Toyota On E20 Fuel: No Significant Impact On Older Vehicles
Over the last two weeks, a number of owners of old petrol cars have become extremely worried about E20 fuel damaging their cars. Many people have claimed that they are seeing a reduction in mileage and that their fuel systems are getting damaged due to E20 fuel. Recently, clarifying such claims, Toyota Kirloskar Motor India has stepped forward and claimed there will be no significant impact on older cars sold before April 1, 2023, when E20 fuel is used.
Toyota confirms that old cars will not suffer significantly due to E20 fuel
Recently, Toyota Bharat announced and confirmed that E20 fuel, which is 20 percent ethanol and 80 percent petrol, will have no significant impact on older Toyota models. Vehicles sold before April 1, 2023, can be driven using E20, stated the company. This statement came after many car owners claimed that E20 is corrosive in nature and is not recommended by automakers.
Toyota has highlighted that although the owner’s manual of pre-April 2023 cars mentions that the cars are only compatible with E10, government agencies have shown results indicating they can safely run on E20 fuel without any major issues. The only bigger downside for the owners might be a drop in fuel economy due to the lower energy content.
Toyota supports the E20 transition
The Indo-Japanese automotive giant Toyota Kirloskar Motor has reiterated that it is fully committed to India’s ethanol adoption plans. It has highlighted that ethanol-mixed fuel has a number of benefits that are very important for the country. These benefits include the carbon-neutral nature of ethanol and its contribution to India’s energy self-reliance.
It added that ethanol-blended fuel also supports farmers’ incomes through increased ethanol demand and the reduction of overall emissions. At the moment, apart from Toyota, Tata Motors has highlighted that all its new vehicles are optimized for E20 fuel.
Maruti Suzuki to offer E20 upgrade kits for older cars
Recently, it has been reported that Maruti Suzuki is soon going to offer E20 upgrade kits for its 10- to 15-year-old cars. These kits will cost around ₹4,000–6,000, depending on the model of the vehicle. As part of this kit, the fuel lines, seals, and gaskets, which are E20 fuel compatible, will be installed in older cars to make sure they can efficiently run on ethanol-blended fuel.
At the moment, it has not been reported whether other automakers are going to offer such kits or not. However, most likely in the coming period, all major automakers could offer similar kits to help the owners of older cars. Without these kits, older cars (made before April 2023) might not have ethanol-resistant materials.
For those who may not be aware, E20 fuel can degrade rubber, plastic, and certain metals that are not designed for high ethanol exposure. If such older cars are not upgraded with E20 fuel-compliant kits, they can experience fuel leaks, corrosion, and premature component wear. Most likely, in the coming months, we will see many such kits in the market to help older cars run on E20 fuel without issues.