E10 petrol in 2021?

AdrianC

https://www.gov.uk/check-vehicle-e10-petrol

Ford

E10 is cleared for use in all petrol driven Ford models sold in Europe since 1992 excluding:

• Ford Mondeo 1.8 SCI from 2003 to 2007.

Mazda

E10 petrol is cleared for use in all models with petrol engines introduced in and from the year 2002, Mazda6 (GG/GY) and models with petrol engines introduced thereafter.

AdrianC

Chrishazle said:

FWIW Porsche GB advised years ago in writing that for their cars, any car 1996 or younger would be OK on E10, but 1995 and older should avoid it unless all fuel lines from the tank to the injectors had been changed to E10 compliant items - an expensive proposition compared to only using 98-99 RON fuel!

25yo fuel lines should be replaced anyway...

Ditzy_Mitzy

This rather reminds me of the phasing out of leaded petrol in the nineties.  There was lots of hue and cry about classic cars back then, however most seem to be unaffected.  

AdrianC

Ditzy_Mitzy said:

This rather reminds me of the phasing out of leaded petrol in the nineties.  There was lots of hue and cry about classic cars back then, however most seem to be unaffected.  

...with quite a few people paying for snake oil...

facade

Ditzy_Mitzy said:

This rather reminds me of the phasing out of leaded petrol in the nineties.  There was lots of hue and cry about classic cars back then, however most seem to be unaffected.  

They are affected, some have been modified but most do such low mileages that they keep running, and when they won't run, they get repaired with the required valve seats.

The snake oil is likely Castrol Valvemaster, I still have some in the shed- it didn't work (Not like the Elephant Powder I still put down to keep the elephants away from my garden....)

AdrianC

facade said:

Ditzy_Mitzy said:

This rather reminds me of the phasing out of leaded petrol in the nineties.  There was lots of hue and cry about classic cars back then, however most seem to be unaffected.  

They are affected, some have been modified but most do such low mileages that they keep running, and when they won't run, they get repaired with the required valve seats.

The big difference, of course, is that valve seat recession really is a thing. In cast iron heads with valve seats cut directly in, with no steel inserts.

Which isn't that many engines.

The snake oil is likely Castrol Valvemaster, I still have some in the shed- it didn't work (Not like the Elephant Powder I still put down to keep the elephants away from my garden....)

There were a few about.

My ol' Landy has an engine that has a cast iron head without steel seats.
I could get the head "converted" (by installing seats) to prevent it being affected.
Or I could keep a gentle eye on valve clearances, and - if they do start to close up - get the head fixed (by installing seats...)

The work is the exact same either way.

daveyjp

Cars are one thing, but generally ok for E10 use.

If you have petrol powered lawnmowers, generators, pumps etc with carbs they may not like it at all, especially if you leave the fuel in the system for weeks between uses.

AdrianC

daveyjp said:

Cars are one thing, but generally ok for E10 use.

If you have petrol powered lawnmowers, generators, pumps etc with carbs they may not like it at all, especially if you leave the fuel in the system for weeks between uses.

Bear in mind E10 has been widespread elsewhere across Europe for more than a decade. It's more than 90% of the market in nine EU countries, more than 70% in another three, and nearly half in another two - 14 out of 26. 

https://www.e10info.eu/e10-in-europe/

It's also been the default in the US for decades.

The UK is simply behind the curve in adopting this.

lordmountararat

It's also been the default in the US for decades

My son in California has a 1974 MGB which he bought in 1995. He had  a fair bit of trouble with E10 gasoline.

redfox5

I just found out about this today. I have a 2001 Vauxhall Astra and although the Gov & Vauxhall website say okay, the RAC website is saying:

As a rule, drivers of cars registered prior to 2002 are advised not to use E10 in their vehicle, as problems have been reported.

The RAC understands that if you put E10 fuel in an incompatible car it will still run, but seals, plastics and metals may be damaged over longer periods as a result of bioethanol's corrosive properties. 

There have also been reports that E10 is a less stable fuel and that this can make it more difficult to start a vehicle that has not been driven for an extended period.

so do I risk it with the new fuel or pay extra for Super Unleaded? How long do you think it will take before Unleaded disappears?