The hunt for answers related to ethanol-blended petrol in modern and older vehicles remains a big area of uncertainty. Tata Motors has said there is no harm in filling E20 petrol in their cars as they are capable of running fine, while Toyota’s customer support, replying to a customer query, has mentioned that filling E20 in a car that’s meant to run on E10 can cause harm to the engine.
Moreover, Toyota has also mentioned in the same query that any damage caused by using E20 petrol in a car rated to run on E10 fuel will not be covered under warranty. So what’s the problem here? Well, fuel stations have already started making E20 the norm, leaving many car owners searching for answers.
What’s with two-wheelers?
In the two-wheeler space, Bajaj has said that all their motorcycles are capable of handling E20 with no problems, however, for the older vehicles (BS3), it is advisable to use a fuel system cleaner every 1000km with a full tank of petrol to clean the fuel system and the throttle body, as ethanol can leave a sticky gunk.
This sticky gunk can clog the fuel pump, and if it passes the pump, it can affect the injectors, and if it manages to go past it, it can affect the engine.
There is a bigger concern among vehicle users complaining about the drop in performance and mileage. This is a direct effect of ethanol, as it has a lower energy density. Thus, more fuel is needed, and the engine has to work harder to deliver the performance, thus contributing towards wear and tear.
Ethanol-petrol effect on older vehicles
Some older vehicles that are still on the road today use a carburettor to deliver the air-fuel mixture to the engine. Most of them are two-wheelers. The issue here is that ethanol is hygroscopic, and it tends to absorb moisture and also forms a sticky gunk.
When moisture accumulates, the fuel tanks get corroded, and this is passed down the fuel line and into the carburettor. This tends to clog the jets, thus cutting off fuel supply to the engine. Another issue is that carburettors have a float chamber that has fuel sitting in it.
The gunk formation can occur here also, clogging the fuel system. The moisture-related issues and gunk occur when the fuel has been sitting for a while, and when this happens, cleaning the carburettor is the only solution. Carburettors are a simple yet complicated part of the fuel system, and with technology having moved to fuel injections, older methods are being lost as well.
So, what is the best solution? There are two: Either refer to the owner’s manual and stick to the recommended fuel. And if it says a vehicle is fine with ethanol-mixed petrol, don’t let the fuel sit for too long. If that’s a situation you want to avoid, go for ethanol-free petrol. This costs Rs 160 a litre.
