There are concerns motorists are confused about fuel options being offered at service stations across South Australia.
Ethanol blends, like E-10 which is 10 per cent ethanol and 90 per cent unleaded petrol, are sold much cheaper than regular unleaded, but many motorists fear they are bad for their vehicle.
Experts say that isn’t the case.
“There is a perception that it’s bad for your car that it’s corrosive. People shouldn’t be afraid of E10,” Mike Costello from Car Advice said.
“If your car is able to run on basic 91 fuel it’s generally accepted that it’s ok.”
But it may not be as cost effective as many people think, with experts adding that while E-10 costs less than regular petrol, it is not as efficient.
“It would need to be a fair bit cheaper more than a few cents … say about 8 cents a litre is where it might start to make sense,” Mr Costello added.
Infact, instead of spending less Mike Costello says some people need to spend more. Manufacturers often specify that only faster burning unleaded 95 and 98 fuels should be used in newer model cars “A fuel with a lower rating won’t burn properly and will actually do harm to your engine over the long haul,” he added. But for those people with older cars, the advice is to stick with the cheaper unleaded 91. More information is available on the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries website.
Extracted from 9news