Esso premium ethanol free

[Burdekin]

Bit of good info for us classic car folk. UK’s only ethanol-free fuels, Esso Synergy Supreme+ Unleaded 97 and Synergy Supreme+ 99. From Esso’s website.

Synergy Supreme+ 99 premium petrol

Although our pumps have E5 labels on them, our Synergy Supreme+ 99 is actually ethanol free (except, due to technical supply reasons, in Devon, Cornwall, North Wales, North England and Scotland). Legislation requires us to place these E5 labels on pumps that dispense unleaded petrol with ‘up to 5% ethanol’, including those that contain no ethanol, which is why we display them on our Synergy Supreme+ 99 pumps.

There’s currently no requirement for renewable fuel, like ethanol, to be present in super unleaded petrol although this could change in the future, in which case we would comply with any new legislation.

[Army]

The last line of your post has promted my response:-

I've mentioned it a few times on this forum already - that in the Netherlands Euro 95 is actually E10 (I don't know why they are still allowed to call it Euro 95 - it is a classic trade descriptions problem...)

Previously it had been E5 for a several years.

When you get to a 10% ethanol content in fuel rubber parts in a classic car fuel system are at risk of being eaten! Obviously one solution is to replace the fuel system with rubber parts and gaskets that can withstand the munching abilities of ethanol. However, that isn't necessarily the full story - vehicles (like classic cars, motorbikes, motorhomes etc) that sit for long periods of time often suffer from the ethanol part of the fuel separating and then the water content starts to cause corrosion...

...ethanol can be a blood nightmare.

Historically the UK has been enthusiastic about strange and silly ideas that have been born in the Netherlands - think speed cameras, sleeping policemen, putting traffic lights on motorway slip roads. I think it is possible that "Euro95" pump fuel will soon become E10 in the UK too.

[Burdekin]

Originally Posted by Army

The last line of your post has promted my response:-

I've mentioned it a few times on this forum already - that in the Netherlands Euro 95 is actually E10 (I don't know why they are still allowed to call it Euro 95 - it is a classic trade descriptions problem...)

Previously it had been E5 for a several years.

When you get to a 10% ethanol content in fuel rubber parts in a classic car fuel system are at risk of being eaten! Obviously one solution is to replace the fuel system with rubber parts and gaskets that can withstand the munching abilities of ethanol. However, that isn't necessarily the full story - vehicles (like classic cars, motorbikes, motorhomes etc) that sit for long periods of time are often suffer from the ethanol part of the fuel separating and then the water content starts to cause corrosion...

...ethanol can be a blood nightmare.

Historically the UK has been enthusiastic about strange and silly ideas that have been born in the Netherlands - think speed cameras, sleeping policemen, putting traffic lights on motorway slip roads. I think it is possible that "Euro95" pump fuel will soon become E10 in the UK too.

I think 95 is changing later this year to E10. 97 and above I don't think there is a requirement.

[Army]

Ages ago I posted this =>

https://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=298105

The cost of Euro95 has been fluctuating wildly during the pandemic but is now on a bit of a steep rise again. The gap between the cost of alcylate fuel and pump fuel is getting smaller (!)

[Army]

Originally Posted by Burdekin

I think 95 is changing later this year to E10. 97 and above I don't think there is a requirement.

Well that's good news if you can find the 97 at the pumps.

Here "real" petrol stations are very thin on the ground. Usually there is only diesel and Euro95 available. Even though for years LPG was very popular and recently they've been trying north sea gas too...

...I think the majority of petrol stations are unmanned pay only with electronic payments solutions. The choice is narrowing probably for "economical" reasons. My neighbour who has a north sea gas duel fuel system now needs to drive about 30 miles to buy gas...

[Burdekin]

Originally Posted by Army

Well that's good news if you can find the 97 at the pumps.

Here "real" petrol stations are very thin on the ground. Usually there is only diesel and Euro95 available. Even though for years LPG was very popular and recently they've been trying north sea gas too...

...I think the majority of petrol stations are unmanned pay only with electronic payments solutions. The choice is narrowing probably for "economical" reasons. My neighbour who has a north sea gas duel fuel system now needs to drive about 30 miles to buy gas...

Yeah plenty of stations here don't have premium petrol as well now. I have a Esso and shell nearby and they have premium so I use them rather than the Morrisons that is the closest. Is it ironic that one is Dutch?

[Army]

Originally Posted by Burdekin

Yeah plenty of stations here don't have premium petrol as well now. I have a Esso and shell nearby and they have premium so I use them rather than the Morrisons that is the closest. Is it ironic that one is Dutch?

I think Esso was originally an American company but hey these days corporations are mirages that float from one country to another to get the best deal in tax and restrictions.

Shell which is more or less a Dutch company have recently lost a court case in the Netherlands which makes it harder for them to wriggle out of their "commitments to the environment". The Dutch judicary have ruled that they are responsible for the role they can play in reducing carbon gasses and pollution.

In the mean time there was yet another revival of the scandal of oil companies (I'm not sure if it was Shell) who are refining oil products in Europe / the Netherlands and still sending the crappy low quality left overs they can not sell in Europe to Africa. Protestors have been banging on about this problem for at least a decade and the industry promised to change (but apparently has not)...

...There is a lot more pressure on fossile fuels. Changes are certainly on the way.

I'm keeping an eye on the cost of batteries so I can convert my fleet to electric.

[c1800]

"I think Esso was originally an American company"

Esso is a "brand" name, owned by he parent company, EXXON.
EXXON owns subsidiaries all over the world including the UK, either 100% or less.

In Canada the requirement to include bio fuel in gasoline is "a minimum of 5%". Most companies sell three grades of gasoline with "up to 10% ethanol content". Shell sells premium with no ethanol and can do so because the requirement is that all files sold must average at least 5%. Their regular is up to 10%, mid grade up to 5%, and premium 0%. since the bulk of their fuel sold is regular, its easy for them to meet the average.

Obviously government regs differ from country to country, I am not aware of the exact requirement in the UK.

[Army]

I dunno if any one keeps tabs on the hubnut youtube channel here but "according to him" E10 is due to be the new norm in the UK for Euro95 from September...

...he is typically horizontal in his reaction to it of course. (!) (?)

[Burdekin]

Originally Posted by Army

I dunno if any one keeps tabs on the hubnut youtube channel here but "according to him" E10 is due to be the new norm in the UK for Euro95 from September...

...he is typically horizontal in his reaction to it of course. (!) (?)

That's correct I think.