E10 petrol has now launched and has replaced E5 as the default unleaded petrol offering at all fuel stations in the UK (E5 is now commonly refered to as as Super or Premium – depending on brand)
The difference between the two (apart from cost!) is the ethanol content, E10 contains twice as much ethanol as E5. Increased ethanol content brings up the octane rating of the petrol, which is actually a benefit to the running of the engine.
However, ethanol is also very corrosive and can cause damage to steel fuel tanks, and rubber hoses and fittings. Another big concern is the reduction in fuel economy many users are seeing from E10 fuel.
The purpose of E10 petrol is to reduce CO2 emissions, although any potential benefits could well be off-set by the reduced fuel economy, causing more litres of E10 to be burnt to reach the same number of miles per gallon!
Most modern motorcycles and scooter should run fine on E10 petrol. The Government has launched a E10 vehicle checker where you can enter your vehicle details if you are unsure.
Even if you are able to use E10 petrol, it may be a good idea to choose E5 for the reasons listed above. This may not be possible in many cases, however, as not all fuel stations will carry a Super or Premium petrol.
In this case we would recommend the use of Petrol Additives. These work by inhibiting the corrosive behaviour by joining with any free bonds on the ethanol. The fuel treatments will not affect the beneficial part of ethanol and should be used each time you refuel with E10 petrol.
Whatever petrol you choose (just don’t fill up with diesel!) – happy scootering!
