E10 fuel: Is it safe and will it save you money?

With petrol prices soaring, a listener rang 3AW Afternoons yesterday to suggest motorists use E10 fuel.

But her call was followed by other listeners warning the fuel damaged their cars.

So Dee Dee asked an expert for the low-down on E1o.

CEO of the Australasian Convenience and Petroleum Marketers Association, Mark McKenzie, says anyone with a car manufactured before 2006 should exercise caution.

“Those systems tended to use a fair bit of plastic in their fuel systems,” he told Dee Dee.

“Ethanol is actually quite corrosive … so it damages them over time.”

E10 is safe for most newer vehicles, but it’s best to check your manual or the label on your fuel cap.

And it’s worth noting it’s not always cost effective.

“Ethanol has a lower energy content than petrol, it’s about 30 per cent lower,” Mr McKenzie said.

“So in theory you’ll get less energy per litre of E10 then you’ll get for a full litre of unleaded petrol.”

Mr McKenzie says E10 is only worth considering if it’s five or six cents a litre cheaper than regular unleaded.

Press PLAY below for the low-down on E10