A new survey suggests that India's rapid shift to E20 petrol, a fuel blended with 20% ethanol, may be having unintended results for owners of older petrol vehicles. The study by LocalCircles, which gathered over 50,000 responses from vehicle owners across 301 districts, indicates major drops in mileage, and rising maintenance concerns among those driving models manufactured in 2022 or earlier.
With E20 availability now widespread and lower‑ethanol fuels like E0 and E5 increasingly difficult to access, many older‑vehicle owners report increased engine noise and vibration, and even starting troubles.
Efficiency and Mileage Goes Down For Older Vehicles
The survey notes that one in two petrol vehicle owners with a pre‑2022 model reported a noticeable reduction in fuel efficiency since E20 became the default petrol grade nationwide in 2025.
Out of 24,710 who responded to the question, 25% indicated that the fuel efficiency has dipped 'by over 20%', 7% of respondents indicated a dip of '15-20%', 13% of respondents indicated '10-15%' dip, and 7% of respondents indicated '1-2%' dip in efficiency. Around 27% of respondents indicated 'no impact' and 21% of respondents did not give a clear answer.
Local Circles survey
Photo Credit: Photo Source: LocalCircles Survey
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Wear and Tear Goes Up For Older Vehicles
The survey found that 29% of owners of older vehicles experienced unusual levels of wear and tear affecting components such as fuel pumps, injectors, seals, gaskets, and carburettors. Out of 25,686 who responded to the question, 60% stated 'no, nothing unusual', 29% of respondents however stated 'yes, definitely have', and 12% of respondents did not give a clear answer.
Local Circles survey on E20
Photo Source: LocalCircles
The government has attempted to address concerns by mandating a minimum RON 95 standard for E20 starting April 1, 2026, aiming to reduce engine knocking and long‑term damage. However, experts say it is too early to determine whether the higher octane rating will fully mitigate the challenges faced by owners of older vehicles.
Key Takeaways From The Survey
Whether the new E20 standard will fully address the issues facing owners of older petrol vehicle owners is yet to be seen. Meanwhile, the survey urges policy planners to relook on the ethanol policy as fuel efficiency must be a priority along with environmental concerns as they are interlinked. The survey also revealed that more than one fourth of those surveyed vehicles will become un-road worthy sooner than 15-year life fixed by the government for petrol vehicles.
The survey urges policymakers to relook its fuel policy to allow sale of lower ethanol mix fuel for older petrol vehicles so that it does not tax owners of such vehicles as not all households can afford immediate vehicle upgrades.
ALSO READ: Govt Mandates E20 Petrol Rollout With Minimum RON 95 From April 1 — Here's What It Means
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