E10 fuel and classics

[Turlough]

Somebody must have the answer! I live in N.Ireland and the dreaded E10 has just been rolled out here so I’ve asked the question from my local Audi agent, “can I run my 1997 2.8 Audi Cabriolet on E10 fuel?”.
They weren’t sure and referred me to the government website which does mention a few Audi’s but not mine. I want someone to say that my specific car can run on E10, this is one of the problems of driving a class is car in that new rules and regulations tend to ignore older cars partly in the belief that they’ve all gone to that big garage in the sky by now. I then called Audi UK and had an interesting conversation with an android who eventually suggested I go to Audi.co.uk and have an online chat, I did this but because my Cabriolet is 25 years old it didn’t come up on their pre-scripted computer programme and so the query has now gone to their technical department who apparently wouldn’t answer their phone, I’m now awaiting an email that will hopefully answer the question.
In the mean time is there anyone out there how knows the answer, Can I run my 1997 2.8 V6 Cabriolet on E10 petrol without causing damage to the engine?
Thank you.

[Magnet]

Hello Turlough,

I would not want to give you a definite yes/no with your car, but what I can give you is:- 

Apparently E10 has been on the Continent for a number of years , and you don’t hear of many - any?  disasters.

I ran 3 non Audi classics ranging from 1957 to 2003 this season on E10 without any issues. Did the same last year to a lesser extent due to Covid. I will also be using it next year in a 1935 car, when I raise it from its slumbers! 
Don’t you still have access to E5 in NI as we do? 
If I understand it correctly petrol is cheaper over with you than it is on mainland U.K. -? 
Peace of mind is always worth spending on, so just use E5 if available. After all, if they put the price of E10 up to the price that E5 is now, then there would be no option but to buy fuel at that increased price. 
Kind regards,

Gareth. 
 

[Turlough]

Thanks for your wise words Gareth.

As E10 is only now being seriously introduced here E5 is becoming  more rare and my local stations all seem to have moved completely to E10. Petrol here can be cheaper by a couple of pence but is usually priced similar or slightly more in rural areas than Briton because of transport costs.
Audi UK’s technical department have referred me to the government website but I have replied to them and refused to be fobbed off, it’ll be interesting to see what non committal reply they come back with.

I’ll take your advice Gareth and use E10 when necessary but buy E5 when available. 
Thank you!

 

[Steve Q]

The engine will run on it, most likely slightly rougher. I know this is the case for my 93 fuel injected ford escort. However it's the rubber fuel lines in degrades faster due to the extra ethanol 

[Turlough]

Thanks for that Steve Q, I’ll follow Gareth’s advice and use E5 when available. 

[Steve Q]

37 minutes ago, Turlough said:

Thanks for that Steve Q, I’ll follow Gareth’s advice and use E5 when available. 

I definitely agree. I use e5 in my ford escort. 

[IHK 11]

Hi from what ive been told by a few people in the trade your car should run on E10 petrol but in the long term it will damage certain parts of your fuel system especially fuel lines as Steve Q said. Also things like  the inside of your petrol tank you hsve various mechanisms around the fuel pump and your fuel accumalator which is underneath the car are made out of metals and materials which will degrade faster  from E10. If you cant get E5 then id use E10 as a last resort. I wonder if theres a fuel cleaner that would help to use occasionally if running on E10. 

[Steve Q]

On 1/19/2023 at 7:33 PM, IHK 11 said:

Hi from what ive been told by a few people in the trade your car should run on E10 petrol but in the long term it will damage certain parts of your fuel system especially fuel lines as Steve Q said. Also things like  the inside of your petrol tank you hsve various mechanisms around the fuel pump and your fuel accumalator which is underneath the car are made out of metals and materials which will degrade faster  from E10. If you cant get E5 then id use E10 as a last resort. I wonder if theres a fuel cleaner that would help to use occasionally if running on E10. 

Think there are additives on the market you can add when filling with E10 but really we shouldn't have to do this. It's the government shafting us again. 

[IHK 11]

Thats true. I just worry how long E5 will be around for. 

[Steve Q]

13 minutes ago, IHK 11 said:

Thats true. I just worry how long E5 will be around for. 

Whilst they can make more money from motorists who use older the cars the longer it'll be around for. 

[IHK 11]

Cross fingers.