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Many claims related to water, engine damage, mileage, warranty and farmers have been going viral on social media regarding E20 petrol. But government documents, clarifications from ARAI, SIAM and oil companies present a different picture of these claims. After all, which things are true and which are just rumours? In this report, read the fact check of 10 big myths related to E20 in simple language and know what is the reality.
Myth of water consumption (myth of 10,000 litres): It is being claimed on social media that 10,000 liters of water is consumed to make 1 liter of ethanol, which is completely wrong. The reality is that only 3 to 5 liters of water is used per liter in the ethanol plant. Farmers grow paddy and wheat not for ethanol, but for government procurement (MSP). The surplus rice and maize left after national food security is used for ethanol. (AI image)
Claim of untested experiment: The claim that E20 is a risky experiment being conducted on the citizens of India is false. Ethanol has been in use around the world for more than a century, and even a 1908 Ford Model T could run on it. E10 is standard fuel in America and E27 is mandatory in Brazil. India's E20 program is completely in line with global standards. (AI image)
Rumor of huge drop in mileage: The claim that E20 reduces the mileage of vehicles drastically is misleading. ARAI's rigorous tests of 40,000 km on cars and 20,000 km on two-wheelers showed no significant negative impact on mileage. In contrast, ethanol's higher octane (108.5 RON) gives vehicles better acceleration and ride quality. (AI image)
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Fear of engine damage and corrosion: The claim on social media that E20 damages engine parts is wrong. A special study by ARAI conducted by the government found that there is no problem in the vehicles' drivability, starting or metal and plastic compatibility. Only in some old vehicles the rubber parts may need to be replaced a little more frequently. Also, this results in a huge reduction in pollution. (AI image)
Rumor of cancellation of insurance and warranty: This claim is completely false that car companies will refuse to give warranty or insurance claim if E20 fuel is used. SIAM and vehicle manufacturers have clarified that the use of E20 fuel with prescribed standards will not affect warranty or insurance. PIB Fact Check had also refuted this misleading news on 16 June 2026. (AI image)
Ants and bees on the fuel cap: The claim that ants and bees are attracted to the petrol tank due to the sugar in E20 is completely scientifically baseless. According to BPCL's investigation, the remaining sugar is completely destroyed in the distillation process of making ethanol. Ethanol contains denaturants which keep insects away and the smell of petrol dominates. (AI image)
The lie of the government calling it an 'experiment' in the Supreme Court: The claim that the government has told the Supreme Court that E20 is an 'experiment' to be reviewed next year is false. Actually, that court case was only related to ethanol purchase contracts and allocation process. The Attorney General's Office clarified on June 30, 2026 that the government has never called E20 an 'experiment' in court. (AI image)
Problem of water getting into the fuel tank: The claim that E20 fuel causes water to accumulate in the tanks of vehicles is wrong. According to the Ministry of Petroleum (MoP&NG), it is wrong to add water to any fuel. The underground tanks of modern vehicles and petrol pumps have elaborate safety measures like silica gel traps, special gaskets and sealants to prevent water from entering. (AI image)
Fake videos of mixing sugarcane juice in petrol: The videos going viral on social media are completely fake and misleading, in which sugarcane juice is directly mixed in petrol and the petrol is shown separating. The Petroleum Ministry has clarified that the ethanol found in fuel is prepared under strict industrial standards. Ethanol mixed petrol never separates at normal temperatures. (AI image)
Myth that ethanol plants harm the environment and farmers: The claim that ethanol plants harm the environment is false. Modern plants run on Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) technology and have to obtain stringent environmental clearances. Through this program, the country has saved more than Rs 1.90 lakh crore of foreign exchange and more than Rs 1.60 lakh crore has been paid to the farmers. (AI image)
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