The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has dismissed concerns that E20 petrol is causing widespread engine damage in vehicles. According to the ministry, there is no verified evidence to suggest that petrol containing 20% ethanol has led to large-scale engine failures or vehicle breakdowns in India.
The government acknowledged that some older vehicles may experience a 3–5% drop in fuel efficiency, but stressed that this does not mean the engine is being damaged.
Can older vehicles run on E20 petrol?Reports circulating on social media have claimed that vehicles manufactured before 2023 are not compatible with E20 fuel. The ministry has rejected these claims.
According to the government, a leading automobile manufacturer analysed the service records of nearly 15 million vehicles that were not originally certified for E20 fuel. The study reportedly found no signs of corrosion, excessive engine wear, or reduced component life.
Another automobile company reviewed data from around 14 million vehicles running on E20 and also reported no evidence of ethanol-related engine damage.
Why is the government confident?The ministry pointed out that petrol containing more than 15% ethanol has been available in India for over three and a half years, while E19 and E20 fuel has been in use for more than two and a half years.
According to the government, if E20 were causing widespread problems, the following indicators would have become evident:
A sharp rise in engine failures
Increased warranty claims
Large-scale service campaigns by manufacturers
Widespread consumer complaints
The ministry says none of these trends have been observed so far.
Government rejects claim that millions of vehicles will become unusableThe ministry has also dismissed claims that E20 fuel could make nearly 300 million vehicles unusable.
It stated that over 200 million two-wheelers and more than 30 million petrol cars in India are already operating with higher ethanol-blended petrol, with no widespread defects linked to the fuel.
What do automobile manufacturers say?Several leading automobile companies have expressed support for the E20 fuel programme.
| Maruti Suzuki | Service records of 28.4 million vehicles showed no corrosion or abnormal engine wear due to E20. Mileage reduction was generally limited to 3–3.5%. |
| Hero MotoCorp | Service data did not indicate widespread damage in two-wheelers using E20 petrol. |
| Toyota Kirloskar | E20 fuel was introduced only after extensive testing in accordance with international standards. |
The ministry clarified that fuel efficiency depends on several factors, including:
Driving habits
Traffic conditions
Tyre pressure
Vehicle maintenance
Engine design
Older vehicles originally designed for E10 fuel may experience a 3–5% reduction in mileage when using E20 petrol. However, the government says E20 also offers benefits such as:
Higher octane rating
Cleaner combustion
Better anti-knock performance
According to the government, there is no evidence that E20 petrol causes widespread engine damage. While owners of some older vehicles may notice a slight reduction in mileage, the ministry maintains that engines remain safe when using E20 fuel. It also noted that vehicle manufacturers continue to offer warranties for E20-compatible vehicles, reflecting their confidence in the fuel's performance and safety.
