Thursday, July 30, 2026
By Kamal Swami
Rubber Parts May Need Replacement In BS-III Vehicles
According to the Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari, some older Bharat Stage-III (BS-III) vehicles may require replacement of certain rubber components and gaskets before they can be operated with E20 petrol. The clarification was made in the Rajya Sabha amid growing concerns among vehicle owners about the compatibility of older cars and two-wheelers with ethanol-blended petrol.
There are two major constituents in E20 fuel, i.e., 20% ethanol mixed with 80% petrol. India has been gradually increasing ethanol blending in petrol to become less dependent on foreign crude oil, but this change has generated concerns regarding the effect of E20 petrol on old vehicles.
Some Old BS-III Vehicles Would Need Minor Changes
As per the information given by Gadkari, some BS-III vehicles which were made after April 1, 2005, but before 2016 would need minor replacement of some rubber parts and gaskets in case of using E20 fuel. This replacement can be done at the time of normal servicing of the vehicle. This change does not involve any kind of alteration of mechanical components of the vehicle. Moreover, it is also not needed to alter any mechanical component of these engines just to allow them to use E20 fuel.
No Adverse Effect on Vehicle Performance Found
Government reports studies that have been carried out by Indian Oil Corporation, Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI), Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), and Indian Institute of Petroleum (IIP), Dehradun. As per the results reported in these studies, the use of E20 petrol does not have any significant impact on the performance and durability of passenger vehicles and two-wheelers using E20 fuel. This has been cited as an example that shows that the fuel blend can be used in engines without making engine changes.
How is E20 Fuel going to Affect Older Cars?
Older cars may face some problems due to E20 fuel due to the presence of high levels of ethanol. This is because ethanol can react with rubber and other materials used in the fuel system of the vehicle.
However, as per the government's latest clarification, the problem of E20 fuel affecting the fuel system of the vehicle is more applicable to certain old BS-III vehicles only.
