E10 Fuel and Beyond
Well, here comes the reality check – E10 petrol is with us and it’s here to stay. The people in power have decided that we are all going to be that little bit ‘greener’ and whether you like it or not the petrol we pour into our tanks now contains 10% ethanol.
For the moment E5 is still going to be available and that’s a small crumb of comfort, but for how long? The Department of Transport has suggested that the lower level of ethanol-doped petrol may only be available for some five years. That means 2026 could be the Sword of Damocles hanging over our bikes… or is it?
Is it all media hype?
Along with the relatively well-publicised government compatibility checker – which is no use whatsoever to classic bike fans – there’s also been a veritable deluge of information, white lies, fake news and propaganda on the various media outlets. We’ve seen ‘we’re all doomed’ to seeing so-called cures, fuel additives and a lot more besides. The truth is, a lot of what is being spun out there is unsubstantiated speculation with little in the way of supportive data.
Think back to the introduction of lead-free petrol in January 2000 and the resultant media frency; and yet amazingly the vast majority of older vehicles still ran fine, despite many classic fans looking into various top-end valve conversions…
Most automotive manufacturers have now issued guidance on E10 compatibility and many have warned that
