E10 Petrol in the UK: Is Your Car Compatible?

E10 is the standard 95-octane petrol grade. It is unsuitable for some older vehicles, and compatibility depends on the particular model and engine rather than the manufacturer’s name alone.

E10 blends petrol with ethanol. It is intended for compatible petrol engines and is not a substitute for diesel.

Here is what the fuel label means and what to check before filling your vehicle.

What is E10 petrol?

E10 petrol can contain up to 10% renewable ethanol. The label does not mean every batch contains exactly 10%.

Ethanol can be produced by fermenting crops such as sugar cane, wheat, maize, sorghum and barley.

The emissions argument concerns replacing some fossil fuel with ethanol made from plants, which absorb CO₂ as they grow. Ethanol in the fuel tank does not absorb carbon dioxide, and using E10 does not make a car journey carbon-free.

Benefits and drawbacks of E10

E10’s principal environmental purpose is to reduce the amount of fossil petrol used by including a renewable component. Its overall impact depends on fuel production as well as how the vehicle is driven.

An ePURE industry estimate in the debate before E10’s introduction suggested that replacing 10% of European petrol with ethanol could reduce associated greenhouse-gas emissions by 6%. This was a sector-level estimate; the effect for an individual car depends on its fuel use and the fuel’s production.

Moving from E5 to E10 may reduce fuel economy by around 1%. Driving style and tyre pressure can have a greater effect on everyday fuel consumption.

Why was E10 introduced?

E5 permits up to 5% ethanol and E10 up to 10%. This does not require the ethanol content of every batch to double, nor does it guarantee any particular change in pump prices.

Public consultations preceded E10’s introduction. It is now sold as the standard 95-octane petrol grade.

In 2018, then transport minister Jesse Norman described the aim of reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels and cutting transport emissions while considering the costs faced by owners of older cars. His comments formed part of the policy debate before E10 was introduced.

Which vehicles are affected?

In 2018, the SMMT estimated that 92.2% of vehicles were compatible, leaving 7.8%, or about 1.5 million motorists, potentially affected. These historical estimates do not describe the number of incompatible cars on the road today.

All new cars manufactured since 2011 are compatible with E10. For older vehicles, check the model and engine: a registration date before 2002 is not, by itself, a reliable test of compatibility.

Consult the owner’s manual, the manufacturer’s guidance or the government’s E10 vehicle checker before using the fuel if you are unsure.

What if your car cannot use E10?

E5 is generally available as super-grade petrol of 97 octane or higher at filling stations selling two petrol grades. Check availability and the pump label before filling.