Amid growing concerns over the nationwide rollout of E20 petrol, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas on Friday sought to allay fears over its impact on older vehicles, asserting that the fuel is safe, scientifically validated and does not damage engines or significantly reduce vehicle life.In a detailed set of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), the ministry said reports circulating on social media about E20 causing engine failures, corrosion of rubber components or fuel system damage were "misinformation" not supported by scientific evidence or real-world experience.
The ministry said the transition to 20 per cent ethanol-blended petrol followed years of testing and consultations involving automobile manufacturers, the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI), the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), oil companies and technical institutions.
Addressing concerns over vehicles labelled "E10 compatible", the ministry said such labels merely reflected the fuel standards prevailing when the vehicles were certified and did not imply that they were unsafe to use with E20 after extensive testing and regulatory approval.
It cited field data from Maruti Suzuki, which serviced nearly 2.84 crore vehicles during 2025-26, including around 1.5 crore older vehicles not originally certified for E20, and reported no E20-related corrosion, abnormal wear or component-life damage. Hero MotoCorp has also reported similar findings, it said.
The ministry acknowledged that some vehicles may experience a 3-5 per cent reduction in fuel economy but said E20 offers higher octane, smoother engine performance, lower emissions and reduced dependence on imported crude oil, making it a cleaner and more efficient fuel.
Responding to demands for the continued sale of pure petrol or E10 alongside E20, the ministry said maintaining multiple grades of petrol across India's nationwide fuel distribution network would be logistically difficult and economically inefficient. It added that substantial investments had already been made in ethanol production infrastructure as part of the country's long-term energy security strategy.
The ministry advised consumers not to be misled by rumours or unverified claims, maintaining that E20 has been extensively tested, validated by automobile manufacturers and is fully backed by regulatory authorities.
