Unleaded Petrol E10 Fumes

[eksjay]

I filled my tank with E10 for the first time, and have noticed a strong fuel smell wafting up from the mid section of the car if I keep my window open. There are no fuel leaks.

Although the XJ95 edition manual says that E10 is acceptable as a fuel, it will be the last time I use E10.

I have usually fuelled on Unleaded 95, and on occasion the unleaded 91, but my experiment with E10 is over - it is not worth the price.

Has anyone had similar experiences? The Servo that I used is one of the big ones.

[Blujeep]

I found that fuel economy on E10 was so bad it cost the same as running 95.

[SeaComms]

Originally Posted by Blujeep

I found that fuel economy on E10 was so bad it cost the same as running 95.

Ditto.. Except it ran soo much better on 95!

[tazwegion]

Originally Posted by Blujeep

I found that fuel economy on E10 was so bad it cost the same as running 95.

+2


Ethanol is a cleaning solvent you know, I wouldn't be using it for a primary fuel source ever again, additionally it can lead to water contamination of your tank, if you're going to use it only fill as much as you're likely to use within a couple of days, it's not the kinda' stuff you want sitting in your fuel tank for indefinite periods of time

http://www.fuel-testers.com/remove_water_gas.html

[JEEPaul]

I used E10 (almost) exclusively in my old XJ ever since it became available. Never had any issues. I would get about about 13lt/100km combined. long distance touring I would get just under 11lt/100km.
Use the same fuel in the wife's pajero iO, 135000km and it never misses a beat.

I did run a tank or two of the expensive 98 octane stuff in the XJ to see what all the hype was about but didn't notice any difference. Then again I'm never in a hurry when I drive..

TAZ, I'm sceptical about that web link given they're actually trying to sell a fuel testing product..

[tazwegion]

Originally Posted by JEEPaul

TAZ, I'm sceptical about that web link given they're actually trying to sell a fuel testing product..

Good point, but the fact remains that ethanol is solvent and when left standing sufficiently long enough will breakdown (phase separation) leaving additional water in your tank, mileage is reduced due to it's lower energy density and most interestingly it produces 2.14 times more exhaust by-product responsible for ground level ozone (amongst other things), it's only saving grace is the oxygen purification created by the sugar cane plantations that it's distilled from

I'd be curious as to which brand/variant you used? I had a really bad experience purchasing the Shell version which due to the fuels miscibility lead to water contamination of the service stations holding tanks and ultimately my Jackaroo (amongst other vehicles), now water contamination can happen to any fuel but ethanol blended varieties have a higher risk factor because of it's chemical construction

Further, it's this miscibility that prevents it's use in aviation fuels...



Phase Separation - explained

[JEEPaul]

The main reason E10 can't be used in a mogas powered aircraft is due to the vapour pressure of E10 which increases it's susceptibilty to vapour lock in the fuel lines. A little water in the fuel system with aircraft's standpipe fuel pickups and low drain points isn't a big issue.

In the AVGAS fuel contamination 'epidemic' about 10 years ago the solution was to flush the entire fuel systems with water. For the next 2 months or so every day we were draining about half a litre of water from the tanks before every flight!