E10 petrol from September 2021

[Fraser]

Government has announced rollout of E10 petrol from September. The higher octane stuff at 98+ RON will stay at E5, so they say, but I'm not aware that the high octane stuff has any ethanol at all at the moment.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/fuel ... 021-launch

There is no info on MG cars on the DfT checklist. My car is a 2009 TF made by MG Motor. Hopefully they'll have some info.

[CubMG]

The French have been using e10 for a few years and my 2001 1.8 mpi runs ok on it , you can smell the difference in the exhaust .

[ArntyR]

From the Gov't w/s:

There is no compatibility information available for older MG’s up to 2005 when the company ceased trading. It is therefore recommended to use E5 petrol.

The MG brand has returned more recently, but no compatibility information is available. Owners should contact their dealer, the manual or filler flap for further information.


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

Looks like E5 then...

ps At risk of thread hijack does your Motors TF have a high tickover, too frequent engine fan and no EKA code?
I'm asking because this seems to be yet another 'difference'... MGMotors TF owners seem loathe to share (or don't seem aware of) the significant differences with MGR and, like my own experience of trying to work the EKA code, seem to have to find out the hard way...

[Mike H]

/Off Topic

ps At risk of thread hijack does your Motors TF have a high tickover, too frequent engine fan and no EKA code?
I'm asking because this seems to be yet another 'difference'... MGMotors TF owners seem loathe to share (or don't seem aware of) the significant differences with MGR and, like my own experience of trying to work the EKA code, seem to have to find out the hard way...

I don't think anyone is loathe to share information. I think the issue is that many 'Chinese owners' are not aware; they have what they have, and know no different. It's only those of us who have come from MGR F's and TF''s who notice the different features. I agree the EKA code (or lack of functionality) could be an issue, but I personally don't have any problem with a slightly higher tickover or engine fan that runs on for longer after switch off.

/On Topic
I've always run my F's and TF''s on Shell Optimax or VPower or whatever it's called now, primarily for the detergent properties. I shan't change

[Rob Bell]

IIRC London Taxis were at one time available with the K-series, and these typically ran high-ethanol content fuel (I am sure there are threads on this in the BBS archives). Fundamentally, the K-series should be fine.

Ethanol however can cause corrosion of metals (water content I think) and chemical damage to rubber and I guess potentially plastics too. My hunch is that the MGF and TF (and most MG Rovers) will likely be fine, but ideally you'd want to do some testing or think about swapping over fuel lines (the flexible sections on our MGs are pretty short in fact) to ethanol resistent versions. Probably not too difficult to do.

[nigelandjo]

My 2 SAIC TFs are due their service and MoT in September, so I'll see what the dealer has to say then. Depending on what they say I'll make a decision for the older MG Rover cars.

[mowog73]

Our two 1995 Fs have been in Canada for over 10 years now and have been on a E10 fuel diet for all of those 10 years and there have been no issues with the fuel system related the E10.

[Reckless Rat]

In France I run my 97 'F' on 98E5 as I've been reluctant to try the E10, but it's somewhat reassuring to hear that after 10 years on E10 there have been no issues. Thanks for the update.

[Reckless Rat]

According to the European Automobile Manufacturers Association all Land Rover petrol vehicles manufactured from 1996 onwards are fully E10 compliant. Given that the Freelander uses the 1.8 litre K series engine one could assume from that that the MGF/TF are also E10 compliant. I haven't seen anything official to the contrary.

List of EU compliant vehicles here:

https://www.acea.be/uploads/publication ... BILITY.pdf

Relevant extract: Land Rover: E10 petrol is cleared for use in all Land Rover vehicles with petrol engines starting from model year 1996.

[talkingcars]

I used E10 for our first euro trip, some 3000 miles visiting 8 countries, in 2013. At the following MOT I had a massive fail on emisions. I don't know if the two are connected but if 95ron E5 isn't available I will use 97/98/99ron E5.

[mowog73]

I should add that our Fs, until just recently, had to go through a biannual emission test and they passed every time, and our emission limits were very similar to the numbers I have seen mentioned in the UK. The provincial gov't did away with emission tests about 3 years ago.

In terms of no issues related to E10, I mean that there have been no plastic fuel pipes/hoses that have gone soft, or started weeping fuel. No fuel hose to pipe connections have started weeping fuel and I have not discovered any o-rings that have turned to mush, like at the injectors.

I do make sure that the fuel tank is full of fuel and I do add a fuel additive that is supposed to negate some of the effects of E10 before putting the cars away for the winter (they live a pampered life).

[Rob Bell]

Thanks Mark, that is really useful to know. And yes, absolutely right about the Freelander with the 1.8K (although I thought Canada only got the KV6 version officially?)

[mowog73]

The Freelander did only come fitted with the KV6 to Canada, no 1.8K. It was Reckless who mentioned the Freelander, not me.

[Rob Bell]

I happen to know you're a Canadian FL1 expert Mark!

[mowog73]

Closer to a D1 expert (certainly lower case e 'expert'), but thanks Rob, nice of you to say