If you are anything like me, E10 has just been a sticker on a fuel pump. But today I am going to try and help answer some burning questions you may have about E10 fuel.
- What makes E10 fuel different?
- Can E10 save you money?
- Is E10 fuel poor quality?
- Is E10 safe to use on your car?
What is E10 Fuel?
E10 is regular unleaded petrol blended with 10% ethanol. It is a safe and reliable fuel, highly compatible with most petrol-powered cars. Ethanol is a clear, alcohol-based fuel made by fermenting plants and their byproducts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from fossil raw materials and tackle climate change.
- Reduced CO2 emissions: Reports suggest the introduction of E10 petrol can help reduce CO2 emissions by 750,000 tonnes a year, which is equivalent to taking 350,000 cars off the road. Unlike regular unleaded petrol fuels, E10 petrol emissions have little impact on air quality and public health.
- Fuel Economy: E10 may not have the same fuel economy as E5, as the former reduces it by 1-3% compared to E5, as ethanol has less energy density than gasoline. Aggressive acceleration, engine conditions, high speeds, and road conditions can also impact fuel consumption.
- Compatibility: Most gasoline engines can run on ethanol-blended fuels, including E19. All newly manufactured cars from 2011 are compatible with this renewable fuel. However, there have been restrictions on some of the older vehicles and petrol-powered cars since the early 2000s. Some classic, older vehicles, mopeds with a 50cc engine or under, are incompatible with the premium unleaded ethanol blended fuels, as the petrol engines designed are not competent for the fuel. Cars that run on a maximum of 5% ethanol can run on E5 gasoline, not E10.
What makes E10 fuel different?
E10 is a blend of regular unleaded petrol and Ethanol (usually about 9 or 10 percent). Ethanol is a form of alcohol that is more environmentally friendly to both use and produce than regular fuel. It is typically produced through a fermentation process using glucose obtained from sugars, starch or cellulose (forest products), but mainly from sugar cane.
Now that our Science lesson is out of the way, let’s get to the answers you really want to know
Will I save money using E10 fuel?
Although E10 is cheaper at the pump, it will burn quicker than your premium fuels. This is due to the higher octane rating of premium fuel (Unleaded 98) compared to E10 (Unleaded 91/94). So, in simple terms, the higher the number, the more efficient the fuel burns. But at anywhere to 30 – 50c a litre price difference, I’ll let you decide if it is worth the extra couple of KMs.
Is E10 fuel poor quality because it’s cheaper?
As long as the manufacturer has stated that your vehicle is suitable to run on E10, you can be confident to fill up your car with E10 fuel because the Fuel Quality Standards Act 2000 requires all fuel, including E10 meet the same high standards.
Will E10 fuel damage or dirty your engine?
As long as the manufacturer has stated that the petrol cars sold are suitable to run on E10, it will not damage the vehicle. Generally, most modern cars are equipped to run on E10 but if you’re unsure, you can check your car’s owner’s manual or check out these handy government websites.
Can I Mix E10 and Regular Unleaded?
Unlike diesel and petrol, you can mix E10 and premium unleaded fuel for petrol powered cars. E10 and regular unleaded fuels don’t contain lead and won’t damage the fuel injection system. You can also mix E5 and E10 petrol, as the E5 has up to 5% ethanol while E10 has 10%. Mixing them will give you an ethanol proportion between 5 and 10%, a blend that most petrol cars can handle.
That said, you cannot use E10 in petrol engines that weren’t designed for it. E10 contains 10% ethanol, which can corrode the fuel system parts, clog filters and injectors, and dislodge deposits. Moreover, older engines might not even start or have trouble running smoothly due to improper combustion caused by the fuel mix. Continued use will only harm the engine, seals, and fuel lines and lead to expensive repair costs. Therefore, it’s advisable to check your vehicle’s manual or ask the manufacturer if the engine is compatible with E10 petrol or a mix of ethanol-blended petrol with regular unleaded fuel.
Ethanol is not similar to plastics or regular metal components found in cars. Using fuel that has twice the amount of ethanol (10%) than E5 unleaded will certainly impact your car. If you have a vehicle incompatible with E10, keep a bottle of the additive handy for emergencies.
NSW – https://www.e10fuelforthought.nsw.gov.au/compatibility-check
QLD – https://e10ok.initiatives.qld.gov.au/results/rego-checker-results
Important Information: Information in this article is current as at 26/06/2018 and is subject to change. The information is general in nature, does not take into account the particular objectives or situation of any potential reader and is for information purposes only. Right2Drive.com.au makes every effort to ensure all information provided is correct. However, it does not warrant the accuracy of that information. Right2Drive Pty Ltd ABN 13 159 590 986.
Where is My Nearest E10 Petrol Station?
Queensland has made E10 fuel mandatory in all major petrol stations across all sites, including Shell, BP, Matilda, Caltex, and some independent petrol stations. If you are in NSW or cross the NSW border, you are guaranteed to find E10 at all petrol stations as the government has set sales targets and removed regular unleaded pumps from most stations. You can also use the state government-run fuel tracking app, FuelCheck, to locate stations offering ethanol blended fuels.
Brands like Ampol, Caltex, Shell, Mobil, BP, Puma Energy, and United Petroleum have service station locators. You can visit their websites and use their online tools to find E10 fuel. Petrol Spy Australia is another comprehensive app ideal for finding locations of fuel stations offering ethanol blended petrol.
These apps have the best features and can simplify the process of finding E10 fuel by
- showing fuel availability near your location
- showing the price of the unleaded petrol today
- showing nearby fuel prices
- filtering by brand
- giving detailed route view
- highlighting cycle/fuel price trends
- sending alerts when fuel prices increase or decrease
