Report claims E20 can deteriorate rubber fuel system components in E10-compatible vehicles, while one BS6 engine reportedly developed an exhaust valve failure during durability testing
The debate surrounding E20 petrol has taken another turn after a report by The Times of India claimed that an unpublished study by the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) had identified certain long-term durability concerns when E20 fuel is used in vehicles originally designed for E10 petrol.
The report assumes significance as it comes just days after several vehicle manufacturers, industry experts and government representatives publicly defended the nationwide rollout of E20 fuel, maintaining that compatible vehicles have been extensively tested and are safe to operate on the higher ethanol blend.
Rubber fuel system components reportedly affected
The unpublished ARAI study concluded that while E20 had no adverse impact on metallic fuel system components, it caused deterioration in various rubber components used in E10-compatible vehicles. These include fuel-system hoses, gaskets, seals and O-rings. The study is said to have noted that these components “may need replacement” when exposed to E20 fuel over time.
At the same time, the report states that emissions from E10-compatible vehicles running on E20 fuel remained within prescribed legislative limits. If accurate, these findings provide additional technical context to the ongoing discussion around E20 compatibility, particularly for older vehicles that were originally engineered around E10 petrol.
One BS6 engine reportedly developed exhaust valve failure
The report also highlights findings from engine durability testing carried out by automobile manufacturers. One OEM tested a BS4 four-wheeler engine on E20 fuel for 400 hours without observing any durability issues, with performance remaining acceptable. However, another OEM encountered a thermomechanical failure of the exhaust valve in a BS6 turbocharged engine after 265 hours of durability testing.
The report notes that people familiar with the study cautioned against directly attributing the valve failure to E20 fuel, as such failures can occur due to multiple engineering factors. It also mentions that engine durability tests are typically conducted for around 2,000 hours, although no further details regarding the specific failure or subsequent investigation have been made public.
Two-wheelers reportedly showed no durability concerns
In contrast, the report says durability testing conducted by three two-wheeler manufacturers did not reveal any adverse effects. According to the findings cited by The Times of India, all three manufacturers reported acceptable performance with E20 fuel throughout the durability tests.
The ARAI study referred to by The Times of India has not been officially released in the public domain, making it difficult to independently verify the complete findings or understand the context surrounding the reported observations. With manufacturers, petroleum dealers and industry experts continuing to express differing views on various aspects of E20 implementation, the publication of the full ARAI report could help provide greater clarity on the technical findings that informed India’s transition to E20 fuel.
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