• Source:JND

E20 Petrol Engine Damage Prevention:  India has achieved its E20 target ahead of time, and the country is now rapidly moving towards the next stages of ethanol-blended fuel. However, vehicle owners are still worried about the damage that E20 petrol is doing to the engine. Are you also worried about the E20 petrol engine damage and want to know how to protect an old car from E20 petrol? Here are some expert tips that can be used to mitigate the effect of E20 petrol on your older vehicle.

Does E20 Damage All Vehicles?

To begin with, no, the E20 petrol or a fuel type with 20 per cent of ethanol and 80 per cent of petrol doesn’t damage all vehicles. In India, cars manufactured after April 2023 were calibrated to run on up to an E20 fuel blend. This means that only vehicles manufactured before April 2023 are at risk of engine damage due to E20 petrol. Let’s take a look at why or how ethanol-blended fuel can damage older vehicles.

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E20 And Engine Damage

E20 is a type of fuel which comprises 20 per cent ethanol and 80 per cent petrol. Vehicles manufactured before April 2023 are compatible with E10 or pure petrol, and E20 can cause material degradation in such vehicles. Ethanol is highly hygroscopic, which means that it attracts moisture from the air. This can lead to corrosion in metal fuel tanks and fuel pumps. Additionally, Ethanol degrades rubber seals, plastic fuel lines, and clogs fuel injection systems. Lastly, as ethanol has a lower energy density, it results in lower fuel efficiency; with older vehicles, this problem is exacerbated further.

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How To Protect Older Cars From E20 Petrol Damage

Older vehicle owners can easily protect their cars from the E20 petrol damage. From adding fuel additives to your regular fuel pump visits to calibrating the ECU, here are some expert tips that you can check out to make your car compatible with E20 petrol.

Use Fuel Additives:  This is the simplest solution to mitigate the effects of E20 petrol on your older vehicle. You can use additives, such as Sea Foam, Abro, or Sta-bil, that stabilise ethanol content in the fuel.

Swap Fuel Line:  As mentioned earlier, ethanol can degrade the fuel lines of older vehicles. Therefore, it is advised to swap your older fuel line with PTFE or braided steel pipe. For a car with a naturally aspirated petrol engine, it can cost between Rs 2,500 and Rs 5,000.

Upgrade Engine Seals:  As mentioned earlier, ethanol-blended fuel can degrade the older rubber seals and make it crack. Thus, it is advisable to replace your older engine seals with Viton, O-rings, and gaskets.

Metal Fuel Tank Coating:  Ethanol is hygroscopic, and it can attract water, which might settle down at the bottom of the fuel tank and end up corroding it. You can coat your metal fuel tank with phenol novolac epoxy or an advanced urethane, which will prevent it from corroding.

ECU Calibration:  As ethanol has less energy density than petrol, it needs a specially tuned ECU. You can visit an authorised centre to check if there’s an updated ECU map, or you can go to a garage, where you can get a piggyback ECU installed in your vehicle. This will cost you somewhere between Rs 7,000 and Rs 10,000.


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