E10 v E5 Petrol

[DRM]

Yes, the experiment continues, last fill up was on E10, the car didn’t go as far on it, and runs a bit rougher, but noticeably so, and doesn’t pull as well, put some E5 in this morning , it pulls better, runs smoother and you can change gear sooner

 

[gbb]

E5 doesn't cost more to make than E10 - probably less - but the government makes the fuel suppliers sell it only in the higher octane "super unleaded" pumps to discourage its use. Most cars won't benefit from the higher octane rating.

Apparently Esso E5 doesn't even contain the 5% ethanol, although this was in one test and things will change from time to time. You could even be lucky and get E10 with < 10% ethanol, as the 5 and 10 are maximum percentages only.

My old CX-5 ran like a dog on E10, needing one gear lower on hills. It had a very high compression engine and I assume the knock sensor retuned it for less power. The Mazda 3 with SkyActiv-X engine doesn't seem bothered. It pinks more audibly but it's designed to.

I would definitely avoid E10 if you're taking more than two months to get through a tankful.

My Mazda 3 Skyactiv G is also a high compression engine I've never noticed pinking on mine at all, E5 or 10. My 2015 Astra suffered terribly with it at high load low rpm. Underpowered 1.6 petrol engine was useless imo.

 

[Fastpedaller]

All this takes me back to the days of Formula Shell (remember that?) The first and only time I used it was in a Morris Marina 1800. I was very low on fuel and pulling in petrol station and put some FS in (thankfully not a full tank). After a couple of miles I turned left into a road (2nd gear) and the engine pinked terribly. The fuel was obviously the culprit and the next day I filled the tank with someone else's 4 star. No problems again. A huge number of Vauxhall car owners got payouts from Shell IIRC.

 

[rogerzilla]

My Mazda 3 Skyactiv G is also a high compression engine I've never noticed pinking on mine at all, E5 or 10. My 2015 Astra suffered terribly with it at high load low rpm. Underpowered 1.6 petrol engine was useless imo.

The CX-5 has the same engine but in 165bhp form, not 120bhp, and didn't pink.

My Mazda 3 has the 184bhp SkyActiv-X. It's unlike any other engine as the fuel is made to pop instead of burn, so there is a pinking sound under load. It has better fuel economy than the 120bhp engine.

 

[rogerzilla]

All this takes me back to the days of Formula Shell (remember that?) The first and only time I used it was in a Morris Marina 1800. I was very low on fuel and pulling in petrol station and put some FS in (thankfully not a full tank). After a couple of miles I turned left into a road (2nd gear) and the engine pinked terribly. The fuel was obviously the culprit and the next day I filled the tank with someone else's 4 star. No problems again. A huge number of Vauxhall car owners got payouts from Shell IIRC.

I think the issue on Vauxhalls was stuck, and hence burnt, valves.

Not much later, Ford Zetec engines started suffering from stuck valves on any petrol. It turned out this was only a problem in the UK as drivers weren't revving the engines as hard as the designers had envisaged. They kind of solved it with specific motor oil.