Any questions on the new e10 petrol?

With the recent news of E5 petrol will be replaced with E10, we are not the only bunch of motorists left confused. What does it mean and how it affects those with older cars?

As of September 1^st, 2021, the standard grade of petrol in Great Britain is E10, denoting up to a 10% content of bioethanol.

Prior to this, regular unleaded was E5 although E10 has been on sale for some time in the UK and more particularly in Europe.

The current petrol grade is E5 which is made up of 95% regular unleaded petrol and 5% renewable ethanol (hence the name).

The intention being that the use of E10 will be much more beneficial to the environment as it will contain 10% ethanol and 90% of regular unleaded petrol, hence cutting down the CO2 transmissions from our vehicles.

Cars manufactured from 2011 onwards will be able to take the new E10 petrol grade without having to modify the engine.

Older cars, including classics, may have to be adapted.

If your car is not compatible, there will still be E5 petrol available to use, it will just be more expensive.

If you’re unsure whether your car is compatible, the government has set up a website where drivers can check whether their car will run on E10 fuel.

As always, drivers should take care when filling up their cars to avoid putting in the wrong petrol.

The Government says that pumps will be clearly labelled.

If you do accidentally put E10 in your car which is only compatible with E5, don’t worry … wait until there is room to add more petrol in and fill it with the correct one.

This isn’t as bad as filling a petrol-powered car with diesel, you won’t have to get the car drained out BUT you should still take care and pay attention to what you are filling your car up with because it can cause long-term damage.

We all know that reducing the impact of climate change and hitting carbon emissions targets will require more electric cars, low-carbon heating, renewable electricity, and, for many, cutting down on meat and dairy products.

Filling up the car has for decades been the same – you pull into the forecourt, and you pretty much just must remember to stick either in petrol or diesel in – green pump or black pump.

Well, things are changing and changing fast.

You’re now better prepared to answer the petrol forecourt staff when they ask you about E5 or E10 fuels.