E10 Petrol Quick Guide - what is it and can my car run on it?

Eco-friendly petrol is set to be rolled out to the United Kingdom filling stations later this year, namely E10. The government plans to make it the new standard petrol in the country by the end of the summer to help the government reach the goal of ensuring all transport fuels are derived from renewable sources by the end of 2021. The only challenge is that not all cars will be able to use E10 petrol.

So what is E10 petrol?

It is a type of petrol that contains less carbon and up to 10% renewable ethanol made from the fermentation of crops such as grains and sugarcane. It is expected to contribute to the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions that are associated with the current petrol type. This reduction will help fight climate change in Europe. The expectation is that E10 fuel will reduce up to 750,000 tons of carbon dioxide a year, which will go a long way towards environmental conservation. This is the same as removing 300,000 vehicles from our roads.

Currently, petrol in the United Kingdom contains up to about 5% of renewable ethanol. When E10 fuel will be successfully implemented by the government in September, it will help the United Kingdom to be on par with other countries such as France, Belgium and Germany who are already using it. Finland is the leading country in terms of using E10 fuel in Europe. 

Will E10 fuel be cheaper?

E10 is less efficient compared to E5 fuel. This means that vehicles using E10 fuel will have to burn more fuel to achieve the same reaction as E5 fuel cars. This will in turn make the drivers to fuel more often and eventually E10 will become more expensive as compared to E5 fuel.

You can check if your car is compatible via the E10 online checker

What cars are compatible with E10 fuel? 

Approximately 600,000 vehicles on our roads currently aren’t compatible with E10. Drivers are advised to reach out to their manufacturers in case of any questions about their specific type of cars. In fact, drivers of vehicles registered before 2002 are cautioned not to use E10 fuel, this is because problems with the engines have been reported. This will include some of the historic models of cars. However, all new cars sold past 2011 are expected to be E10 compatible.

The United Kingdom government has created an E10 compatibility website where drivers can check whether their car is compatible with the fuel. The website has a list of all manufacturers whose vehicles are sold in the United Kingdom, and the model of cars that are not approved to use E10 fuel. However, it cautions its users that they won’t be responsible for any damages caused to their cars as a result of checking on their website.

What happens if you put E10 fuel in an unleaded car?

If you put E10 fuel to an unleaded car, it will run but it may cause internal blockage of pipes and damage to metals and seals in the long run. E10 is a less stable fuel and if filled in a car that has not been driven for a long period of time, the vehicle may not start. Further, the consequences of filling E10 fuel in an incompatible car vary depending on the engine and the amount of fuel that has been filled in.

When about a third of the tank is filled with E10 fuel, you simply add the right fuel suitable for the car as fast as possible. Although draining the fuel is an option, it shouldn’t be considered unless in the unfortunate event that the engine refuses to start. 

Who will be able to access E5 fuel?

Despite being replaced by E10, E5 fuel will still be available for the old car drivers at all filling stations. Even though it will be accessible, drivers using E5 would have to pay more to get the fuel. However, it is predicted that at some point in the coming years, E5 petrol will disappear and will no longer be available at any filling station in the country.