Ethanol

There is an E10 compatibility checker:

Says E10 petrol is cleared for use in all models with petrol engines from 1st January 2000 (Nissan).

E10 means petrol contains up to 10% renewable ethanol. To date, petrol in the UK has contained up to 5% renewable ethanol (known as E5).

E10 petrol is already widely used around the world, including across Europe, the US and Australia. It has also been the reference fuel against which new cars are tested for emissions and performance since

Only applies to 95 octane petrol. The super grade will remain at 5%

Castrol-R, wasn't it? I can't reemeber whether it was a fuel additive or a type of oil.

Some versions of the Avensis between 2004 and 2008? cannot use it though, but they can still use the super grade of petrol.

which explains the name.

You're probably already using E5 petrol, E10 is just more of the same.

The biggest concern is that ethanol is hygroscopic, it absorbs water, and you don't want a watery fuel stagnating in your fuel tank. Especially if you only use your car once in a while.

You can get ethanol corrosion inhibitor to slow/stop these effects.

I'm surprised the equivalent of diesel bug isn't an issue?

As long as the fuel is dry or has corrosion inhibitor then it shouldn't attack either lead (in old solder) or zinc (in brass).

My feeling too. Or the articles I've read try to simplify things for us peasants and invent 'science' that doesn't exist.

One said the ethanol absorbs moisture from air. And that 'condensation' will attack lead, zinc, brass, copper and of course steel. As well as rubber and some plastics.

Current 95 octane is E5 - 5% alcohol. The proposed new E10, so 10%. Some countries have E85. And if a poorer country, likely a larger proportion of old cars?

BL said none of their vehicles pre 1992 (or whatever) could be run on unleaded without modification or the use of an additive. Which was nonsense. But did apply to some of their old engine designs, like the Mini. So I'd not take what a maker says as gospel. They have no legal responsibility for 20 year old cars, but a vested interest in selling new ones.

Wasn't it the case that the ones with the Honda engines were okay?

That's up to 5%, though apparently it is 0% from Esso in a handful of areas (Devon, Cornwall, Teesside, Scotland, NW England).

I don't know about the Romans but it's currently thought to be the cause of Beethoven's deafness, irascibility and early demise.

Another Dave

Not all Romans drank wine for a start.

My mistake. Quite right.

Tim

All their models with alluminimum cylinder heads - so valve seat inserts - were OK. Including all those with the Rover V8. And others too. It was only those with cast iron heads which suffered.

Now if he said it was more carcinogenic he would have been right, from the increased levels of benzene and other aromatic compounds.

type of oil

Those run on *methanol*