E20 petrol is a blend of 80% petrol and 20% ethanol. The adoption of E20 petrol as the new standard for petrol vehicles in India is a step towards the country’s focus towards sustainable mobility. This move by the Indian government reduces dependence on crude oil exports and allows the local ethanol industry to flourish.
At the same time, the vehicles running on E20 petrol claim to release fewer carbon emissions than regular petrol vehicles. As the E20 petrol is here to stay, car owners must be extra careful while maintaining their vehicles. The tips and precautions that can help them maintain their vehicles properly are discussed in the sections below.
Table of Contents
What is E20 Petrol & How is it Made?
E20 petrol is made by blending petrol and ethanol in a 4:1 ratio. Initially, this ratio was almost 9:1. It means that only around 10% ethanol was mixed with petrol. The increase in the ethanol requirements across the fuel manufacturing plants supports the local ethanol manufacturing companies in India.
The raw material from which the ethanol is sourced is mainly plant-based. The leftovers from maize, sugarcane, and other crops are used to manufacture ethanol on a large scale. 4 parts of petrol is mixed with 1 part of anhydrous or water-free ethanol to formulate the E20 petrol.
Ethanol is known for its highly corrosive and water-absorbing properties. Due to these reasons, the fuel system and engine parts need to be maintained more frequently to minimise the effects of using the E20 petrol.
E20 petrol is available across the petrol pumps in India. Most individuals who have purchased their cars after 2023 need not worry because their vehicles are already E20 compatible. However, those who have older vehicles must be extra careful when it comes to servicing and maintenance of their cars. The complete details regarding this are shared in the below section.
Why do Vehicles Using E20 Petrol Require More Maintenance?
Vehicles that run on the E20 petrol require more maintenance because of these reasons:
- Water Absorption Properties
Ethanol absorbs moisture from the humidity present in the air. The increase in the moisture-level in the fuel tank results in the deposition of water droplets in the fuel tank. This leads to rust formation in the fuel tank. Eventually, it also degrades the fuel quality and the supply of moisture instead of fuel leads to misfires when you start the vehicle.
If the vehicles are left idle for a long time, the water tends to separate from the fuel. As the density of water is greater than ethanol, it sinks down at the bottom of your fuel tank. Eventually, this restricts the vehicle from starting properly and in the worst case scenario, the engine could be damaged due to the hydrolock formation.
Modern vehicles come with plastic fuel tanks to reduce the risks associated with rust. However, the accumulation of moisture in the fuel tank cannot be completely avoided. The deteriorating performance and reduced fuel-efficiency caused due to these reasons increase the cost of maintenance in the long run.
- Affects Durability
Ethanol not just accelerates the rust formation but also starts eating out the engine parts made from plastic and rubber. This degrades the quality and durability of the rubber hoses, gaskets, and plastic parts. As these parts keep degrading, you would have to eventually replace them with new ones.
- Slow Burning Rate
Ethanol burns slowly as compared to petrol due to its lower energy density. Petrol generates 30 to 35% more power as compared to ethanol. Due to the higher concentration of ethanol in E20 petrol, the power delivery of your engine reduces. This forces you to press the accelerator harder to maintain the speed according to the gear.
The extra load exerted on the engine leads to poor fuel-economy. As the fuel-efficiency and performance of the vehicle degrades over time, you would need to maintain it more frequently. This increases your maintenance cost and also leads to higher running costs.
Maintenance Insights for Vehicles Using E20 Petrol
Here are some precautions and insights that you must follow while maintaining your cars:
- Use E10 Petrol
If you are still driving an old car that is not E20 compliant, it is better to stick to the E10 petrol. While the petrol pumps across the nation are transitioning to E20, there are still quite a few pumps that supply the E10 petrol. Figure out those pumps near your location and try to get the E10 petrol which has a lower concentration of ethanol.
Many car owners do not know how to determine whether their vehicle is E10 or E20 compatible. A simple solution is the check for any labels near the fuel filler of your car. If E10 is mentioned in the label, it means that your car is E10 compatible. If E20 is mentioned, it means that you must avoid filling the E10 fuel in your fuel tank.
Cars manufactured in 2010 and later are usually E10 compatible. If there is no label in the fuel filler, read the fuel section of your car’s manual carefully. Here, it will be mentioned whether your car is E10 or E20 compatible.
- Use Fuel Stabilisers
We know that the water accumulated in the fuel tank tends to separate and damage the engine in the long run. As a precaution, you must avoid long term storage of fuel in the fuel tank. Use your vehicle at least once a week and ensure that you refill fresh fuel in the tank every time.
To prevent the separation of water and ethanol, you can also use fuel stabilisers. These stabilisers maintain the fuel integrity and prevent long-term maintenance issues.
- Maintain the Fuel Injectors Properly
Ethanol is a powerful solvent. Therefore, it has the ability to dissolve a wide range of substances. When the E20 petrol enters the fuel tank, it tends to dissolve the rust and impurities present in the tank. The fuel pipes also get cleaned up and the deposits and dirt clog the fuel injectors and filters.
If you are using E20 petrol, you must maintain and clean the fuel injectors and filters regularly. The recommended interval for this maintenance is usually after every 10,000 km. However, with E20 petrol, this interval should ideally be after every 5000 km.
The cleaning and maintenance of the fuel fillers and injectors improves the performance and mileage of your car. At the same time, it also increases their life and delays the need for complete replacement of these parts.
- Inspect the Spark Plugs
The finer particles dissolved in the ethanol tend to settle over the spark plugs. Over a period, the spark plugs start catching rust and their performance also deteriorates. Therefore, as a precaution, you must clean the spark plugs regularly. If they are too worn out, it would be better to replace them with the newer spark plugs.
- Change the Engine Oil
When the unconsumed fuel bypasses the piston rings and enters the gasket, it mixes with the engine oil. Over a period, the engine oil gets diluted, degrading its ability to protect the engine parts. Therefore, vehicles using the E20 petrol might need frequent engine oil changes.
While driving in traffic, you tend to stop and start the vehicle regularly. This increases the chances of fuel mixing with the engine oil. As this happens, the lubricating properties of the engine oil reduces which also affects the overall lifespan of the engine parts.
Thankfully, some synthetic oils are engineered to handle the ethanol dilution. Also, the engines of modern cars are built to manage the diluted engine oil. They also prevent water deposits due to the hygroscopic properties of ethanol. However, those using older cars might need to pay extra attention towards it while maintaining their car.
- ECU Upgrades
Modern vehicles use Engine Control Units (ECUs) to maintain stability of the air and fuel in the engine. Vehicles that are E20 compatible have already updated ECU maps. However, the older vehicles might need to upgrade their ECU to make it compliant with the ethanol blended petrol.
Final Thoughts
These were some maintenance tips and precautions that one must follow while using the E20 petrol. Inspecting the engine at periodic intervals, getting the engine parts cleaned and serviced regularly, and changing the engine oil can increase the fuel-efficiency and performance of your vehicle. At the same time, it will also save you from higher maintenance costs in the future.
Related Blogs:
Toyota E20 Compatibility: Model-wise List & Warranty Notes
Renault E20 Compatibility: Model-wise List & Warranty Notes
Nissan E20 Compatibility: Model-wise List & Warranty Notes
Honda E20 Compatibility: Model-wise List & Warranty Notes
FAQs
Q. How to check whether my car is E20 compliant?
The fuel lid or cap will have the E20 sticker. If your car was manufactured after April 2023, chances are high that it will be E20 compliant. Regardless, you can check the fuel section of the car’s manual to confirm this.
Q. Should I avoid filling the fuel tank up to its fullest capacity with E20 petrol?
If your vehicle stays idle for months, it is better to avoid filling the tank to its full capacity.
Q. Why did the government introduce E20 petrol in India?
The government introduced E20 to support local ethanol manufacturing companies and reduce carbon emissions.
Q. How to ensure proper maintenance of non-compliant E20 cars?
Ask a professional mechanic to inspect the engine and its parts closely and monitor signs of rust, deposits, and other impurities. Regular cleaning and maintenance of the spark plugs, fuel injector, fuel filters, etc. will maintain the performance of the car and durability of these parts.
Q. Does E20 petrol damage the vehicle in the long run?
If your car is non-E20 compliant, the E20 petrol might damage it in the long run, especially if you do not maintain it properly.
