Petrol E5 E10 Ethanol

[thuroberts]

Rolled up to my usual pump yesterday and was surprised to find it labelled E10, as I didn't think that was coming in until September. Fortunately, I spotted a vacant pump labelled E5 so reversed in there. However, on lifting the nozzle it displayed the price 155.9. For the last few weeks my area has been 135.9 for Unleaded (moving to E10) and 149.9 for Super (currently still E5), so 155.9 seems to represent some opportunism and equates to £1 per gallon more than Unleaded. I asked the cashier who sets the price and she said "Esso" - which I doubt as most of the garages seem to be franchises - "but it's much cleaner for your engine and more power"! I haven't heard of any anti-ethanol additives for Unleaded so for now we're stuck with the extra cost of Super.

Garages display the cheapest price (Unleaded) and the cheapest garage for Unleaded may not be the cheapest for Super. Caution is required on joining a forecourt queue as we may not be able to see which pumps dispense E5, and they may not display the price until we lift the nozzle.

[2robert4]

Only Super Unleaded will continue to be E5 for some time to come the FBHVC web site has chapter and verse about the latest regulations and the future of E5 fuel and indeed I am sure there was an article on this issue in the Riley Record. As for petrol stations profiteering we should not be surprised, Super Unleaded has always been overpriced in relation to its effectiveness in my opinion and I am sure as its production dwindles just as Leaded fuel did in the recent past its price will rise at the same rate. I am afraid that this issue will continue to be a bone of contention between the FBHVC and other groups in the years to come.

As regards to pricing at pumps "Buyer Beware"

NP