WHAT IS THE E10 FUEL EFFECT

When you filled up recently, you will have noticed an E10 sticker on the pump...

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Below is some information that you may find of benefit to understand what this means to your bike.

The summary:

• E10 fuel has been introduced to help reduce emissions

• It is the Petrol fuel standard

• Most “modern” bikes made in the last 20 years or so can use it

• It will slightly reduce fuel efficiency

• It is not good for older bikes, they should now use super unleaded petrol (E5)

E10 has been the standard since September 2021 and you will have used it to fill up your vehicle.

What is E10 petrol?

E10 fuel is “ethanol-blended petrol”, it's fuel with a weaker mix of petrol-to-ethanol to reduce CO2 emissions.

E refers to ethanol. Ethanol is a biofuel made from crops and is a greener alternative to petrol. The growing crops absorb CO2 and producing ethanol produces less CO2 than distilling crude oil.

10 refers to 10%. The idea is that 10% of the fuel you put in your tank is bioethanol, which creates less emissions, making the fuel less damaging to the climate.

The original standard Unleaded we used before this was E5 and this is now known at the pumps as Super Unleaded but is still E5 (only 5% of the petrol is bioethanol).

Can E10 petrol be used in my bike?

There is a handy government bike checker, here.

Check if your vehicle can run on E10 petrol - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Below is what they say about Triumph, Suzuki and Honda's...

Triumph Motorcycles

All models, starting from Model Year 1990, are compatible with E10.

I'm still not sure if my vehicle is E10 compatible

If you're not sure if you can use E10 in your vehicle:

• check the vehicle owner's manual, the instructional booklet is specific to your vehicle

• look inside of the fuel filler flap

• ask the car, motorcycle or scooter manufacturer / local dealer

If you're still not sure, use E5 petrol. It will still be available in the super grade at many filling stations.

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Suzuki Motorcycles

2002 Model Years and onwards - all motorcycles can use E10 with no problems. 1992-2001 Model Years – some models can use E10 fuels and some models cannot. The user should contact their national importer for clarification. 1991 Model Years and earlier – RON 98 (no bio-fuel content) must be used.

I'm still not sure if my vehicle is E10 compatible

If you're not sure if you can use E10 in your vehicle:

• check the vehicle owner's manual, the instructional booklet is specific to your vehicle

• look inside of the fuel filler flap

• ask the car, motorcycle or scooter manufacturer / local dealer

If you're still not sure, use E5 petrol. It will still be available in the super grade at many filling stations.

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Honda Motorcycles

All Honda motorcycles and mopeds produced for the EU market since 1993 can use ethanol-blended gasoline up to 10% although carburettor-equipped models could experience poor driveability in cold weather conditions.

I'm still not sure if my vehicle is E10 compatible

If you're not sure if you can use E10 in your vehicle:

• check the vehicle owner's manual, the instructional booklet is specific to your vehicle

• look inside of the fuel filler flap

• ask the car, motorcycle or scooter manufacturer / local dealer

If you're still not sure, use E5 petrol. It will still be available in the super grade at many filling stations.

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Effect of E10 Fuel

Will E10 damage my bike?

There are potential problems with E10, particularly if your bike is older as can affect the rubber hoses and other corrosion issues.

Ethanol burns at a different fuel/air mix to petrol, so your carburated engine might struggle.

Unlike petrol ethanol is also hygroscopic, like brake fluid, it absorbs water Over months the petrol and ethanol can separate which might cause corrosion as parts of the engine that were never intended to see water are exposed to it.

Also, unlike petrol, ethanol is a solvent, it may deteriorate plastics and rubbers that were not intended to come into contact with ethanol. In the US they have had E10 for much longer and there are numerous comments online about deforming plastic petrol tanks, Ducatis seem to have been particularly affected.

E10 will give you a decrease in fuel performance. Compared to petrol, ethanol produces less power when it burns, which means less performance... so for the performance you are used to, you will fill up more.

It will only be a small percentage increase in fuel required but you will be buying more fuel.

If your bike is older, you need to use super unleaded.

What if my bike is older?

“Super unleaded” petrol is due to remain at 5%

I have put E10 in my tank and shouldn’t have?

If it is a one-off it won’t be a problem, you just need to add super unleaded when it’s half full.

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The government says: “We recognise that some motorists, particularly owners of classic and cherished vehicles, would still need access to E5. For that reason, this consultation is also proposing to require that that the higher octane "super" grade, available at many filling stations, remains E5”

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