There are some big changes being introduced to petrol stations this September, as a new type of fuel is being introduced, which is known as E10.
It’s a fuel that will be rolled out across many petrol forecourts in England, Wales and Scotland, and those in Northern Ireland from next Spring.
While many drivers won’t need to worry about this new fuel, it won’t be compatible with some older vehicles. To help you get to grips with E10, this is everything you need to know.
What is E10 fuel?
Up until now, the majority of fuel in the UK has been E5, which is made up of up to five per cent of ethanol. For E10, that ethanol content is taken up to 10 per cent.
Why is E10 fuel being introduced?
The main reason E10 is being introduced is for environmental reasons, as it’s considered a ‘greener’ fuel and aims to make the cars already on the road cleaner.
That’s because ethanol is made from the fermentation of plants, and it’s therefore considered to be ‘carbon neutral’ as the plants have in theory absorbed more carbon dioxide during their growth than what is released into the air during combustion in a car’s engine.
In fact, the government says that getting more vehicles to use E10 fuel would help to cut CO2 emissions by 750,000 tonnes per year, which is said to be the equivalent of taking 350,000 cars off the road.
Can I fill my car with E10 fuel?
For many motorists, the change to E10 petrol won’t be any major one as the majority of cars are able to fill up on this greener fuel. If your car was registered in 2011 or afterwards it will be perfectly fine to use E10 as it was mandatory for more modern vehicles.
However, before then it’s not a given. While you can find out if your car is compatible here, if you drive a classic it’s more than likely not compatible with E10 and therefore should be avoided.
What do I do if I can’t fuel my car with E10 petrol?
If your car isn’t compatible with E10 fuel, don’t worry too much as E5 petrol will remain in ‘super’ grades, meaning you’ll still be able to fill up your car safely. The downside is that this type of petrol is more expensive and isn’t offered at all forecourts. You might have to visit larger filling stations to be able to find it.
Will I notice any changes from E5 to E10 fuel?
If your car IS compatible with E10 petrol, you should notice next to no difference in performance between it and the previous E5.
According to the government, E10 can slightly reduce fuel economy, but only by around one per cent, which is unlikely to make much difference in your day-to-day driving, though could prove noticeable on longer trips or if you have to fill your car up regularly.
What if I mistakenly fill a non compatible car with E10 fuel?
If you fill your petrol car with E10 fuel by accident, you shouldn’t worry too much. That’s because – unlike if you put diesel in a petrol car, for example – you won’t have to drain the tank. If your car isn’t compatible, you might notice a dip in performance or that it’s not as smooth as normal.
However, you should continue to use your car as you would anyway and then when it comes to refilling time, just make sure to put E5 ‘petrol’ in. That said, if your car is set to be parked for a long period of time (and isn’t compatible), you really don’t want to leave it full of E10 as prolonged use can damage seals, metals and plastics.
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