Why Are So Many Car Owners Upset With E20 Petrol?

India rolled out E20 petrol, a fuel blend containing 20 percent ethanol and 80 percent petrol, across nearly all 90,000 petrol stations by mid-2025. The government’s goal was to lower oil imports and carbon emissions, while helping sugarcane farmers whose crops are used for ethanol.

E20 replaced previous blends like E5 and E10, so most stations no longer offer those lower-ethanol options. But only around one-fifth of cars sold in the last 15 years are truly built to run on E20, and most vehicles on the road are older models designed for maximum 10 percent ethanol.

Drop in Mileage Is Real

Once E20 became the default, many owners noticed a clear drop in fuel efficiency - some reporting as much as 10 to 20 percent lower mileage with E20 compared to regular petrol.

Fuel efficiency reductions of about 6 to 8 percent are being reported widely; for cars not designed for this blend, some owners say the hit is even more severe. Service centres have warned about the possibility of blocked injectors and damaged fuel pumps in older vehicles.

Technical Issues and Engine Concerns

Ethanol is more corrosive than regular petrol, and it absorbs more water. This can damage rubber pipes, hoses, fuel lines, gaskets, and fuel injectors not designed for E20.

Some mechanics have found that components in older vehicles degrade faster with E20, leading to sluggish engine performance, more frequent repairs, and even major part replacements.

Engine knocking and corrosion are being reported in non-compliant cars, which raises reliability and safety worries for those owners. Not all regular insurance policies cover repairs resulting from fuel incompatibility, so owners face possible extra costs to keep their cars running or to take out new add-on covers.

Awareness Gap and Who Pays for Modifications

Many car owners weren’t actively told about E20 compatibility at the fuel pump which is a major reason for anger and confusion. Owners of cars launched before April 2023, or two-wheelers made before that date, are discovering compatibility problems only after facing issues.

The technical fix often involves buying an E20 kit, which can cost around Rs 6,000 for some cars, and requires replacing affected hoses and seals. Bajaj has discussed simpler changes for motorcycles that cost about Rs 500 per tank. But owners want to know: why should they pay for fuel changes they weren’t advised about?

Manufacturer and Government Response

Automakers are trying to address the problems. Maruti Suzuki is working on releasing E20 kits that replace critical rubber and plastic parts, while others offer tuning and part upgrades for newer models. The Ministry of Petroleum has responded, saying technical fixes and regulation can mitigate fuel efficiency drops, and that service and tuning of engines helps.

Officials acknowledge some mileage loss, estimating only 1–2 percent for new E20-compliant cars and 3-6 percent for older cars, but owner experiences don’t match those figures. There is a gap between official claims and what drivers see on the road.

Why Drivers Want Options

Some drivers are unhappy that petrol stations do not give them the option to buy regular petrol or E10 during this transition. With post-April 2023 vehicles set up for E20, older vehicles feel left behind.

The Bottom Line

Car owners are upset with E20 petrol because many cars on the road are not designed for it, and they are facing real issues with engine health, lower mileage, and higher repair costs.

Some are angry about the lack of choice at petrol stations and unclear communication around compatibility. For people with cars that predate compliance rules, the cost of adaptation or higher running costs has created frustration and forced some owners to rethink how they maintain and fuel their vehicles.