E10 fuel - looks like it's coming

[Paul Kelley]

As part of research to my related post Petrol Smells in Car and Boot, I wanted to know more about Ethanol and the move to increase the UK from E5 to E10. This is relevant to us as E10 will rot your fuel system. It's an issue in the USA and elsewhere. Knowing the Petrol Retailers Association from a past working life, I contacted them and received the following reply:

Hi Paul,

Currently E10 is not available in the UK both premium and super grades of petrol have up to 5% Ethanol blended. We will shortly be receiving a consultation from the Government concerning E10 and if and when it is rolled out (likely to be mandated by the Government) the Super grades e.g. BP Ultimate and Shell V Power will still be E5.

When E10 is available we are also lobbying Govt to roll out a consumer guidance programme to ensure that the fuel you put into your tank doesn’t harm your engine. You might have to pay a little more but your classic car will run on the super grade of fuel.

Regards

Gordon Balmer
Commercial Manager
Web site ukpra.co.uk
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[Ritchie6]

Interesting topic Paul and something I wasn't familiar with. With reference to the damage to the fuel system what sort of time frame are we talking about-months or years?

Richard

[Paul Kelley]

You'll also notice that this summer the fuel labeling at the pumps is changing from Unleaded to E5 (and diesel to B7). This has to be completed by 1st Sept as part of an EU wide fuel info directive (no, I'm not going there....). And, I think it's fair to assume, to enable E10 fuel to arrive. Why E10? Ethanol produces less CO2 and the Gov't has a 2020 target to hit and it's harder now we are using more petrol and less diesel. BUT...ethanol is 33% less efficient, the Germans have done the maths and the extra fuel needed for the same journey cancels out the benefit. So why bother at all? Doh!
Paul

[Paul Kelley]

Hi Richard. Don't know, but if I had to guess < 1 year because of CO2 targets - see above.

[Paul Kelley]

Ah, Richard I may have misunderstood your time frame question. If you meant time for E10 to rot your fuel system, I don't know. But the short answer is don't try it and pay the extra for the super grade come the day E10 gets introduced. Maybe our US or other international members can comment further re any actual damage to fuel systems?

[Ritchie6]

[QUOTE=Paul Kelley;n783097] But the short answer is don't try it and pay the extra for the super grade come the day E10 gets introduced. [QUOTE]

Our local filling station is Texaco and they do sell the higher grade fuel which I use periodically with the ordinary stuff. It's about 7 or 8p a litre dearer but it sounds as though it's worth it, especially given how little mileage I do.

Richard

[022Dave]

If they're true to their word, and premium stays at 5% ethanol, then that should be ok. I've always used premium in my Stag; yes, it costs a few pennies per litre more, but if I was that cost conscious, I would be running something else! Don't forget that we get free road tax now, which is a considerable cost offset. We're stuck with whatever the politicians use in their smoke & mirrors ecobabble - remember diesel being evironmentally friendly under Gordon Brown? E10 is now very common on the continent.

Dave

[wilf]

E5 is already wrecking fuel pumps, as I have discovered.

[flying farmer]

Having just returned from a 2000 mile round trip to France in the Stag, I reckon the E10 doesn't give the same mileage as the premium fuel.
Last time I went over I found the mixture was extremely weak on E10 (I have a gauge on the dash) so I filled up with premium which was better.
I slightly richened the mixture this time and just used the E10 but the Stag only averaged 26mpg, I would expect 27.5-28mpg under the same conditions in the UK with regular unleaded.

The fuel in France on the toll roads is horribly expensive, averaged £1.50 per litre with the exchange rate, but on the other hand it was about the same price on the M25!

Neil

[trunt]

USA here..


We have been running E10 over here for 8?? years. My (original?) su pump is fine, my fuel lines are fine, my carbs are fine. I have to say that until you guys started posting about it I have been blissfully unaware of such problems with E10 in classic cars aside from some problems with storage. Never heard anyone talk about it at the classic car shows either.
I'm not saying that all these things are impossible but.. Dont Panic

Yes if you store your car a while with E10 it can absorb water and that can corrode things but that can be minimised with proper storage. Yes If you have 40 odd year old bits of rubber in your fuel system it apparently can cause these to fail. E10 aside, my cars always get new rubber especially in the fuel lines!

Fuel consumption?? dunno.. I have not seen non-E10 for years.. I don't care anyways - its 3 bucks a gallon


Terry

[022Dave]

I don't care anyways - its 3 bucks a gallon


Terry

Hey Terry; it'll be even cheaper when you've bought Greenland, and own its oil reserves!

Dave

[mjheathcote]

I'm sure the E5 is the course of fuel vapourisation that has been an issue for me the last couple of years, never the previous 20 years with my Holley.
Going E10 is going to course more issues for sure.

[Ritchie6]

USA here..


I don't care anyways - its 3 bucks a gallon


Terry

The last time I was in the USA was 13 years ago and there was some unrest about the price of "Gas" because it was expected to top $2 a gallon. They were absolutely astounded when I told them we Brits were paying around $10 a gallon and couldn't figure out how we put up with it.

Richard

[Paul Kelley]

Interesting to hear the various views, especially USA Terry's experience which is reassuring - and noted that new fuel lines are just a good idea anyway. Paul

[trunt]

Hey Terry; it'll be even cheaper when you've bought Greenland, and own its oil reserves!

Dave

And then when Britain is the 51st state we get North Sea oil as well!