Toyota cites fuel contamination in viral Innova Hycross video, says E20 not at fault
New Delhi, July 4
Toyota Kirloskar Motor on Saturday clarified that a viral social media video claiming a Toyota Innova Hycross developed issues due to use of E20 fuel was not related to the ethanol-blended fuel, saying its technical assessment found the problem was caused by fuel contamination.
In a statement, the company said the Toyota Innova Hycross involved in the incident is an E20-compatible vehicle that has been designed, tested and certified for the use of 20 per cent ethanol-blended fuel.
"Based on our detailed technical assessment of the vehicle, the issue was due to fuel contamination. Our inspection confirmed that there was no damage to any vehicle component or its fuel system," TKM said.
The company said its service team drained and cleaned the fuel tank and fuel lines before refilling the vehicle with standard E20 fuel. Following inspection, the vehicle was found to be functioning normally and was returned to the customer.
"It is clearly apparent that this incident is not related to E20 fuel usage and was solely caused by non-standard and contaminated fuel," the company said.
TKM advised customers to refuel only at authorised and reputed fuel stations to minimise the risk of fuel contamination or adulteration, which could adversely affect vehicle performance.
The company also urged customers to rely on credible, science-based information from official sources and contact authorised Toyota dealerships or its customer care team for any queries related to vehicle performance or fuel compatibility.
Additionally, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG) on Friday dismissed as false and misleading information being spread on social media platforms that ethanol-blended petrol (E20) is harmful for vehicles, causes higher pollution, and leads to water wastage in the production of crops for ethanol.
— IANS
Reader Comments
E20 is the future, and Toyota is doing a good job clearing the air. But we need more awareness in smaller towns about proper fuel. The ministry also needs to ensure quality control at pumps.
Knew it! Another case of blaming new tech for old problems. Our petrol pumps are notorious for adulteration. Maybe stricter penalties will help. 🚗
Impressive how Toyota handled this. But as an outsider, it's surprising how quickly people jump to conclusions about ethanol. The science is clear—it's a fuel quality issue, not E20.
I trust Toyota more than random Instagram videos. But the ministry should also launch campaigns to educate people. Not everyone knows what E20 is, bhai.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.