E20 Petrol May Affect Rubber Parts in BS-III Vehicles, No Engine Changes Needed: Nitin Gadkari

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said E20 petrol does not require engine modifications but may affect certain rubber parts and gaskets in BS-III vehicles manufactured before 2016.

Post Published By: Ayushi Bisht

Updated : 30 July 2026, 10:23 AM IST

E20 Petrol May Affect Rubber Parts in BS-III Vehicles (Img: X)

New Delhi: Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari has said that vehicles manufactured under the BS-III emission norms may require replacement of certain rubber parts and gaskets when using E20 petrol.

However, he clarified that studies have not found any significant impact on engine performance or the need for mechanical modifications.

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Studies Find No Major Performance Issues

Replying to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Gadkari said multiple studies conducted by Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), the Indian Institute of Petroleum (IIP), the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) and the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) concluded that vehicles continue to perform normally with E20 fuel.

He said BS-VI vehicles met emission standards during testing, while both cars and two-wheelers showed no evidence of abnormal engine wear or operational problems after using the higher ethanol blend.

No Engine Modifications Required

According to the minister, research has not indicated any requirement to modify engines to run on E20 petrol. The studies found no significant changes in drivability, engine start-up, metal compatibility or plastic components in either newer or older vehicles.

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Older BS-III Vehicles May Need Minor Component Replacement

Gadkari, however, noted that testing on BS-III vehicles manufactured before 2016 showed that some rubber components and gaskets could deteriorate over time when exposed to E20 fuel. In such cases, replacing those parts may be necessary to ensure smooth operation.