00:00Dear viewers, have you noticed your car's mileage dropping lately?
00:04Or maybe your engine is sounding rougher than usual?
00:07It could be because of something new in your fuel time, ethanol.
00:12India has taken a bold step in its green energy mission,
00:15hitting 20% ethanol blending in petrol, known as E20,
00:195 years ahead of the schedule.
00:21That's a big win for the environment and the economy.
00:24But is it a win for your car?
00:25Many users are now complaining.
00:27Low mileage, rough engine sounds, damage to fuel tanks
00:30and they are blaming the E20 for it.
00:33Is ethanol blending damaging your vehicles?
00:35We will explain in this video.
00:37Hello, I am Tejas and you are watching Lokhmad Times.
00:39Before we move ahead, please do subscribe to our channel if you haven't already
00:43and press the bell icon to never miss an update.
00:46Ethanol is an alcohol-based fuel, usually made from crops like sugarcane.
00:50When blended with petrol, it helps cut down on crude oil imports,
00:54reduce carbon emissions and support our farmers.
00:57In fact, with just 10% blend, E10,
01:00India saved over Rs. 50,000 crore in oil imports in a single year.
01:04Now that's impressive.
01:06But the question remains,
01:07is this blended fuel good for your vehicle?
01:10What about the mileage of your vehicle?
01:12Here is the truth.
01:13Ethanol has lower energy than petrol.
01:16So when you run your car on E20,
01:18your fuel consumption goes up.
01:20You may lose around 6-7% mileage compared to regular petrol.
01:24That means more frequent refueling and higher running costs,
01:28especially if your vehicle wasn't designed for this blend.
01:32Some users have reported a 4% drop in mileage right after switching to E20.
01:37And yes, they felt it in their wallets.
01:39But the most important question is,
01:41is your vehicle ready for E20?
01:43This is where things get tricky.
01:45Only cars made after April 2023 are considered fully E20 compatible.
01:50These vehicles come with ethanol-resistant fuel lines,
01:53corrosion-protected metal parts,
01:55and updated engine control units, ECUs.
01:58But most of India's vehicle fleet,
02:00including BS-6 cars sold between 2020 and 2023,
02:04are only E10 compliant.
02:06Even worse,
02:07vehicles sold before 2020 may not be compatible at all.
02:11Using E20 in these older engines could mean,
02:14faster wear and tear,
02:15corrosion in fuel tanks,
02:16leaking fuel lines,
02:18and even engine knocking,
02:19a damaging sound caused by premature fuel ignition.
02:22In cold areas,
02:23it could even lead to starting trouble.
02:25Ethanol is hydroscopic,
02:27which means it absorbs water from the air.
02:29That moisture can cause rust in fuel systems,
02:32and degrade plastic and rubber parts,
02:34like gaskets,
02:35hoses,
02:35and seals.
02:36If your vehicle isn't made to handle it,
02:39expect more trips to the mechanic,
02:40and unfortunately,
02:42more out-of-pocket expenses.
02:43Worse still,
02:44many manufacturers don't cover damage caused by E20 under warranty,
02:48if your car wasn't made for it.
02:51That brings us to another important question.
02:52Are fuel prices going down at least?
02:55Well,
02:56not really.
02:56In theory,
02:57ethanol is cheaper to produce than petrol.
03:00A 20% blend should lower fuel prices.
03:03Back in 2021,
03:04it was estimated that E20 could cut petrol prices by Rs. 8 per litre.
03:09But today,
03:09you are still paying Rs. 100 to 104 per litre,
03:12depending on your city,
03:14with no real relief to consumers.
03:16Why?
03:16Because of taxes,
03:17rising excise duty,
03:19and the cost of ethanol production and transport.
03:21So, even though the government is saving big on oil imports,
03:25those savings haven't been passed down to you,
03:28the everyday driver.
03:29Another problem is,
03:30many petrol pumps don't clearly label if the fuel is E10 or E20.
03:35That means,
03:35you might be filling E20 unknowingly,
03:38even if your vehicle isn't designed for it.
03:40This lack of information puts consumers at risk,
03:43and raises serious safety and performance concerns.
03:46There is no doubt,
03:47ethanol blending is a step in the right direction for India's future.
03:51It supports farmers,
03:52reduces carbon emissions,
03:54and helps our economy.
03:55But as with any big transition,
03:57the impact on you,
03:58the end user,
04:00must be considered as well.
04:01Until most vehicles are E20 ready,
04:04we need better transparency at fuel stations,
04:07clear vehicle compatibility information,
04:09and a phased rollout,
04:11so drivers aren't forced to choose between saving the planet,
04:14and saving their engine.
04:16Ethanol blending is here to stay,
04:18and in the long run,
04:19it's a cleaner,
04:20greener path.
04:21But in the short term,
04:22it might be burning a hole in your fuel tank,
04:25and your pocket.
04:26So before you top up your next tank,
04:28ask,
04:29is my vehicle E20 compatible?
04:31And is my pump giving me the right fuel?
04:34Awareness is the first step towards smart driving,
04:37and smart policy.
04:38Thanks for watching.
04:39If you found this video helpful,
04:40don't forget to like,
04:41share,
04:41and subscribe
04:42for more insights on India's changing fuel landscape.
Comments