E10 Petrol - Is My Vehicle Compatible?

Check if your car can run on E10 petrol by reading our comprehensive guide

Published: 20 September 2021
Category:
- Guides and Education
Tags:
- Driving
- Petrol

In 2021, the world of fuel moved to accommodate new standard petrol at the pumps; E10 petrol. Introduced late in the year, it threw into question its compatibility with our vehicles. 95% of petrol-powered vehicles on the road today are compatible with E10 fuel, but it’s worth doing your research to double-check.

What is E10 petrol?

Designed to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, E10 petrol contains up to 10% renewable ethanol, hence the name E10. Prior to this, petrol only contained 5%, known as E5. It has been suggested that the switch to E10 fuel could cut transport CO2 emissions by 750,000 tonnes a year, something welcomed in the age of the climate crisis.

E10 is somewhat old news to the rest of the world; it’s the standard against which new cars are emissions tested, and has been since 2016. It was already widely used around the world prior to 2021 too!

How does E10 petrol affect fuel economy?

The number of miles you can travel on a tank of petrol is slightly reduced in the case of E10, though this is largely negligible at around 1%. In fact, you’re more likely to affect your fuel economy by driving with incorrectly inflated tyres and carrying a full (and heavier) load than by filling up with E10 fuel.

Is my car compatible with E10 petrol?

A good measure to go by is that all cars manufactured since 2011 are compatible with E10 fuel, and there are even many cars and motorcycles manufactured since the late 1990s that will happily run on E10 fuel too.

However, older, classic vehicles won’t like E10 fuel, and neither will specific models from the early 2000s, and some mopeds too. These can accept the previous incarnation of petrol, E5, which is still largely available as ‘special’ grade E5 (97+ octane).

If you have an incompatible vehicle and you fill up with E10 by mistake, don’t panic; a single tank of E10 shouldn’t be a huge issue. Just make sure you fill up with E5 next time! As a helpful reminder, cars manufactured after 2019 should have the petrol type labelled close to the fuel cap.

To help work out whether your petrol vehicle is compatible with E10 fuel, we have added a guide from the DVLA with a handful of vehicles we typically have in our service departments! If your vehicle isn’t listed below, please don’t panic! Give your local EMG branch a call and we’re happy to assist.

Make of Vehicle	E10 Petrol
Audi	E10 petrol is cleared for use in all Audi petrol driven vehicles, excluding the following vehicles: First generation direct injection engines: Audi A2 1.6 FSI, model years 2003-2005 Audi A3 1.6 FSI, model year 2004 Audi A3 2.0 FSI, model year 2004 Audi A4 2.0 FSI, model years 2003-2004 Audi A4 Saloon petrol engine models with OEM parking heater, of model years 2001-2008. Audi A4 Avant petrol engine models with OEM parking heater of model years 2002- 2008. NOTE: If your vehicle is listed above you should continue to use E5 petrol.
BMW	All petrol engine BMW models are cleared for the use of E10 petrol regardless of their year of manufacture but the minimum octane required should be observed according to the owner's manual.
Citroen	All cars with petrol engines are E10 (EN228) compatible since 1st January 2000. Older petrol cars should continue to use E5.
Dacia	E10 is cleared for use in all petrol driven Dacia vehicles.
DS	Citroen - All cars with petrol engines are E10 (EN228) compatible since 1st January 2000. Older petrol cars should continue to use E5.
Fiat	E10 petrol is cleared for all Fiat vehicles with petrol engines starting from 1st January 2001 (Euro 3 emission level), except the following vehicles: Barchetta: 1.8 litre Bravo/Brava (Type 182): 1.6 litre Doblò: 1.6 litre Marea: 1.6 and 2.0 litre Multipla: 1.6 litre Palio: 1.6 litre Punto (Type 188): 1.8 litre Stilo: 1.6 litre (only displacement 1.596 cm3), Stilo 1.8 litre and Stilo 2.4 litre Owners of these vehicles, and Fiat cars from before 2001 should continue to use E5 petrol.
Ford	E10 is cleared for use in all petrol driven Ford models sold in Europe since 1992 excluding: Ford Mondeo 1.8 SCI from 2003 to 2007. The model above and Ford models sold before 1992 should continue to use E5.
Honda	All Honda cars with fuel injection are compatible with E10 petrol (HONDA PGM-FI). All Honda cars that do not use fuel injection should continue to use E5.
Hyundai	All Hyundai cars with a petrol engine can use E10 petrol without limitation.
Kia	All Kia cars with a petrol engine can use E10 petrol without limitation.
Mazda	E10 petrol is cleared for use in all models with petrol engines introduced in and from the year 2002, Mazda6 (GG/GY) and models with petrol engines introduced thereafter, namely: Mazda 2 (dy/de) .Mazda 3 (bk/bl) Mazda 5 (cr/cw) Mazda MX-5 (nc) Mazda CX-5 (ke) Mazda 6 (gg/gy/gh) Mazda CX-7 (er) Mazda CX-9 (tb) *Mazda RX-8 (se) Conditions are that the vehicle has not been modified and original parts have been used for maintenance and repair. Older models, and those not listed above, should continue to use E5 petrol. However, the minimum octane number of the petrol (95 or 98) prescribed by the manufacturer must be respected.
Mercedes-Benz	E10 petrol is cleared for use in the vast majority of Mercedes Benz vehicles with petrol engines, except: First generation direct injection C200 CGI (W203), CLK 200 CGI series (C209) of the years 2002 – 2005; Models not equipped with three-way catalysts, models retrofitted with three-way catalysts or produced with a carburettor. These are mainly vehicles older than 25 years.
MG	There is no compatibility information available for older MGs up to 2005 when the company ceased trading. It is therefore recommended to use E5 petrol. The MG brand has returned more recently, but no compatibility information is available. Owners should contact their dealer, the manual or filler flap for further information.
MINI	E10 is cleared for use in all MINI models with petrol engine after the re-launch of the MINI brand in the year 2000
Mitsubishi	E10 petrol is cleared for use in all models with petrol engines except those equipped with the GDI engine (gasoline direct injection) until 2007 models.
Nissan	E10 petrol is cleared for use in all models with petrol engines from 1st January 2000. Older petrol models should continue to use E5.
Peugeot	All cars with petrol engines are E10 compatible since 1st January 2000. Older petrol models should continue to use E5. All Peugeot mopeds from model year 2000 are E10 compatible.
Renault	E10 petrol is cleared for use in all Renault petrol vehicles marketed since 1st January 1997, except for the following models: Megane 1 with 2.0 litre F5R direct injection petrol engine (1999 – 2003) Laguna 2 with 2.0 litre F5R direct injection petrol engine (2001 – 2003) Laguna 2 with 2.0 litre F4R Turbo engine (2000 – 2002) Espace 4 with 2.0 litre F4R Turbo engine (2000 – 2002) Velsatis with 2.0 litre F4R Turbo engine (2000 – 2002) Avantime with 2.0 litre F4R Turbo engine (2000 – 2002) Owners of vehicles listed above, or petrol Renault cars built before 1997 should continue to use E5 petrol.
Seat	E10 petrol is cleared for use in SEAT vehicles with petrol engines except the following models with the first generation of FSI engines: Toledo 2.0 litre (110kW) FSI ‘BLR’ manufactured from September 2004 to November Leon 2.0 litre (110kW) FSI ‘BLR’ manufactured from July 2005 to November 2005 Altea 2.0 litre (110kW) FSI ‘BLR’ manufactured from May 2004 to November 2005 NOTE: If your vehicle is listed above you should continue to use E5 petrol.
Skoda	E10 petrol is cleared for use in all ŠKODA vehicles with petrol engines with the following exceptions: Felicia 1.3 litre OHV (40kw and 50kW) engines in the production years 1994 to 2001 Other ŠKODA models using the 1.3 litre OHV engines produced prior to 1994. NOTE: If your vehicle is listed above you should continue to use E5 petrol.
Subaru	E10 petrol is cleared for use in all models with petrol engines manufactured from 1st January 1991. Older models should continue to use E5.
Toyota	E10 petrol is cleared for use in all Toyota European petrol models made from January 1998, excluding: Avensis 2.0 litre with engine 1AZ-FSE made between July 2000 and October 2008. Avensis 2.4 litre with engine 2AZ-FSE made between June 2003 and October 2008. These models, and those produced before 1998, should continue to use E5.
Vauxhall	E10 petrol is cleared for use in all Vauxhall vehicles with petrol engines, excluding: Models with the 2.2 litre direct injection petrol engine, motor code: Z22YH (Vectra, Signum, Zafira) which should continue to use E5 petrol.
Volkswagen	With the exception to those models listed below, which used the first generation FSI engines, E10 is cleared for use in all Volkswagen petrol engine vehicles. Bora - 1.6 litre (81kW) FSI Saloon and Estate made from October 2001 to September 2005 Golf mark 4 - 1.6 litre (81kW) FSI made from November 2001 to May 2004 Golf mark 4 Estate - 1.6 litre (81kW) FSI made from October 2001 to October 2006 Golf mark 5 - 1.4 litre (66kW) FSI made from November 2003 to November 2004 Golf mark 5 - 1.6 litre (85kw) FSI made from August 2003 to May 2004 Golf mark 5 2.0 litre (110 kW) FSI made from January 2004 to May 2004 Lupo – 1.4 litre (77kW) FSI made from August 2001 to November 2003 Polo – 1.4 litre (63kW) FSI made from February 2002 to June 2006 Touran – 1.6 litre (85kW) FSI made from November 2002 to May 2004 Touran – 2.0 litre (110kW) FSI made from October 2003 to May 2004 NOTE: If your vehicle is listed above you should continue to use E5 petrol.
Volvo	E10 petrol is cleared for use in all Volvo cars with petrol engines introduced to the market since 1976 based upon servicing and other conditions according to the equipment and material with which the vehicle was originally equipped. E10 petrol is not cleared for a limited number of S/V40 models with petrol engines produced in the mid-1990s with engine type 1.8 GDI. These should continue to use E5.