Pune/Delhi: The government's vision of a stepwise ramp-up of blending of ethanol in petrol was always in the public knowledge. The recent spat of social media outbursts regarding the adverse effects of blended fuel on vehicles' engines is causing a stir. Through advisories and multiple statements, the Centre has communicated that there is no dramatic change in the functioning or mileage of the blended engine in older vehicles.
Deliberating on the same lines, Bajaj Auto has revealed a simple and cost-effective technique to keep BS3 and older engines fit and running smoothly. Ethanol has hygroscopic properties; thereby, it tends to absorb moisture in the air. The engine components, when exposed to moisture for a prolonged period, may cause problems with gaskets, cylinder heads, and other rubber parts. While parts used in BS6-compliant motorcycles are E20-ready, Bajaj Auto explained a way to keep BS3 and older motorcycles hassle-free.
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On the sidelines of the KTM 160 Duke launch, Bajaj Auto R&D experts explained, "Older motorcycles can run on E20 petrol. Due to ethanol's hygroscopic properties, there are chances of gummy formation in the engine chamber, butterfly walls, and around rubber components. Motorists can use 40 mL of fuel system cleaner in one full tank of petrol to solve this problem."
According to the Bajaj Auto experts, adding a fuel system cleaner can reduce the ill effects of ethanol on the combustion chamber. Fuel system cleaner is readily available at fuel pumps and service stations, which cost around Rs 80-100 for 40 mL.
Government's Stand on E20:
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said moving to E20 fuel is part of India's commitment to meeting its climate goals and achieving net zero emissions by 2070.
The use of E20 gives better acceleration, better ride quality, and most importantly, lowered carbon emissions by approximately 30% as compared to E10 fuel. Ethanol's higher-octane number (approximately 108.5 compared to petrol's 84.4) makes Ethanol-blended fuels a valuable alternative for higher-octane requirements that are crucial for modern high-compression engines.
Terming claims of a drastic reduction in fuel efficiency "misplaced", the ministry said, "Vehicle mileage is influenced by a variety of factors beyond just fuel type. These include driving habits, maintenance practices such as oil changes and air filter cleanliness, tyre pressure and alignment, and even air conditioning load."