Know your fuel campaign

Do you know your fuel? Sounds like a silly question we know, but the truth is, many motorists aren’t aware that the standard petrol grade in the UK has become E10.

In September 2021, the UK Government began introducing E10 fuel as the standard grade at petrol stations across the country.

To help you understand more about this change, read on below to find out how E10 fuel will affect you and your vehicle... 

What is E10 fuel?

E10 has become the previous standard 95 octane petrol and contains up to 10% renewable ethanol. This is a low carbon biofuel that can be blended to reduce the amount of fossil fuel in petrol. It’s made up of 90% regular unleaded and 10% ethanol - hence the name ‘E10’.  

It’s worth noting that the change only applies to petrol-fueled vehicles and doesn’t affect diesel vehicles. 

Why has E10 fuel been introduced?

Ultimately, E10 fuel will help reduce CO2 emissions commonly associated with petrol vehicles. The UK is actually a late-adopter of E10 fuel, as it is already widely used across Europe, America and Australia.

Overall, E10 is considered a greener fuel which is better for the environment. It’s estimated that the roll out of E10 fuel could help reduce CO2 emissions by up to 750,000 tonnes per year - that’s the equivalent of removing about 350,000 vehicles from UK roads!

Is your vehicle compatible with E10 fuel? 

It’s good news if you own a car manufactured after 2011, as all petrol cars built from this date can use E10 fuel. However it’s bad news if your car is older than 2011, as not all older vehicles are compatible with E10 fuel. 

If you own a motorcycle then you’re more than likely okay, as most have been approved to use E10 fuel. Even still, we recommend checking the compatibility of your motorcycle if it’s older than 2011. 

What if your vehicle isn’t compatible with E10 fuel?

There’s no need to ditch your vehicle just yet! For older vehicles not compatible with E10 fuel, the previous E5 option will continue to be available at a majority of petrol stations in the UK.

Please don’t panic if you accidentally fill your non-compatible car with E10 petrol, it won’t harm your vehicle as a one-off. Just make sure you fill up with the E5 petrol grade next time you need a top up. Phew! 

E10 compatibility checker

To help you understand if your vehicle is compatible with E10 fuel, the Government has developed an online E10 checking service for you to readily access at GOV.UK. 

Here you can check if your car, van, motorcycle or moped can use E10 petrol. Bear in mind that to use the service, you’ll also need to know the vehicle manufacturer and in some instances, the vehicle model, engine size and year of manufacture too.