic oil means higher viscosity index which means lesser temperature variation) and by using viscosity index improver. In this fashion oil of low viscosity is selected so that viscosity at lower temperature is significantly low and by using the Viscosity Index Additive, the viscosity at 1000C is raised artificially. This ensures requisite viscosity at higher temperatures but relatively lower viscosity at lower temperatures. This means easy starting at lower temperatures, lesser undue viscous drag at lower temperatures and no compromise on quality of lubrication. Thus multigrade means making oil to meet two contrary viscosity requirements like viscosity requirement of SAE 20 W as well as viscosity requirement of SAE 40. Hence the oil may be known as SAE 20W40 or SAE 15W40 or SAE 10W40 or SAE 20W50 etc depending on which two viscosity grade requirements are met.

Therefore it becomes apparent that pressure required to make multigrade oil to flow through a duct for the same flow rate at temperature below 1000C will be less than the pressure required to make monograde oil to flow under same conditions. It is also pertinent to note that multigrade oil will have higher viscosity than monograde oil at temperature above 1000C, viscosity reduces as shear rate increases and hence assures better sealing, better lubrication, more power output and lesser lubricant consumption. Hence the said observation of lower pressure in the oil pressure gauge. This is just natural and desired. There is absolutely nothing to worry about.

IndianOil supplies M C Wax from Haldia.

IndianOil supplies Polymer Grade Propylene from Mathura & Chemical Grade from Panipat.

No, Proplylene sales are ex MI (Marketing Installation) basis. Customer has to make own transportation arrangement.

IndianOil supplies products as per BIS specifications IS: 3470 - 2002.

Minimum 10 MT can be supplied by Road Tank Truck.

Sulphur is available in Solid (Lumps) form at Koyali, Mathura, Panipat, Barauni, Haldia & Guwahati. However, molten Sulphur in liquid form is available at Koyali.

Sulphur prices of IndianOil are revised monthly.

MTO is available at Panipat, Haldia, Koyali, Vashi, Jallandhar, Kanpur, Mourigram & Vaizag.