The start of September, 2021, sees E5 unleaded replaced as the standard fuel station petrol in England, Scotland and Wales. While in Northern Ireland, the change comes into force during 2022.
It controversially leaves over 500,000 vehicles on the road in the UK unable to use the new unleaded, with older engines at risk of long term damage should drivers and riders fill up with E10.
E10 fuel has been found to reduce fuel economy in vehicles by around 1%, though the difference has been described as negligible.
Is my car compatible with E10 fuel?
According to the UK Government, "Almost all (95%) petrol-powered vehicles on the road today can use E10 petrol and all cars built since 2011 are compatible."
Classic cars and older editions of certain models in the early 2000s are most likely to be incompatible.
However, to help smooth over the transition from E5 to E10, the UK Government has created a webpage where you can check if your vehicle is ready to switch over.
What is E10 petrol?
Whereas E5 petrol had a renewable ethanol content of 5%, E10 petrol contains 10%.
This tweak in the fuel's recipe is forecast to reduce CO2 emissions by 750,000 per year. This is the equivalent of 350,000 cars off the road, roughly the same number as all the cars in North Yorkshire.
The increased bioethanol content of E10 means more carbon is absorbed before being pumped into the atmosphere.
What happens if I use E5 fuel?
If you use E5 fuel in an incompatible vehicle, either by accident or not, your vehicle is at risk of damage.
Though not as catastrophic as using diesel in a petrol car, your vehicle will suffer from the engine not being designed to handle the higher ethanol content of E10.
Sealants, plastics and metals used under the bonnet are crucial to the car's performance and are all greatly harmed by the wrong fuel.
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