A video by popular YouTuber Sourav Joshi has reignited the debate over E20 ethanol-blended petrol. Joshi claimed that E20 fuel caused a drastic drop in the mileage of his luxury Mercedes-Benz SUV within just a few days.
He also expressed concerns over the vehicle’s engine health. After his video went viral on social media, Mercedes-Benz India issued an official clarification addressing the issue. Joshi, a YouTuber based in Haldwani, Uttarakhand, who has over 41 million subscribers, shared a vlog showing his Mercedes-Benz SUV’s dashboard.
He claimed that the car’s mileage dropped heavily within 48 hours. According to Joshi, the car initially showed an average of around 17 kilometers per liter, which then dropped to 9 kilometers per liter, and eventually plummeted to just 5 kilometers per liter.
However, the video did not make it clear whether Joshi was referring to the car’s overall average mileage or the real-time fuel economy, which continuously changes based on road conditions, traffic, and driving styles.
व्लॉगर सौरभ जोशी
“मेरी कार का माइलेज 17 से घटकर 9 हो गया है, आज यह और भी कम होकर 5 हो गया है
यह सब इथेनॉल के कारण है, यह बहुत निराशाजनक है
मैंने इस कार पर बहुत पैसा खर्च किया है और इसकी हालत देखिए, यह सब इथेनॉल के कारण है।”
रिलेटिव धीरे-धीरे सबको प्रभावित कर रहा है !! pic.twitter.com/t4WZqwKvVEAlso Read— Prajasatta (@prajasattanews) July 13, 2026
Holding the ethanol-blended E20 petrol responsible for the falling mileage, Joshi blamed the fuel available at local petrol pumps. His wife and fellow content creator, Avantika Bhatt, also appeared in the video, expressing distress that such an expensive car was facing these issues.
Joshi further claimed that a full tank used to show a driving range of nearly 800 kilometers, which has now dropped to around 480 kilometers. He added that he now fears refueling the vehicle due to potential engine damage. Joshi noted that he also owns an electric Mercedes G-Wagon, which relieves him of any concerns regarding ethanol-mixed petrol.
Clips of the video quickly went viral on platforms like X and Instagram. While some social media users supported his claims, others pointed out that it is incorrect to reach a conclusion based solely on real-time mileage.
Following the viral video, Mercedes-Benz India issued an official advisory for its customers. While the company did not explicitly name Sourav Joshi, it cleared the air regarding the concerns over E20 petrol.
Customer Advisory pic.twitter.com/RxuTYl6Phz
— Mercedes-Benz India (@MercedesBenzInd) July 12, 2026
The company stated, “Customer safety, vehicle reliability, and optimal performance are our top priorities. All Mercedes-Benz BS6 petrol vehicles are fully compatible with E20 fuel and have received the necessary certification from the relevant government agencies.”
According to the manufacturer, all its BS6 petrol vehicles are designed and tested to run on the current E20 ethanol-blended petrol, and customers have no reason to worry.
