AIBU to have not heard of E10 petrol?

[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?

Ok so some reading later... it seems that the majority of 'those in the know' wouldn't put it in an older car because of it not being good for seals, gaskets etc

Fuel economy is worse, so probably better to pay the extra for the premium fuel.

I've only heard about it in the last few weeks. Thankfully my 2004 banger will take E10, but I also have a classic car that will require E5 - but then it's so old it also requires a lead replacement fuel additive - sigh. Good job I don't do a lot of miles in it.

@BycullahRoad

Yep, I heard of this like 4-6 weeks ago. DH mentioned it and he looked to see if our car was OK with it, (17 reg so yes.) But I feel this has NOT been widely advertised. What if your car is old-ish? Are the pumps labelled up adequately? Are they 'eck as like!

Had missed it but I drive a diesel so it probably didn't catch my attention.

It’s on the petrol pumps and has been for a while now. That is the only place I’ve seen it though.

I wasn't aware of this. There hasn't been a good public information campaign about it in my opinion. It's moot for me as I've gone electric but I was driving a petrol car a few months ago.

Thanks for reminding me to check for this. seems i'm ok. just.

reminder to everyone within or crossing the North or South Circular Roads in London, to check if you will have to pay ULEZ from 25th Oct.

Cars after 2011 are mostly fine.

I was aware, but only because we have two classic cars. My understanding is we can continue to use the more expensive premium petrol as that won't change, we use that in them currently anyway.
One of them has already got updated hoses etc so would run ok on E10 anyway.

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.

That's interesting as we found the same with our car - a 20yo VW (bought used at 8yo). A few years after we bought it, I accidentally filled it up at an unfamiliar petrol station with the premium unleaded and was really angry with myself for wasting money. However, once we got on the open road, it seemed to fly, drive much more smoothly and (not scientifically proven) we had had a lot of regular engine 'niggles' and strange noises before and these went down to virtually nil.

We've been using the premium ever since - I'd rather pay an extra 15p per litre at the pumps and have a car that lasts longer than have a more sluggish driving experience and horrendous regular bills at the garage. Plus, we get more mpg with the premium stuff, so it doesn't work out as big a price differential as it seems (if at all).

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.

They're planning on wireless charging, so when it's perfected/released, trailing wires won't be any kind of issue. Also, I gather that one of the functions of 'smart' motorways is eventually going to be to offer wireless charging as you drive along.

Presumably, other kinds of major roads will follow before long, so range anxiety will be pointless, as long as you have enough charge to get you across town and on to a big enough road - although batteries don't keep on charging indefinitely without wearing out.

They'll probably integrate it with ANPR (like how they already know when you enter a toll motorway) and other spy 'smart' technologies and send you a bill/take payment by DD at the end of the month.

YANBU
I noticed last week and asked a random bloke at the next pump, who was lovely and said you're fine

Ex car dealer here. Just a quick heads up that registration dates are not the same as manufacturer dates so don’t rely on those. Double check with the .gov website and/or the manufacturer. It is entirely possible to own a car which may have sat in a field for some time before registration so a blanket ‘I’ve got an 09 or 10 plate’ car may not be accurate.

Also agree that my local Tesco pumps have had knob-all signage about the change.

For those facing ULEZ in the wider zone, remember it is a 24/7 charge with no residents discount.

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

link here

@netaporter
any advice on the current car parts shortage?
am awaiting an airbag ECU; am one of four backorders waiting for Korea as nothing in the UK and my MOT is early November.
Am I kidding myself that a part will arrive on time and should I be part exchanging, getting a second vehicle or looking at a bus timetable?!

(thanks in advance )

@KicksLikeASIeepTwitch I think you need to book an MoT asap if you haven’t done so already. Most garages I know are booked up almost to the end of Oct. it’s madness but there are only so many slots in a day for MoT and a huge backlog post lockdown. re car parts, sorry no idea but maybe contact the manufacturer to see if they can locate a part in the uk more quickly for you (they’ll have sight of all stock whereas your local garage will only see their own)? It could be a brexit thing or a hangover from the Suez Canal blockage? Re:changing your car, If you are facing a ULEZ charge I’d change your car now as the additional expense is crippling. Good luck!

I fill up every two or three days as I ride a motorbike and the tank isn't huge and do almost 100 miles a day. I use three or four different stations over about a 30 mile radius, 2 of which are major arterial routes (M1/A38 interchanges ) and NONE have info on this. I was aware it was changing, but not that it was quite so quick tbh. Read an article in the summer but not seen anything since and I do read papers most days.

I have heard about on the news and read it in newspapers for a while, there have also been signs at all petrol stations around here for about 4 months.
Also signs in the garage where I get my car mot’d saying if you were unsure to ask them.

Sainsbury's have had signs about it on all their pumps for a while. At least, in my locals they have.

I've read about it in passing, probably in something the the MSE newsletter or Google news, but I can see how people might have missed it.

I don't remember seeing any information at petrol stations, apart from the new stickers, which many won't notice.

[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]
Not necessarily, you do get wealthy people with old bangers and a fair few people with brand new cars paying them back through inflated credit schemes. So I wouldn't assume this.

I heard about it on commercial radio, but that was because I was WFH and so had it on. I usually never listen to the radio.

I had to Google - apparently my very elderly (23 years old) car is okay - there was a look up thingy on whatever website I found.

apparently my very elderly (23 years old) car is okay

Our very elderly (66 years old) car isn’t.

It’s use premium unleaded while it is still available or change the petrol pump plus all the rubber pipes and seals in the fuel system.

I hadn't heard of it until a few weeks ago when a neighbour mentioned it to me. But there is an awful lot of info out there - I just happened to have missed it

There's a vehicle checker here

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

or you can contact the manufacturer

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

We've got them, and very handy they are too - the lampposts are in the kerb, so cables don't have to go in the pavement at all. Terraced houses with minute front gardens (no space for a drive) so it's much safer than running a cable from your home as they would have to cross the pavement.

You can use rubber mats over the cable if it has to cross the pavement (seen these in use in streets with no lamppost chargers where they do have to cross the pavement). I be even seen one coming from a first floor window, across the width of the pavement into a tree branch and then trailing down to the car.