Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari has stated that car owners cannot accurately measure their vehicle’s mileage without authorised dealer equipment, amid concerns over ethanol-blended petrol.
In an interview with ABP News on Monday, Gadkari responded to a journalist’s claim that her 2023 car’s mileage dropped from 11 km/litre to 7 km/litre after switching to E20 fuel. Questioning her calculation method, he said, “You and I can’t check the mileage. A car's mileage can only be checked using a company-authorised dealer's machine.”
Government Acknowledges E20 Impact on Fuel Efficiency
The Centre recently admitted that E20 petrol may reduce fuel economy by 3-5% in some vehicles, though it defended the policy as part of a broader push to cut crude imports and emissions. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas stated, “It is true that in some vehicles there may be a 3-5% reduction in fuel economy. But mileage is only one parameter.”
India mandated nationwide E20 petrol sales from April 1, but the rollout has faced resistance from motorists and sections of the auto industry over performance concerns, particularly in older vehicles.
How Drivers Can Estimate Mileage
While Gadkari emphasised dealer tools, drivers can approximate fuel efficiency using onboard displays or the full-tank method. Modern cars calculate mileage via engine data, with dashboard readings typically within 2-5% of manual calculations. The full-tank method involves filling the tank, resetting the trip meter, driving until the next refill, then dividing distance by fuel added.
Dealer diagnostic equipment, however, assesses mechanical and electronic factors affecting efficiency, such as fuel injectors or sensor performance, rather than directly measuring real-world mileage.
