Fuel prices aren’t going down, and with E20 ethanol-blended petrol now standard across India, most riders have noticed their bike drinking a bit more than before. The good news: a meaningful chunk of that mileage is recoverable through riding habits and basic maintenance, no matter what fuel is in the tank. Here are 12 practical tips that actually move the needle.
1. Maintain a Steady Throttle
Aggressive acceleration and constant on-off throttle in traffic burns noticeably more fuel than smooth, gradual inputs. Try to read traffic ahead and coast into gaps rather than accelerating hard and braking late.
2. Shift Up Early
Riding in a lower gear at higher RPM than necessary wastes fuel. Shift up as soon as the engine can comfortably carry the load in the next gear.
3. Keep Tyres at the Correct Pressure
Underinflated tyres increase rolling resistance, which directly increases fuel consumption. Check pressure at least once every two weeks, especially before long rides.
4. Don’t Skip Scheduled Servicing
Air filters, spark plugs, and chain lubrication all affect combustion efficiency and drivetrain friction. A neglected air filter alone can measurably hurt mileage.
5. Clean Your Fuel System Regularly
Carbon deposits on injectors and valves force your engine to work harder for the same output. Under E20, these deposits tend to build up faster than they did with pure petrol. A periodic treatment with MotoZen FuelGuard Petrol Additive helps keep injectors and combustion chambers closer to factory-clean condition.
6. Avoid Carrying Unnecessary Weight
Extra load — whether it’s gear you don’t need or a habitually overloaded pillion setup — increases the energy needed to move the bike. Travel light where you can.
7. Reduce Idling Time
Long idling at signals or while waiting burns fuel for zero distance. If you expect a wait longer than 15–20 seconds, switching off the engine (where safe and practical) saves fuel over time.
8. Plan Routes to Avoid Peak Traffic
Stop-and-go traffic is one of the biggest mileage killers. Where possible, time your rides to avoid the worst congestion windows on your regular routes.
9. Check Wheel Alignment and Brake Drag
Misaligned wheels or brakes that aren’t fully releasing create constant resistance the engine has to overcome. If your bike seems to “pull” to one side or mileage has dropped suddenly, get this checked.
10. Use the Recommended Engine Oil Grade
Using a heavier oil than specified increases internal friction. Stick to the viscosity grade recommended in your owner’s manual.
11. Get a Carburettor Rejet if You’re on an Older Bike
Older carburetted engines not tuned for ethanol-blended fuel often run lean on E20, which hurts both performance and efficiency. A rejet corrects the air-fuel ratio for E20 and is one of the highest-impact fixes for pre-2023 carburetted bikes.
12. Consider a Performance Booster for Lost Power
If your bike feels like it’s lost some pep since the switch to E20, part of that perceived mileage drop can come from the engine working harder to deliver the same acceleration. MotoZen OctaBoost Performance Booster is formulated to help restore throttle response and performance on E20-affected engines.
How Much Mileage Can You Realistically Recover?
There’s no single number — it depends on how neglected your fuel system and maintenance schedule currently are. But riders who combine cleaner riding habits with a proper fuel system cleaning routine typically report noticeably smoother throttle response and a partial recovery of the mileage they’d lost since switching to E20. For more background on why E20 affects mileage in the first place, see our guide on what E20 fuel does to your engine.
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