What is E10 fuel? Can my car run on E10 petrol?

In September 2021, the UK Government changed the fuel standard from E5 grade to E10. You may not have paid much attention to the type of petrol you were picking at the fuel pump in the past, but not all cars on UK roads are suited to running on E10 fuel, especially if it’s a much older car. But what is E10 fuel, does E10 damage engines and which cars can run on it?

One important thing to note is the E5 fuel is still available at most filling stations if you opt for the more expensive premium petrol, often known as Super Unleaded or under different brand names such as Shell V Power, Tesco Momentum 99 or Esso Synergy Supreme+ 99. 

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Read on for all the information on E10 fuel in the UK and how to access an E10 checker.

What is E10?

E10 is a new petrol now available on your local fuel station forecourt. The ‘E’ stands for ethanol, an alcohol, while the ‘10’ is the maximum percentage of ethanol that’s allowed to be mixed with the petrol. The addition of ethanol reduces the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) produced by an engine.

The ethanol is derived from crops, so is officially called bioethanol. Not only does that make the fuel renewable but the crops offer the added benefit of absorbing some of the CO2 in the atmosphere while they’re growing.

The switch to E10 is said to cut each car’s carbon footprint by 2%, and is estimated to cut the UK’s CO2 emissions by around 750,000 tonnes a year. You’d have to remove 350,000 cars running on E5 fuel from the road to reduce emissions by the same amount.

However, E10 isn’t suitable for all petrol cars. At the time of E10’s introduction, the Department for Transport (DfT) estimated that some 700,000 UK cars would not be able to use it, including some relatively modern cars.

E5 petrol vs E10 petrol

Before September 2021, petrol stations offered E5 petrol. E5 has up to 5% ethanol content. While a jump from 5 to 10% doesn’t sound like much, it doubles the quantity of ethanol in the petrol. Although E10 petrol emits less CO2 than E5, your car’s fuel consumption will go up if you user the newer fuel, although most drivers won’t notice too much of a difference.

What is E10 fuel? Does E10 fuel damage engines and does my car run on it?

This extra ethanol can cause damage to certain engines in the long run, especially perishable parts like hoses and fuel lines. All petrol cars are E10 compatible if they were produced after 2011, although you’ll have to check if your car was built before that date. Fortunately, any cars built before that are also able to run on E10, as most manufacturers were ahead of the legislators. You can use the UK Government’s E10 checker to find out if your car is compatible by entering your registration.

When is E10 fuel coming out in the UK?

Petrol stations have had to sell E10 since the start of September but many had started stocking it before that. If you saw an E10 label on the pump, you were filling up with E10 even if it was before the start of September. Fuel stations began using E10 before the official start date due to the size of their underground fuel tanks; it would be highly unlikely that the tanks would need refilling on the exact day the E10 legislation came into force.

Can I still buy E5 petrol?

Yes, super unleaded petrol is still E5 but this fuel is expensive, so you’ll need to bear that in mind if you’re driving a car that can’t use E10. Alternatively, there are additives you can buy, much like for classic cars that still run on old-fashioned leaded petrol. Again, this’ll be an additional cost every time you refuel the car.

Is E10 petrol cheaper?

Unfortunately, E10 isn’t any cheaper than the old standard E5 petrol, although it is still cheaper than super unleaded E5. E10 may slightly increase your fuel bills because cars don’t run quite as efficiently on it but for most people the difference won’t be noticeable.

Is my car E10 compatible?

If your car was built after 2011, it’ll be fine to run on E10 petrol. Even cars built before that are unaffected by the switch. Nearly all Fords dating back to 1992 can run on E10, for example, while Peugeots, Nissans and MINIs built after 2000 will be ready for E10. The best way to check for certain is to put your car’s registration number in the government’s E10 checker, which will tell you if your car is compatible.

Cars that can’t run on E10 petrol

If you drive an older petrol car, you may well need to avoid E10 and opt for the more expensive E5 petrol. Some Audi and Volkswagen models up until around 2005 are not compatible, while some V6-powered Lexus models produced up to 2007 will still need E5. Other cars include Renaults with 2.0-litre engines produced before 2003, Vauxhalls with 2.2-litre petrol engines and selected Toyota Avensis petrol engines built before 2009. As mentioned above, the government’s E10 checker will remove any uncertainty.

Read our guides to the Euro 6 emissions standard and whether you should choose petrol or diesel.