The New E10 Fuel Will it Boost New Car Sales?

[Mr Sprue]

Recent survey revealed that July's new car production was the worst since 1956. Although there are a number of factors being blamed for the slowdown including the current global chip shortage and the so-called 'pingdemic', where workers who may have had close contact with Covid cases had to self-isolate.

Production for the UK market declined by 38.7% to 8,233, whilst the number of vehicles built for export also fell to 45,205, a drop of 37.4%. BUT! Second hand car sales have rocketed.

Enter the Governments introduction of E10 fuel....... Blended with Ethanol and other additives this fuel is probably not going to be good for older engines up to around 2002 and probably also runs the risk of engine damage.

Ethanol is hygroscopic, which means that it absorbs water from the atmosphere, which can lead to condensation in fuel tanks, fuel lines and carburettors and cause corrosion in brass, copper, lead, tin and zinc components.

Ethanol is also a solvent it can eat through rubber, plastic and fibreglass, so hoses and seals are likely to perish more quickly because of the higher concentration of ethanol in E10.

It gets better!

The Department for Transport tests identified degradation to fuel hoses and seals, blocked fuel filters, damaged fuel pumps, corroded carbs, blocked injectors and corrosion in fuel tanks. Rubber is particularly affected.

So could E10 be the Governments answer to removing older cars off the road and boosting new car sales? 

[RailGooner]

No.

[njee20]

No.

I was going to say that

Based on the insane second hand market it's a wonder people aren't buying new!

I can't see it making a massive difference, but it'll be interesting. The biggest losers are probably those with classic cars who would notice. I suspect most 20 year old 'bangers' still driving around are probably riddled with issues and wouldn't notice a few new ones caused by ethanol induced failure. Despite the scaremongering I can't see petrol tanks and fuel hoses spontaneously failing. The classic car owners will perhaps just have to run super unleaded.

[Mr Sprue]

Winter months will definitely boost battery sales as Ethanol is bad for cold starting, it doesn't burn as quick as petrol.  

[Ali Smith]

My car is a Diesel which I always run on branded fuel not supermarket muck. The 2019 bike should be OK and has a factory applied sticker confirming this. The 1978 bike will get super unleaded which is dearer but it doesn't do a lot of miles and I no longer have to pay road tax. I will fill the newer bike with super when I stop using it over the winter. I certainly won't be vehicle shopping because of E10.

[Mr Sprue]

I guess the writing was on the wall as E10 has been in Europe for quite a while now. So I guess as most of us drive vehicles that were built in Europe its not going to be no big deal.

As for dirty diesels I cant see there being too much interference with the fuel mix as a lot of it now is blended bio!

[njee20]

My car is a Diesel which I always run on branded fuel not supermarket muck.

I didn't know anyone still thought this was a thing!

[daffy]

I read earlier today that diesel is not part of the E10 "upgrade" of fuels in the UK and will, for now at least, stay as is. Is this correct?

[njee20]

Yep

[Bigmac]

My daily is a 2007 fiesta diesel--had it nearly 4 years--most reliable car ive ever had. Done 10,000 miles in that time. It aint going anywhere.

My posing car is a 2003 MG TF..more show than go..that will get super unleaded as i dont fancy it being out of use all winter with that new stuff in it.

[Mr Sprue]

I read earlier today that diesel is not part of the E10 "upgrade" of fuels in the UK and will, for now at least, stay as is. Is this correct?

Diesels would not run very well on E10 in fact not at all, its basically unleaded fuel with 10% Ethanol which is grain alcohol.

[njee20]

I do wonder if people will actually buy more Super Unleaded, and if it'll therefore become more widely available. 2 of my three nearest petrol stations don't sell it. I suspect there may be a short term uptick and then people will just go back to what they've always done. I have been trying to put super in mine lately, but it is price dependent, 151.9p yesterday... sod that, it got normal unleaded!

[daffy]

Thanks, both, for confirming what I read/thought was the case. I shall continue driving my diesel at 60+mpg then, with no thoughts of going to other fuels. Well, not until I've printed some more money to supplement my pension.

[Mr Sprue]

Thanks, both, for confirming what I read/thought was the case. I shall continue driving my diesel at 60+mpg then, with no thoughts of going to other fuels. Well, not until I've printed some more money to supplement my pension.

Or you could always run the gauntlet and put a bit of cherry in it, would be a lot cheaper. Well that is until you get dipped! 

[PLD]

E10 has been on some forecourts in this area for a while now. I've tried it for a month, and it significantly reduced my fuel economy from around 52-3 mpg on E5 regular unleaded to 46-47 mpg at motorway cruising speeds. (This is a 2017 Vauxhall Astra Sport Tourer, 150bhp 1.4 turbo) The same car does c55mpg on 98 octane Super unleaded.

So, for me the change to E10 will actually encourage me to switch to use Super.  Previously it gave marginly better economy, but not sufficient to offset the extra 8-10 pence per litre. With the reduced efficiency on E10, the difference in cost per mile becomes less than 0.5p, so with the (potential) detrimental effect on the service life of other components, the numbers work in favour of Super.