UK Fuel Changes

[Rally Pack 2000]

What are the fuel changes I have seen referred too when they talk about E5 to E10? Why is this causing many to inquire about converting their classics to electric? Why would it be incompatible with half a million cars and cause leaks and fires? (so the headlines say)

[Vista]

Put simply, increased ethanol content (from 5% to 10%).

There's an article on the pitfalls on an Australian website here

[Rally Pack 2000]

9 minutes ago, Vista said:

Put simply, increased ethanol content (from 5% to 10%).

There's an article on the pitfalls on an Australian website here

Yes we have has E10 for many years without insurmountable issues so that's what had me confused why all of a sudden when going from 5% to 10% it would warrant people to want to convert their cars to electric and even claims that half a million cars on your road wont run on it? I assume you still still have a premium 98 to 100 octane fuel, which most classic users would use if they haven't already? Or is this 10% ethanol now being applied to all fuels even premium ones? It seems like some crazy scare mongering that electric conversion companies are putting out there. Additives for reduced ethanol side effects have been around for decades so if you have been running on 5% then surely things arent going to change that much for you? I thought maybe there must be something missing like that's going to be the only fuel available for everyone after a certain date next year? For us it replaced the lowest rated fuel that could never be used in any Escort / Cortinas here anyways. The ethanol versions are higher octane which allowed them to be used in some lower compression classics where before the basic stuff was only fit for lawn mowers. Because of the compression ratio of a standard Pinto it was always necessary to use the premium stuff like V-Power from the get go of unleaded. I thought most of enthusiasts did the same over there to avoid any ethanol fuel altogether?

[theloudboy]

Super will remain at 5% ethanol so if you have any problems you will have to buy that, but I don’t know how long it will remain at that level

[Rally Pack 2000]

2 hours ago, theloudboy said:

Super will remain at 5% ethanol so if you have any problems you will have to buy that, but I don’t know how long it will remain at that level

So even your highest grade V-Power at 98 octane has ethanol in it?

[katana]

Any alcohol addition helps with octane but the more you have the less power is produced (litre for litre)! I wonder when the general population will start realising that their gas mileage is dropping with the increase in ethanol content? You have to burn more for same power and to burn it efficiently the CR and also ign. timing needs optimising!

I don't think a Pinto's compression ratio (which isn't particularly high) had anything to do with not liking early unleaded - more likely the absence of lead and consequential valve seat erosion with long term use? More a case of old tech engine design using premium fuel - just because! Just imagine what could be achieved using modern engine tech (materials, efi., turbo's etc.) and 4 or 5* fuels?

[theloudboy]

On 30/12/2020 at 04:50, Rally Pack 2000 said:

So even your highest grade V-Power at 98 octane has ethanol in it?

Yes mate all petrol has been 5% for ages

[theloudboy]

On 30/12/2020 at 08:34, katana said:

Any alcohol addition helps with octane but the more you have the less power is produced (litre for litre)! I wonder when the general population will start realising that their gas mileage is dropping with the increase in ethanol content? You have to burn more for same power and to burn it efficiently the CR and also ign. timing needs optimising!

I don't think a Pinto's compression ratio (which isn't particularly high) had anything to do with not liking early unleaded - more likely the absence of lead and consequential valve seat erosion with long term use? More a case of old tech engine design using premium fuel - just because! Just imagine what could be achieved using modern engine tech (materials, efi., turbo's etc.) and 4 or 5* fuels?

True you will use more but it E85 will make more power in your engine once it’s retuned, but my god the water condensation that I have seen in engines over in the states that run the stuff is unreal, way more maintenance to be to run the stuff everyday

[Rally Pack 2000]

3 hours ago, theloudboy said:

Yes mate all petrol has been 5% for ages

Ahhhhh that helps me understand the situation a bit more. We have E10 as our base fuel but there is a 98 Octane that has no ethanol in it at all.

[Kenbex522]

On 31/12/2020 at 20:45, theloudboy said:

Yes mate all petrol has been 5% for ages

Not entirely true. Esso Super unleaded in most areas except for those listed on their website doesn't contain any ethanol. Problem they say there is no official labeling for zero ethanol content so the pump will have a sticker saying 5% regardless.

https://www.esso.co.uk/en-gb/fuels-faqs

 

[Ray]

39 minutes ago, Kenbex522 said:

Not entirely true. Esso Super unleaded in most areas except for those listed on their website doesn't contain any ethanol. Problem they say there is no official labeling for zero ethanol content so the pump will have a sticker saying 5% regardless.

https://www.esso.co.uk/en-gb/fuels-faqs

 

our area is suppsed to be zero on the Esso super unleaded, that was a joke, the last i bought it was to test it, on advice it was ethanol free. it was 2%, as i measure it when i do a de ethanol before putting it in the car, but it also it had a low octane of 97 for a super unleaded, our local Esso's dont sell the 99, but that may be because they all have Tesco mini supermarkets attached, we have a few small BP ones similar, not looked recently tho tbh, as i only tried the Esso as a test because i was told it was ethanol free, but the cleanest ive found is Tesco Momentum 99, i used to be against supermarket fuel, but this seems to be all good

[Rally Pack 2000]

Wow I thought out fuel standards were confusing, yours vary from shop to shop! You do well navigating through it all.

[theloudboy]

On 03/01/2021 at 16:36, Kenbex522 said:

Not entirely true. Esso Super unleaded in most areas except for those listed on their website doesn't contain any ethanol. Problem they say there is no official labeling for zero ethanol content so the pump will have a sticker saying 5% regardless.

https://www.esso.co.uk/en-gb/fuels-faqs

 

I live and learn, an engineer at ESSO told me that all fuels in that depot was 5% ethanol very odd