The full rollout of E20 petrol has sparked huge waves of discussions around the possible side effects of its persistent use. The regular use of Ethanol-blended petrol can cause issues like corrosion and damage to fuel lines. This worries people. As discussed in our previous story, using a good-quality fuel additive- a fuel system cleaner, to be precise- can help in minimizing the adverse impact of blended fuel on the powertrain’s health. STP is one of the most reputed and experienced brands in making additives. Its fuel system cleaner, which is easily available on platforms like Amazon, can protect your car from E20-related problems.
For the uninformed, a fuel system cleaner is a chemical additive which can remove contaminants from various parts of a vehicle’s fuel system. It is mixed with the fuel and introduced into the system, where it acts and brings about improvements in vehicle health.
These additives usually cleanse areas such as injectors, intake valves, combustion chambers, tank, and fuel lines. This additive contains solvents and detergents, which can potentially minimize the vulnerabilities and compromises caused by Ethanol.
Using Ethanol-blended fuel for a long time can lead to rusting of various engine components. This happens because the Ethanol in the fuel absorbs moisture from the air around. This can cause early wear of powertrain components. A good-quality fuel system cleaner, like the one from STP, has chemicals that will get rid of any rust that’s inside the engine.
Removing contaminants from the powertrain also helps in restoring lost engine performance and brings about higher fuel efficiency. It makes the engine smoother as well.
STP additives are recommended by many performance experts and enthusiasts from around the world. As you might already know by now, the scope of these isn’t limited to ‘providing protection against E20 side effects’ alone. STP, a trusted brand in the space, offers cleaners of various grades (concentrations) and for various purposes.
The Complete fuel system cleaner would be the best choice here. You can go for the regular version (choose ‘Concentrated’ only if you have a very old vehicle).
STP's fuel system cleaner contains several active ingredients that help in cleaning. It unclogs dirty injectors and dissolves harmful deposits inside the engine. This improves combustion and restores lost performance.
Using this is fairly easy. Just grab the bottle and pour its contents into the petrol tank, in the right amount. 350 ml would suffice for 45 litres of fuel. Most cars have fuel tanks that can accommodate around 45L. It needs to be mentioned here that STP additives aren’t the most affordable ones around.
A 5.25 OZ (roughly 155 ml) bottle is selling for Rs 1,899 on Amazon, at the time of writing this article. There are, of course, cheaper alternatives available as well. 200 ml of IFTEX Clean System G, for example, costs Rs 342. Those who are interested can try these as well.
Two-wheelers will be among the most affected by E20 side effects. Foreseeing the same, manufacturers have already started recommending the use of good quality additives on older models. Bajaj, for example, has officially confirmed that the use of 40ml of fuel system cleaner per full tank, will help in keeping the vehicle safe. This will cost Rs 80-100 each time. Additive sachets are now available in many fuel stations across the country.
Bajaj engineers confirm that due to its hygroscopic property, Ethanol will cause corrosion inside the fuel system, in the long run. It can also damage rubber seals, gaskets and butterfly valves in carburettors and throttle bodies. Thus, a systematic use of additives is now necessary.
The rollout of E20 fuel has definitely changed the ownership experience of petrol vehicles. It has reshaped the maintenance routines and financial landscapes. With additives becoming inevitable, the yearly ownership costs have now gone up significantly.