E10 fuel rolled out throughout all of the UK in September 2021. However, is it better for our cars? How does it affect the environment – and does it improve MPG? There are many questions that drivers have, and we are here to answer them.
What is E10 Fuel?
E10 fuel is the standard now for petrol cars. It contains up to 10% renewable ethanol, which is double the concentration compared to the previous E5 petrol that only contained up to 5% renewable ethanol.
E10 fuel is at the pump for your standard 95-octane fuel. However, 97+ octane fuel, such as Shell V-Power, Tesco Momentum, and BP Ultimate still currently use E5 fuel.
Which Cars Can Use E10 Fuel?
95% of cars on the road will be able to use E10 fuel.
All petrol cars manufactured since 2011 will be able to use this fuel, and most cars manufactured since the 1990s will also be able to. However, if you are unsure about your own car and E10 then it is best to check.
You can check here via the GOV website – gov.uk/check-vehicle-e10-petrol
What Happens If My Car Is Not Compatible And I Use E10?
If you put E10 petrol in your car and it is only compatible with E5 fuel, don’t worry as it is not a major issue. Just remember to fill up with E5 fuel in the future – (i.e. 97+ octane grade fuel)
How Does E10 Fuel Affect MPG?
Many people have noticed a decrease in fuel efficiency since using E10.
It is true that it does affect it, but it’s not detrimental. In most cases, depending on how you drive your car, it will only affect fuel economy by around 3% on average.
The big difference in filling up our vehicles in recent times – and which has been far more noticeable – is the increase in fuel prices at the pump. On average fuel is now hovering around £2.00/litre (as of June 2022). This is almost double what it was during the peak of the pandemic!
Is E10 Fuel Better For The Environment?
Since E10 fuel uses more renewable ethanol, this will help to reduce Carbon Dioxide emissions, which was one of the main reasons for the switch from E5 to E10.
The introduction of E10 fuel could see a reduction of 750,000 tonnes of CO2 from vehicles per year. This is the equivalent of taking 350,000 cars off the road.
Tivoli Auto Services
We are an independent garage based in Hastings, St. Leonards. If you have any issues or requirements with your car, or need a new service and MOT, bring your vehicle down to our garage and a member of our friendly team will be happy to help.
Contact us today on 01424 442277 to get your car booked in. We are here to give any advice to help you get the most out of your vehicle.
