Updated On:
Jul 29, 2026 | 06:56 PM IST
Summary
Nitin Gadkari: If you have a BS-3 car or bike made before 2016, then this information is very important for you. In Parliament, the government has talked about rubber parts in some old BS-3 vehicles due to the use of E20 petrol.
BS-3 Vehicle (Source. magnific)
Expansion
E20 Fuel Compatibility: If you have a BS-3 car or bike made before 2016, then this information is very important for you. Let us tell you that the government has told in the Parliament that if E20 petrol is used, there may be a need to change rubber parts and gaskets in some old BS-3 vehicles. But the matter of relief is that this will not require any major changes in the engine. Regarding this, Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha that this situation has been seen only in some vehicles having BS-3 standards implemented from April 1, 2005 and manufactured before 2016. He explained that the rubber parts and gaskets can be easily replaced during routine servicing.
What came out in the research? No major impact found on engine
The government has informed that the impact of E20 petrol has been studied jointly by Indian Oil (IOCL), Indian Institute of Petroleum (IIP), Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) and Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM). In this research, both two-wheeler and four-wheeler vehicles have been examined. The study found that using E20 petrol does not require any technical changes in the engine. Which simply means that most old vehicles can run normally on this fuel even without engine modification.
What did the government say regarding performance and mileage?
The government said that during testing, no abnormal effect of E20 petrol was observed on the performance, starting ability, driving experience, metal and plastic parts of old vehicles. Also, there are no signs of excessive wear in the engine. It is clear from this that in most of the cases E20 petrol does not have any major impact on the normal operation of the vehicle.
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The government also clarified its position on the questions being raised regarding mileage. In which the government says that the mileage of the vehicle is not determined only by fuel. Many factors like road conditions, traffic, driving style, timely servicing and engine condition affect the mileage. Therefore, it would not be right to consider only E20 petrol as the reason for low mileage.
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What should old vehicle owners do?
If you have a BS-3 vehicle and you use E20 petrol, then get it serviced from time to time and get the rubber parts and gaskets checked. Regarding this, experts believe that with regular maintenance, even old vehicles can run safely on E20 fuel.