E10 is a safe and reliable fuel, compatible with the majority of petrol-powered cars on the road today. Ethanol is a colourless alcohol that can be used as an alternative fuel and is considered a renewable fuel when produced from agricultural sources.
That said, it recommends avoiding prolonged use of E10 petrol in a non-compatible car as this can result in long term harm to the engine. If you do fill up with E10 fuel, don't panic - just remember to fill up with super unleaded or premium fuel next time.
Unlike putting petrol into a diesel engine, you shouldn't need to drain the tank. On a one-time basis, your vehicle will not suffer engine damage as a result. Prolonged use of E10 petrol in a non-compatible vehicle, however, may cause harm and is not recommended.
But using E10 petrol in an incompatible vehicle will, over time, cause problems in the fuel system. Carburettor corrosion, fuel hose degradation, fuel filter blockage and damaged fuel pumps are all likely if you use E10 regularly in vehicles that shouldn't take it.
As mentioned above, all vehicles made after 2010 can run on E10 fuel and the majority of cars built between 2002 and 2010 will also be compatible. However, there are some exceptions, including certain models from brands like Ford, Renault, Toyota, Lexus, Volkswagen, Audi and Mercedes.
Those vehicles manufactured before 2002 were not designed to operate with such high ethanol content fuel and as a result, could be damaged by using E10.
In turn, the majority of petrol engines designed for RON 91 are compatible with E10. If the manufacturer has recommended that you use premium unleaded in the vehicle, this means you should fill the tank with either RON 95 or RON 98. Neither E10 (RON 94) or regular unleaded petrol should be used in those vehicles.
It is believed that the higher bioethanol content in E10 petrol could dislodge deposits in older engines and fuel systems, causing blockages; it could also cause some seals, gaskets, metals and plastics to corrode.
Research by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) showed a 3% to 4% reduction in fuel economy using E10 compared with pure oil-based petrol – despite the U|K government saying it's only around 1-2%.
Will E10 cause problems for cars in storage? When it comes to storing your car, if it is older than 1996 and doesn't have a catalytic converter, you can use a lead replacement additive such as Castrol's Classic Valvemaster, which can help prevent corrosion as it also contains an ethanol stabiliser.
E10 is an ethanol-based fuel, in that it's 10% ethanol and 90% unleaded petrol. It has a higher octane rating of 94, which could result in better performance if your car is tuned for it.
The NSW government says on average, E10 can lead to an increase in fuel consumption of around 3 per cent when compared to 91 RON. This has about the same effect on fuel consumption as driving on tyres with inadequate air pressure. For more myth-busting on tips for saving on fuel, we have you covered.
Taking a long-term view, we'd advise that any car with fuel held in the tank for over three years should be drained and replaced with ethanol-free petrol.
If your car runs an Octane Rating of 91 (most petrol cars use this), then E10 fuel is interchangeable with your regular petrol. Cars that use premium fuels (with an octane rating of 95 or 98) are better off with that running through their engines, as they're tuned to require high efficiencies from the fuel system.
Always refer to your vehicle manufacturer's recommendations before filling up at the fuel station, as the type of unleaded fuel you use does matter. In a vehicle that is recommended to use regular unleaded (91) fuel - you can opt for premium 95 or 98 unleaded fuel. This will not cause any harm to your engine.
Ethanol has lower energy content than petrol, so generally speaking it provides less 'bang for your buck'. ABMARC says this means that you probably won't drive quite as far on a tank of E10 as you would on a tank of unleaded (91 RON) or 95 RON.
Although E10 is cheaper at the pump, it will burn quicker than your premium fuels. This is due to the higher octane rating of premium fuel (Unleaded 98) compared to E10 (Unleaded 91/94). So, in simple terms, the higher the number the more efficient the fuel burns.
Even if your car is cleared to run on the new E10 fuel, you may choose to run it on super-unleaded anyway. Super-unleaded should prove slightly more economical, so you'll be able to get more miles out of a tank of fuel, and some are said to clean and maintain the internals of your engine.
While a car not designed to run on E10 will likely not suffer engine damage, the ethanol can damage fuel lines and other parts of the fuel system, leading to longer term problems. E10 emissions can also damage the core of catalytic converters.
Shell Unleaded E10, which contains up to 10% ethanol, has a minimum 94 octane rating.
Premium, 98 Unleaded Petrol
Otherwise known as Ultra-Premium by some brands, 98 is the highest-octane fuel currently available in Australia. Unleaded 98 provides higher engine power and overall performance in comparison to 91 and 95. It is also responsible for less pollution, according to providers.
Most petrol vehicles built after 2000 are compatible with E10. If your car is E10 compatible you can replace your unleaded petrol with E10 when you fill up. It's ok to switch back and forth between E10 and other unleaded fuel types, where your manufacturer has advised these fuels are suitable for your vehicle.
Therefore, if your classic is not used for a while, it is advisable to refuel a premium gasoline with the lowest possible alcohol content (Super 98, V-Power, Excellium, etc.). Some suppliers are offering additives for E10, specially designed to counteract the harmful effects on our classics.
One of the areas that E10 can have a negative impact is in your fuel systems' seals and gaskets. These are often made of rubber on older vehicles, a material than Ethanol will degrade much faster than petrol.
E10 petrol is compatible with almost all (95%)1 petrol-powered vehicles on the road today, including all cars built since 2011. If your vehicle or equipment is not compatible with E10 fuel, you are still able to use E5 by purchasing Shell V-Power grade petrol from most Shell service stations.