Ethanol In Uk

Interesting email I received today regarding Ethanol from Haynes the Manuals people. I don't think the links in the article work.

E10 petrol is coming to the UK – will it affect your vehicle?
From September this year, the UK government will allow the introduction of E10 petrol at filling stations. ‘E10’ is a reference to the percentage of ethanol mixed into the petrol. Currently, the UK's normal ‘baseline’ petrol is E5. It contains 5% ethanol, so E10 contains twice the amount.

The government claims that CO2 production will be cut by as much as 750,000 tonnes annually as a result of this change, but there could be some negative effects, too. Here Martynn explains what they could be...


What is ethanol?

Ethanol is ethyl alcohol, a plant-based biofuel made from biomass such as corn or sugar cane. Being plant-based, it’s a renewable form of fuel, not a fossil fuel.


Ethanol absorbs water

If your vehicle is less than 20 years old and is driven regularly (at least once a week), you're unlikely to notice any differences when using E10 petrol. But if your vehicle is left unused for a couple of weeks or more, the water content in the fuel will rise, which could cause corrosion in the fuel system and poor starting and performance.


Ethanol is a solvent

Ethanol will slowly eat through rubber, plastic and fibreglass. This will affect rubber seals and hoses in the fuel systems of older vehicles in particular, causing the material to perish and eventually leak. One solution is to replace them with special ethanol-proof components (fuel hose, seals, etc.). Ethanol is particularly bad news for solder, so older vehicles with carburettors and brass floats will be especially vulnerable.


Ethanol is 34% less energy-dense than petrol

So to get the same power output from your engine, that accelerator pedal is going to have to be pressed harder! Obviously, this will have an effect on your vehicle's fuel consumption.


Will my vehicle be affected?

The government claims there are currently around 600,000 vehicles on the road in the UK that should avoid using E10. Generally speaking, if your vehicle was made after 2000, it should be okay. Check the GOV.UK website here.


What should I do if my vehicle can’t use E10?

The good news is that the government has promised that E5 fuel will be available for at least five years. The not so good news is that only filling stations that sell more than 1,000,000 litres of fuel in total will need to ensure one of the fuels on offer is E5 (with some exceptions). You can be sure that, where available, E5 prices will rise accordingly.


Vehicles in storage

Fuel left in the tank for weeks will begin to degrade. The ethanol will absorb more moisture from condensation, and begin to separate out from the petrol it was mixed with. This will cause corrosion in metal fuel system components and could cause other problems. Certain types of plastic and fibreglass ‘swell’ when exposed to ethanol. Plastic fuel tanks seem especially affected by this, with mountings no longer aligning and sender unit caps no longer fitting.

One possible solution is an additive that, when combined with the fuel, stabilises the ethanol, preventing it from separating out and helping to prevent corrosion. There are many suitable additives available, such as Millers Ethanol protection or Lucas Oil Ethanol fuel conditioner. Check with your owner's club or the Federation of British Historical Vehicle Clubs.


So is ethanol in fuel a good idea?

Given the problems it causes for older vehicles, the increase in fuel consumption and the increasing amount of land now used for fuel production that used to grow food, the jury’s still out on this one.

Technical Editor, Martynn Randall has been with Haynes for 27 years and has written more than 60 Haynes Manuals.

Alfie

 

The working links in the article

https://www.gov.uk/check-vehicle-e10-petrol utm_source=Haynes+Publishing+UK+Newsletter+%28UKOPT_IN%29&utm_campaign=0ec17e9579-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_MARTYNNS_TIPS_E10FUEL_APR_2021&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_f534f1bb3f-0ec17e9579-75928905&goal=0_f534f1bb3f-0ec17e9579-75928905&mc_cid=0ec17e9579&mc_eid=3eb44eb498

https://www.fbhvc.co.uk/fuels

Alfie