• Source:JND

E20 Petrol Mileage Drop:  India’s Ethanol-Blending Program (EBP) has remained a hot topic across the country, and the concerns regarding E20 petrol have now reached Parliament. While social media is full of misinformation, fake videos, and fake news, some people have raised genuine concerns regarding the mileage drop and engine damage over the last few months. The government recently addressed the concerns regarding the mileage drop and engine damage in Parliament.

E20 Petrol Mileage & Govt’s Response

In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, Suresh Gopi, the Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas, said that the E20 mileage drop may range from 3 to 5 per cent in non-compatible old vehicles that were originally designed to operate on E10 fuel standards. The minister further added that there is no evidence of widespread engine damage due to the higher ethanol blend. Gopi also said that fuel economy is subject to several other factors, including driving style, tyre pressure, vehicle maintenance, wheel alignment, and air conditioning.

Government-backed studies by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, ARAI, and IIT Kanpur report a fuel efficiency drop ranging between 1 and 5 per cent in vehicles due to E20. Additionally, Maruti Suzuki, the largest car manufacturer in India, conducted internal testing and reported that no evidence of engine damage, abnormal wear, or corrosion was found. The study by Maruti Suzuki further reports a reduction of 3 to 3.5 per cent in fuel efficiency due to ethanol’s low energy density.

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E20 Damage To Engine: ‘No Evidence’

The minister, in his reply to the Rajya Sabha, also said: "More than 20 crore two-wheelers and over 3 crore petrol cars, including a large number of older vehicles manufactured before E20 certification, have been operating on these fuels without any verified evidence of widespread engine failure or vehicle breakdown attributable to ethanol blending."

Additionally, the minister also cited service data from major automobile manufacturers and said that "One leading four-wheeler manufacturer serviced 2.84 crore vehicles during FY 2025-26, including 1.5 crore older, non-E20-certified vehicles, without reporting any vehicular damage attributable to E20 fuel." Similarly, "one leading two-wheeler manufacturer reported, based on extensive service data, no higher incidence of damage in vehicles operating on E20 compared with earlier fuel blends."

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Why Does E20 Petrol Reduce Mileage?

Several vehicle users have reported reduced mileage after the rollout of E20 petrol. While E20 petrol might not damage vehicles compatible with ethanol-blended fuel, the fuel efficiency is certainly an area that will be affected. Why? Well, while ethanol certainly has a higher Research Octane Number (RON), it has a lower energy density when compared to regular gasoline. Due to lower energy density, the ECU will be required to inject an increased amount of fuel to achieve the same amount of power.


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