There is a new petrol this month (Sept 2021) and not all cars are compatible — did you know?

[kabbes]

This month, “E5” petrol (which is 5% ethanol) is being replaced by “E10” (which is 10% ethanol). For almost everybody, there’s no reason to know or be concerned… but there’s a sizeable minority whose cars are not compatible. A whole bunch of pre-2011 cars and basically anything made pre-2001 need to stick with E5.

New eco-petrol baffles a quarter of motorists

E10 is set to become the new standard petrol, but 24% of drivers are unaware of it, says the RAC.

www.bbc.co.uk

I didn’t know. Apparently a quarter of motorists don’t know.

There’s a government website where you can check if you are probably okay.

GOV.UK E10 Enquiry

E10 Enquiry

check-vehicle-compatibility-e10-petrol.service.gov.uk

It looks like my 2008 Panda is fine but some of you may also have older cars and find they are not.

Anyway, this is mostly by way of being a PSA but I’m also interested to know whether you have heard of this change happening? It seems like quite a big deal that people might accidentally put petrol in their car that kills it! I’d have thought there would be more about it than something buried in the business section of the BBC website. Maybe I’ve just missed it before?

 

[mx wcfc]

Knew it was happening but didn’t realise it was so imminent. Both of our cars are post 2011 though. Will double check. Thanks for the link.

 

[moochedit]

Yeah saw this a few days ago. Never heard of it before but my car is ok.

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

Heard about it months ago.

 

[cupid_stunt]

Yes, someone mentioned it to me last week, I was a bit surprised I hadn't seen or read any reports about it, but it is actually on BBC Breakfast news this morning. .

 

[bimble]

Vaguely heard something on the radio. Am a bit worried, car is 2009, but can’t get the Gov website checker to load.

 

[bimble]

Also would like to know about petrol powered tools eg mower.

 

[SpookyFrank]

Government car checker website thingy is borked.

 

[bimble]

Government car checker website thingy is borked.

They are so consistently terrible at anything to do with the internet it’s almost impressive.

 

[SpookyFrank]

Good chance my car is fucking worthless now then. Great.

 

[cupid_stunt]

I guess the website is busy, because of the coverage on the telly this morning.

 

[dessiato]

I heard about this months ago.

ETA I'm surprised up to a quarter of drivers didn't know. I don't live in the UK but am fully aware of it.

 

[BigTom]

Good chance my car is fucking worthless now then. Great.

What car is it?

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

Good chance my car is fucking worthless now then. Great.

No, you just have to use the other E5 super unleaded now.

 

[SpookyFrank]

What car is it?

'02 Corsa.

E2a: Vauxhall saying their petrol cars are fine except for one engine model that I don't have.

 

[UnderOpenSky]

No, you just have to use the other E5 super unleaded now.

Which is a fair bit more pricey.

 

[kabbes]

I heard about this months ago.

ETA I'm surprised up to a quarter of drivers didn't know. I don't live in the UK but am fully aware of it.

It’s been in use within most EU countries for a while now, apparently, which may be why you knew about it earlier.

 

[SpookyFrank]

Only place I've seen this mentioned was a notice on Sainsburys petrol pumps, with no mention of possible incompatibility.

 

[kabbes]

Only place I've seen this mentioned was a notice on Sainsburys petrol pumps, with no mention of possible incompatibility.

Right, it seems like quite a big thing to drop on people at the last second. I guess that if you can’t imagine anybody owning a car that is more than 10 years old, you don’t see why it would be a problem.

 

[prunus]

Also would like to know about petrol powered tools eg mower.

Stihl tools are all compatible according to their website. If in doubt use ‘super’ unleaded I guess, that’s still E5.

 

[SpookyFrank]

Right, it seems like quite a big thing to drop on people at the last second. I guess that if you can’t imagine anybody owning a car that is more than 10 years old, you don’t see why it would be a problem.

Loads and loads of cars of the same age and model as mine around. Must've been a good, reliable batch.

 

[Spymaster]

Anyone who reads the motoring press will have known about this for a very, very long time. Most cars are unaffected, and as said above, it's not the end of the world even if your car is incompatible with E10. You can still use the super-grade fuels that will remain E5, but if you drive an old heap like Frank's 02 Corsa, it's probably time to bin it anyway.

 

[Saunders]

First I’ve heard about it.

 

[kabbes]

Anyone who reads the motoring press

So that’s 2% of the population, then, and the part least likely to be affected. That’ll do.

 

[SpookyFrank]

So that’s 2% of the population, then, and the part least likely to be affected. That’ll do.

50% of whom can't actually read and just wank over the pictures.

 

[Steel Icarus]

Our 2010 Toyota is fine, in fact all post-1998 Toyotas are fine

 

[bimble]

gov compatibility checker is useless. It just says if your Suzuki is a current model you’re fine if it’s not check owners manual,
13 year old owners manual isn’t likely to help me is it?

 

[Spymaster]

So that’s 2% of the population, then, and the part least likely to be affected. That’ll do.

Probably the most likely affected, given the vast majority of incompatible cars are likely to be classics. Mazdas and Golfs seem to be the most likely affected non-classics and if you've got one of those of an affected age, it's probably in a heap of rust anyway.

 

[girasol]

If I heard I had forgotten and I was confused when confronted with the new label at usual pump at petrol station... Our car is compatible but I'm. not sure this was published widely enough... There's going to be a lot of confused/hacked off drivers.

 

[kabbes]

Probably the most likely affected, given the vast majority of incompatible cars are likely to be classics. Mazdas and Golfs seem to be the most likely affected non-classics and if you've got one of those of an affected age, it's probably in a heap of rust anyway.

I don’t know about that. When I went to check my Panda, the following Fiats were listed as not compatible:

• Barchetta: 1.8 litre
• Bravo/Brava (Type 182): 1.6 litre
• Doblò: 1.6 litre
• Marea: 1.6 and 2.0 litre
• Multipla: 1.6 litre
• Palio: 1.6 litre
• Punto (Type 188): 1.8 litre
• Stilo: 1.6 litre (only displacement 1.596 cm3), Stilo 1.8 litre and Stilo 2.4 litre

That seems like quite a few models to me for that one manufacturer alone.

It’s probably not going to be a big deal to carry on using E5 (although I’ve no doubt this will be phased out over time). It’s more that if people have no idea this is happening, they’ll just put E10 into their incompatible cars and the first they’ll know if it is when they thing breaks down. If the government are making a change like this, surely it’s on them to make sure everybody affected knows about it? The DVLA have a record of ownership — should they not be writing to affected motorists, for example?