Bahrain Petrol Mileage Complaints: What to Check Before Your Next Refill

01What prompted the petrol-mileage complaints?

On 25 September, The Daily Tribune reported that MP Jalal Kadhem had requested fuel tests after receiving complaints about cars covering fewer kilometres on familiar journeys. He asked for comparisons and publication of the findings. An Arabic report carried by Nabd on 24 September describes the same concern.

Drivers also discussed their experiences in a 25 September Bahrain discussion. Those individual accounts explain why people want answers; they cannot identify a shared cause. The sources reviewed for this guide contain no published laboratory result establishing a fuel-quality change.

02First separate the price problem from the mileage problem

“BD10 does not last as long” and “40 litres does not last as long” describe different tests. If the price per litre rises, a fixed cash amount buys less fuel even when your car's efficiency stays the same. Read the litres and unit price on each receipt, rather than comparing only what you paid.

Use the price on your actual receipt for cost calculations. Old price charts and an AI answer about today's prices are poor substitutes for the transaction you are checking.

03Measure your mileage with two comparable refills

1. Fill normally to the pump's automatic shut-off and record the odometer. Reset the trip counter if you use one. Do not keep topping up after shut-off.
2. Drive your usual route. Note unusual traffic, idling, loads and AC use.
3. At the next refill, use the same normal stopping point and record the litres added. The distance since the previous fill is the distance those litres replaced.
4. Calculate km/L = kilometres driven ÷ litres added. For L/100 km = litres added ÷ kilometres driven × 100. Higher km/L means better economy; lower L/100 km means better economy.
5. Repeat over several comparable refills. One tank can be affected by a different fill level or a different journey mix.

Here is an illustrative calculation, not a measurement of Bahrain fuel:

That is a 12.5% fall in kilometres per litre, or about 14.3% more litres needed for the same distance. Different denominators produce different percentages. Neither calculation tells you the cause. Fuel cost per 100 km is your L/100 km multiplied by the receipt's BD-per-litre price.

04Check these causes before buying parts

• AC and journey length: cooling the cabin increases fuel use, particularly during short trips in hot conditions. Park in shade where possible and briefly let trapped hot air escape. Keep the cabin safely comfortable. See the US Department of Energy and EPA hot-weather guidance. This explains a possible contributor, not the cause of the current Bahrain complaints.
• Tyres and maintenance: use the pressure specified on your car's placard or in its manual, not the tyre sidewall maximum. Follow the specified oil grade and investigate a check-engine light. The official vehicle-maintenance guidance explains these checks.
• Like-for-like use: compare the same car, fuel grade and broadly similar journeys. A different rental car, more school-run traffic or extra stationary AC time changes the comparison.

If the car runs roughly or shows a warning light, arrange a diagnosis instead of waiting to complete a mileage experiment. Give the workshop your records and ask what finding supports any proposed repair.

05Will switching from Jayyid to Mumtaz fix it?

Follow the fuel specification in your vehicle's manual. A higher octane rating describes resistance to engine knock; it does not automatically guarantee cheaper driving. Some engines need higher octane. Others gain little under normal conditions. The DOE/EPA octane guide explains that distinction. Its US pump-number examples should not be substituted for the specification in your Bahrain vehicle's manual.

Do not use a lower grade than the manufacturer requires. If more than one grade is permitted, compare cost per kilometre using your receipts and repeatable measurements, rather than assuming the more expensive fuel must solve the problem.

06How to report a suspected fuel-station problem in Bahrain

The Ministry of Oil and Environment's FAQ directs fuel-station complaints to its contact form and says the Licenses and Monitoring Directorate handles them. For a Bapco Tazweed transaction, its official contact form is another way to raise the issue with the operator.

Prepare the station name, date and time, receipt, grade, litres, odometer readings and a description of any symptoms. Include workshop findings if available. Share personal and transaction details through the official channel rather than posting them publicly.

I refuelled at [station] on [date/time], purchasing [litres] of [grade]. My recorded consumption changed from [earlier figure] to [recent figure] across [number] comparable refills. Attached are my receipts and mileage log. Please investigate and provide a reference number and the next steps.

Keep recording comparable refills while awaiting a response, provided the car is running normally. Your next useful piece of evidence is the litres bought and the distance travelled, not another guess from the fuel gauge.

Related driving guide: Bahrain smart traffic cameras, fines and rules.