Overview
- Citing a July 19 post on X, actor Naresh Vijaya Krishna said E20 petrol has caused engine problems for riders and car owners and that he switched his Porsche Panamera to 100‑octane fuel.
- Naresh claimed a friend paid about Rs 3.5 lakh to replace engine valves on a Toyota Camry and estimated a similar repair for his Porsche would cost about Rs 12 lakh, but news reports do not independently verify E20 as the cause.
- Earlier this year Rajya Sabha MP Kamal Haasan sought parliamentary answers about E20’s effects on mileage, engine components, warranty and insurance, and the government continues to promote ethanol blending to cut crude imports and emissions.
- Naresh said 100‑octane petrol costs roughly Rs 165 per litre and is not widely available on highways, a point he used to argue that ordinary motorists face higher costs and limited options to avoid E20.
- The exchange has renewed debate over the pace of India’s E20 rollout, with supporters pointing to Brazil’s phased model and critics urging more testing, clearer consumer protections and explicit warranty or insurance rules before broader adoption.