Rubber parts of BS-III vehicles may require replacement due to E20 fuel usage, says Nitin Gadkari
Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday said some rubber parts and gaskets in BS-III vehicles, introduced from April 1, 2005, and
Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday said some rubber parts and gaskets in BS-III vehicles, introduced from April 1, 2005, and manufactured before 2016, may need to be replaced when operated with E20 fuel. In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, Gadkari said that with regard to the concern of vehicle mileage due to the use of E20 fuel, automobile manufacturers and vehicle/engine testing agencies have clarified that vehicle mileage is influenced by a host of factors beyond just fuel type. 'No performance variations' Gadkari said a study for the evaluation of effects of E20 on two-wheelers and four-wheelers was carried out jointly by Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), Indian Institute of Petroleum (IIP) Dehradun, Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) and Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI). Also Read | Fuel dealers press govt to bear cost of E20 quality check He said studies have not shown any need to modify the car and two-wheeler engines.
According to him, these studies confirmed that even legacy vehicles did not exhibit any significant variations in performance, nor do they show abnormal wear-and-tear when operated with E20 fuel. The minister, however, said that no issues were reported in parameters such as drivability, startability, metal compatibility, and plastic compatibility. "Only in case of testing done on BS-III vehicles introduced from 1st April, 2005, and manufactured prior to 2016, some rubber parts and gaskets may require replacement, which can be easily managed during routine servicing regime of the vehicle," he said. Growing opposition to E20 rollout Gadkari’s admission about E20 petrol’s potential harms comes as criticism continues to grow over the rollout of ethanol-blended fuel. Critics have questioned whether all vehicles are fully compatible with E20, flagged the possibility of reduced fuel efficiency and higher maintenance costs, and sought clarity on liability if engine or fuel-system problems arise.
Also Read | Nitin Gadkari gets Bombay HC nod to sue Meta, Google over E20 petrol deepfakes The government has maintained that the transition has been phased and backed by extensive testing, while automobile manufacturers have said they continue to honour warranty claims for vehicles using E20 fuel. Opposition parties have repeatedly sought greater transparency on vehicle compatibility and consumer safeguards. Kejriwal hits out at government Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday claimed that automobile manufacturers were reluctant to publicly clarify whether E20 fuel was suitable for petrol vehicles manufactured before 2023, alleging they were under pressure from the Centre. Addressing a press conference, Kejriwal said he had written to 29 automobile manufacturers seeking clarification on whether E20 fuel could safely be used in petrol-powered vehicles made before 2023 and whether the companies would bear the cost of repairs or compensate consumers for any loss in mileage if damage was caused by the fuel.
The BriefWire