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Original poster

AIBU to have not heard of E10 petrol?

106 replies

BycullahRoad · 25/08/2021 20:55

OK so went to the local garage this evening, needed to fill up to get to work in the morning. "Something" looked different and I noticed that the 95 Octane petrol has the label E10 on it.

Did a quick google and it said as a country we were switching from E5 to E10 petrol from 1st September 2021 and some older cars can't run E10 petrol.

Did a longer google and realised that my vehicle is one of those older cars affected and will have to use Super Unleaded petrol from now on, which is considerably more expensive.

Am I the only one not to have heard of E10 petrol? If you have heard about it, how did you hear of it?

OP posts:
CoronaPeroni · 25/08/2021 21:39

I was only made aware last month on a motorhome fb page. Anyone who owns a pre-2000 motorhome (like us) can't use it. I contacted Peugeot about whether our model was compatible with E10 and they didn't have a clue but said best not use it 'just in case'. I emailed my MP about keeping the price difference between E5 and E10 to a minimum for a few years and also insisting E5 be sold countrywide for the same duration. She said she would bring it up in question time. Secondhand vans like ours are still available from traders and cost over £10k. No buyers are made aware! Tesco price difference is 14p a litre which for a full tank is an extra £10. Just have to suck it up I suppose. I'm more worried E5 will disappear from the pumps and we will be left with a useless vehicle. Don't have £25k for a newer one!

NavigatingAdolescence · 25/08/2021 21:40

@BycullahRoad

OK so went to the local garage this evening, needed to fill up to get to work in the morning. "Something" looked different and I noticed that the 95 Octane petrol has the label E10 on it.

Did a quick google and it said as a country we were switching from E5 to E10 petrol from 1st September 2021 and some older cars can't run E10 petrol.

Did a longer google and realised that my vehicle is one of those older cars affected and will have to use Super Unleaded petrol from now on, which is considerably more expensive.

Am I the only one not to have heard of E10 petrol? If you have heard about it, how did you hear of it?

I run a very rare car. It won’t take E10 fuel. But I use super unleaded (99ron) in it anyway.
BikeRunSki · 25/08/2021 21:41

I’ve known about this for months! Think I read a notice in the petrol station, but I’ve seen stuff in the paper and on the radio.

Kithic · 25/08/2021 21:45

I like to think I'm on the ball with stuff but this is literally the first time I've heard of this.

I stream TV, netflix, etc
I watch iplayer, but not much live tv

CoronaPeroni · 25/08/2021 21:49

It actually doesn't matter if people have known about it for months, we can't do anything about it! So angry about it. No 'converters' as far as I can tell. Apparently classic car owners clubs were consulted and as this type of car is rarely used on a daily basis it wasn't deemed a big problem. (Lucky them)

Pinkflipflop85 · 25/08/2021 21:56

@nonotmenotI

I head adverts on the radio about this a couple months ago.

I think it's cars before 2011 that can't have the e10.

Not necessarily. My 08 car is fine with E10.
Myusernameisnotmyusernameno · 25/08/2021 21:56

I only heard of it when I went to fill up last week. My car is a 2020 Seat Leon and only after I saw the E10 on the pumps I noticed a sticker inside the petrol cap door thing that said E10.

CaptSkippy · 25/08/2021 22:00

You can usually check the manufacturer's website to see if your make and model are compatible. Mine is supposedly, that's why I bought it, yet it does poorly on E10. I have adjusted my driving style and every once and a while I use an additive.
I actually use more fuel now then I did with my economic driving style, but if I still drove like that my engine would eventually turn to shit.

Disneycharacter · 25/08/2021 22:00

I noticed this yesterday but didn't understand it!

TheWoleb · 25/08/2021 22:02

There is a sign stuck on every petrol pump (different retailers) in my town. And in the next 2 towns I've filled up at. How have people not been reading these? They're on every pump.
Or is this just something being done in the towns around me?

BikeRunSki · 25/08/2021 22:04

@TheWoleb

There is a sign stuck on every petrol pump (different retailers) in my town. And in the next 2 towns I've filled up at. How have people not been reading these? They're on every pump. Or is this just something being done in the towns around me?
Well I’ve read them round me (S/W Yorks), DM (Somerset) and when we were in Northumberland last week.
twinkletoesimnot · 25/08/2021 22:06

My car isn't compatible- old Toyota. No £ for a new one.
One Tesco 20 mins away that will have more expensive premium petrol.
It's not just cars - petrol generators, lawnmowers etc.
It makes me worry about buying a second hand car when I do eventually change too. A mechanic told me it will shorten the life of seals etc on an engine. The government ideally don't want cars older than 10 on the road anymore apparently.

But we live rurally, am a teacher so not that well off ( although obviously many worse off.

I really can't see electric cars working in a lot of areas either. What if you have no off road parking to charge?
What about disposing of the batteries at the end of their life?
And they are £££

AlmostSummer21 · 25/08/2021 22:06

[quote m0therofdragons]@AlmostSummer21 if you can’t use the new fuel you have to use premium which is more expensive and those driving older cars are unlikely to have excess cash.[/quote]
Oh I see.

I don't suppose it'll hurt to mix them if I have half a tank of E5?

julie81 · 25/08/2021 22:07

We have heard but I think it was because we changed our cars in July and they were mentioned in searches etc online.

HunterHearstHelmsley · 25/08/2021 22:08

I rarely use my car. Probably fill up once a month.

I was aware of this. I've seen it on TV, heard it on the radio and there are signs at any garage I've been to.

NotMyCat · 25/08/2021 22:08

@BycullahRoad

Hello Sister Agatha, yes I used to live in north London. It's very difficult to think of usernames. I just panicked at the petrol station, I did not know what to do, and the man in the shop was not much help. The government website tells you makes and models that are non compliant, but there is no number plate checker which would be very helpful.
Car registration checker here

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

AlmostSummer21 · 25/08/2021 22:08

@TheWoleb

There is a sign stuck on every petrol pump (different retailers) in my town. And in the next 2 towns I've filled up at. How have people not been reading these? They're on every pump. Or is this just something being done in the towns around me?
Well, for me, I've been in a hospital bed & then rehabilitating at home. Haven't put petrol in the car since May,

Can't answer for anyone else.

NotMyCat · 25/08/2021 22:09

Argh wrong link! I will find it, there is one as I used it at work this week....

littledrummergirl · 25/08/2021 22:14

Nope, I've not heard this apart from a stranger ranting about something to do with it. I thought they were taking the piss.

TheWoleb · 25/08/2021 22:16

@twinkletoesimnot

Some councils are starting to trial lamp post charging points. I'm not sure how they've managed to get them past a risk assessment because if trailing cables from cars to lamp post etc ir how you pay for it or whatever, but they are considering and trying out solutions for people who wont be able to get their car close to their house.

But unless they have plugs all along the kerb every residential street, it's going to be a challenge.

ProfSprout · 25/08/2021 22:20

I am generally pretty aware of stuff but had no clue about this.

Just asked DH & he said ‘yeah but it’s only for really old cars so not a big deal’. Then I pointed out my car is from 2005 😭

However luckily it is fine thankfully as I don’t want to buy a new car when mine is perfectly fine for the journeys I use it for.

drspouse · 25/08/2021 22:23

I literally saw my first sign today and thought it said £10 not E10.

RevolutionRadio · 25/08/2021 22:23

I knew about it as there has been alot of talk about it from people I know with classic cars.

SquigglePigs · 25/08/2021 22:24

The first I'd heard about it was when I spotted it on a pump at Tesco a couple of weeks ago. I'd already started filling up but fortunately our car is compatible. I don't think enough has been made of this in the media, especially when Tesco seem to have made the change a month early!

FelicityBeedle · 25/08/2021 22:26

The majority of pre 2008 cars are also ok with E10 thankfully