Since April 1, 2026, every petrol pump in India sells only one grade of fuel: E20. Twenty percent ethanol, eighty percent petrol. There's no low-ethanol option left at the pump anymore — E10 doesn't exist. The only alternative is ethanol-free XP100, at roughly ₹160 a litre, which isn't a realistic option for most riders filling up a daily machine.
Official studies from ARAI, SIAM, and Indian Oil say E20 is fine for compliant vehicles — minimal drop in mileage, better emissions, higher octane. That's the government's position, and for machines built after 2023, it's largely accurate.
But if your bike or car is older than that — and a lot of India's machines are — the story on the ground is different. Independent testing and rider reports point to a 3–10% mileage drop, fuel system corrosion from ethanol's moisture absorption, and components wearing out years earlier than they should. Ask any mechanic who's opened up a carburetor running on E20 for a year. They'll tell you.
Why we made a tee about it
We're not a fuel policy blog, and this isn't a technical protest. Here's the honest version: every genuine motorhead feels something when their machine starts running rougher for reasons that have nothing to do with how they've cared for it.
These aren't just machines to us. They're part of us — the same way food is. Nobody would quietly accept adulterated food on their plate. So why should fuel be any different?
We used our art to say what a lot of Indian riders and drivers already feel but rarely say out loud. That's the whole idea behind the Fuck Ethanol tee — not a technical argument, just an honest one, worn.
If you've felt it too, you already know.