Farmers brace themselves for another change in fuel policy

SCOTLAND’S farmers are nervous about the planned national roll-out of E10 fuels – because many are still suffering the after-effects of earlier efforts to ‘green’ the content of the diesel supplied to the farm machinery market.

The national move to E10 standard petrol grade this summer has prompted a DVLA reminder for those with vehicles and machinery made prior to 2011 to check that they can take the new higher-ethanol fuel mix.

Currently, UK petrol is E5, meaning it contains up to five per cent bioethanol. E10 petrol will see the amount of bioethanol increase to 10%.

Petrol vehicles and machinery manufactured after 2011 and most motorcycles are E10 compatible.

However, some petrol vehicles made before 2011 will need to continue to use E5 petrol which will remain available as the super grade petrol option at the pumps. DVLA stressed that using E10 fuel in an incompatible petrol vehicle will not cause immediate harm – but continued use could damage engine parts.

Farmers know all too well what that means. In recent years, as the ethanol content of the red diesel used on farm has crept up, so have instances of fuel filter blockage.

In chemical terms, ethanol is a ‘hygroscopic’ substance – which means it tends to attract water, and once it does, thicker sediments can form.

This has been a particular issue on farms, where many machinery users store large quantities of fuel in their own tanks.

Now farmers and crofters face the uncertainty of what E10 petrol may inflict on older farm machinery – as of course many farms retain machines much older than that 2011 cut-off – as well as two-stroke implements like chainsaws.