Filter paper test for petrol: what MDG 2024 requires a dealer

Short answer

Under the Marketing Discipline Guidelines 2024 (MDG 2024), the dealer must keep Whatman 2 filter paper for checking the quality of MS (petrol) and hand it to a customer who asks. A message about it goes on the Customer Education board or poster MDG 1.4.1(a). If the test fails, the oil company draws samples, and sales and supplies of every product are suspended while they go to the lab MDG 2.2.2.2 MDG 2.5(K).

The Marketing Discipline Guidelines 2024 (MDG 2024) are the oil companies' rules for their dealers, and bind dealers through the dealership agreement. This page is a plain-language explanation by MDG Services (a brand of VRUOOM Private Limited). It is not the official text and is not connected with or approved by IndianOil, BPCL, HPCL or any government body, so please check the current guidelines and circulars on the oil companies' own websites and with your oil company officer before you act.

Checked against the Marketing Discipline Guidelines 2024 (Ver. 1, effective 24.10.2024) on 15 October 2026. Published by MDG Services on 21 October 2026.

What MDG requires of the dealer

On filter paper, MDG requires three things of the dealer MDG 1.4.1(a):

Hold the paper. Keep Whatman 2 filter paper for checking the quality of MS, which is petrol.
Hand it over when asked. A customer who wants to check the petrol can ask for it.
Show a message. Put it on the Customer Education board or poster, in a prominent place. The oil company provides the posters MDG 1.6(viii). See the boards MDG requires.

The clause names MS only. See the density rules. To check quantity rather than quality, see the 5-litre test.

What a failed test sets off

Samples are drawn. Oil companies are told to draw samples after a filter paper failure MDG 2.2.2.2.
Sales and supplies stop. The oil company officer stops sales and supplies of every product, and the samples go to the lab as a priority MDG 2.5(K).
The lab result decides. A lab finding of adulteration is a critical irregularity, with termination at the first instance MDG 5.1.1 MDG 8.2. See failed samples.

What MDG does not say

The method. MDG gives no steps, waiting time or description of a pass. Ask your oil company for its method.
The weight of the test. MDG groups it with the indicative tests, and a joint industry team can take samples whatever such a test shows, even a clean paper MDG 2.4.3. Action follows the lab results MDG 2.5(K).
A missing paper. MDG's irregularity lists do not name it. Point 14 of the 20.03.2025 circular has the inspector mark a "Q&Q kit" YES or NO Circular 20.03.2025, and MDG does not say what the kit holds, so ask your oil company whether the paper counts. For unlisted matters the oil company acts after an enquiry MDG 8.5.4.

General information, not legal advice. For your own notice, speak to an advocate or your oil company.

Questions dealers ask

01What is the filter paper test for petrol?

It is an indicative test of petrol quality, done on filter paper MDG 2.4.3. MDG requires the dealer to keep the paper MDG 1.4.1(a) but does not describe the steps.

02Which filter paper must a petrol pump keep, and must it be given to customers?

Whatman 2, kept for checking the quality of MS. The dealer must hand it to a customer who asks MDG 1.4.1(a).

03Is there a filter paper test for diesel?

MDG 2024 names the filter paper only for MS (petrol). It does not set out a filter paper test for diesel MDG 1.4.1(a).

04What happens if petrol fails the filter paper test?

The oil company officer stops sales and supplies of every product, and samples go to the lab on priority. What follows depends on the lab report MDG 2.5(K).

05How can a customer check petrol quality at a petrol pump?

By asking the dealer for the filter paper MDG 1.4.1(a). Quantity is checked separately, with the 5-litre test.

Read the official text: Marketing Discipline Guidelines 2024 (PDF on Bharat Petroleum's website) (also published on iocl.com).

Petrol pump density: what MDG 2024 asks a dealer to measureWhat density at 15°C means, when MDG 2024 has a dealer measure it, the equipment to keep ready, the register and the density board, with clause numbers.

The 5 litre test at a petrol pump: daily nozzle checks under MDG 2024MDG 2024 makes the dealer check every nozzle before sales each day and keep a W&M-verified 5-litre measure: what to record, a variation, the penalty.

Fuel sample failed at a petrol pump: what happens nextWhat happens when a fuel sample fails under Marketing Discipline Guidelines 2024: how the lab decides, your re-test right and the deadlines that follow.

Boards required at a petrol pump: stock, density and price boardsBoards, notices and stickers that Marketing Discipline Guidelines 2024 require a petrol pump to display, with the clause for each and what a miss costs.

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