E10 Petrol Regulations – All You Need To Know

used cars, e10 petrol, new petrol standards 

link to the used cars page

LMC decided to compile a condensed guide on everything you need to know about the new E10 petrol regulations. 

Here are some of the main points as outlined on the gov.uk website:

• During the summer of 2021, the standard (95 octane) petrol grade in the UK became E10. In Northern Ireland, this will roll out in early 2022.
• Up to 5% bioethanol is currently added to petrol in the UK, often referred to as E5. Whilst E10 is a biofuel made up of 90% regular unleaded and 10% ethanol. 
• The changes apply to petrol only, and diesel will remain the same
• Almost all petrol vehicles on the road can use E10 and all cars built since 2011 are compatible. Check if yours is compatible using the online vehicle checker here. 
• If your petrol vehicle is not compatible with E10 fuel, you can still use E5 by purchasing the ‘super’ or ‘premium’ grade (97+ octane) petrol from most petrol stations
• The average price per litre of E10 is expected to be the same as it is for E5; currently 135p/litre on average according to the RAC. But the Government says E10 is around 1% less fuel-efficient, which means motorists may have to fill up more often.

Improved Emissions

All of this is in an effort to reduce CO2 emissions as well as our carbon footprint, as the new E10 petrol contains up to 10% renewable ethanol, whereas standard petrol (E5) only contains 5%. This could help reduce emissions by up to 750,000 tonnes a year, which is the equivalent of taking 350,000 cars off the road each year. 

Fuel Consumption

As stated by the gov website ‘Using E10 petrol can slightly reduce fuel economy (the number of miles you are able to drive on a gallon of fuel). You may see a reduction of around 1%, but it is unlikely to be noticeable in everyday driving.’

However, RAC fuel spokesman Simon Williams said: ‘those with E10 compatible cars will, unfortunately, find they are getting fewer miles to the gallon as the fuel is less efficient than E5 fuel, due to it containing 5% more ethanol.’

Can E10 be used in all cars?

No, because as many as 600,000 vehicles on our roads aren’t compatible with the new E10 fuel. You can view our website where we have multiple modern used cars that will be compatible though.

As a rule, drivers of cars registered prior to 2002 are advised not to use E10 in their vehicles, as problems have been reported. And as of 2011, all new cars sold in the UK must be E10 compatible.

If you’re not sure, it’s recommended to contact your vehicle manufacturer. 

What happens if I put E10 in an incompatible car?

E10 fuel put into an incompatible vehicle can have different effects depending on the vehicle/engine variant and how much fuel has been put into it. Doing so may cause rough running and cold starting, but it shouldn’t affect things too badly. 

Sometimes though, it may cause seals, plastics, and metal parts to corrode over time. 

Classic car owners should take extra care not to accidentally fill up with E10 and then leave it in the tank for too long, as this can damage expensive seals, plastics, and metals.

If you have filled up your car with E10 by accident, simply top up with the correct fuel suitable for the vehicle as soon as possible when around a third to half the tank is used.

There we have it, the new E10 petrol standards, and everything you need to know.