The Big Picture
Ethanol-blended petrol is set to hit UK forecourts this summer
Fuel is changing. We explore E10 as it hits forecourts across Britain this summer.
This summer will see a major change to the petrol supplied at UK forecourts. By September 1, 2021, standard 95 octane pump petrol will contain between five and 10 per cent ethanol, compared to the current UK standard of zero to five percent. Concerns have been raised that many vehicles built before 2011 will not be compatible with the new fuel. An online vehicle compatibility checker can be found at gov.uk/checkvehicle-e10-petrol.
Petrol that contains between zero and five per cent ethanol will continue to be available from petrol stations that offer two grades of petrol with a turnover of one million litres per year as a protection grade fuel for at least five years. Look for an octane rating of 97 or above. E5 and E10 will be clearly labelled.
The most obvious way to protect your classic is not to run it on E10 petrol. Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs (FBHVC) chairman
David Whale told PC: ‘E5 protection grade is nothing new. High octane (97+) fuels will simply continue to be sold with low ethanol content, while standard 95 octane fuel will see an increase in ethanol content up to 10 per cent (E10). This provision for low ethanol fuel is protected by legislation for at least the next five years (the maximum possible term for such legislation) and we (the FBHVC) are confident that, if no alternative fuel becomes available, then the government will legislate to continue the supply of E5 fuel going forward.’
PC editor, Danny Hopkins, supports that view: ‘Classic owners should seek to use E5 protection grade fuel, where possible, to ensure that demand for this lower ethanol fuel is maintained. ‘
Some of the issues associated with ethanol blended fuels include corrosion of metal components including fuel tanks, cracking of seals and fuel hoses and lean running due to the differing combustion chemistry of
ethanol to standard petrol. All of these issues and more will be explored in detail the October issue of PC.
‘Starting Handle’ on p8 examines the motives behind the biggest change to UK fuel supply since the introduction of unleaded petrol all the way back in 1989. Next month, Practical
Classics will be bringing you a full feature on how to protect your classic against E10. However, the five most important things to consider are outlined in the column on the right of this page.
‘Classic owners should use E5 protection grade to prove demand’