Hybrid drivers beware, do not fill up with E10 if you drive a lot electrically!
More and more hybrid cars are coming. Due to high fuel prices, this can be attractive to your wallet. However, you must ensure that you fill up with the correct fuel. If you drive a lot electrically, you should better not fill up with E10.
As early as 2020, Autovisie found out that some home workers should not fill up with E10. This is for the same reason hybrid drivers shouldn’t.
Hybrid drivers refuel too little
The German medium Auto, Motor und Sport notes that some hybrid drivers consume too little petrol. As a result, the fuel stays in the tank too long and the liquid clots. But how long does fuel last? “The old Euro 95 starts to get dirty after about half a year. With the E10, this is the case after 3 months,” the ANWB previously told Autovisie. They recommend: If you drive little, spend a little more money and fill up with the E5.
But what can happen if E10 is in your tank for more than 3 months or E5 for more than 6 months? The ethanol in the fuel (maximum 10 percent for E10 and maximum 5 percent for E5) attracts moisture. This can cause corrosion in the engine and water separating ethanol and gasoline in the tank. This segregation can cause damage to the fuel system, nozzles and fuel injectors of a hybrid vehicle fuel engine.
Should I stop filling up with E10?
But what to do now? The German medium states that it is best to have as full a tank as possible, as the air in the tank causes accelerated aging of the fuel. If you drive really little petrol with your hybrid, it is best to use the E5. According to various studies, this seems to be the best thing for your engine and the systems around it. If the gasoline has not been in your tank for more than 3 months, the difference in pollution between E10 and E5 is negligible due to the attraction of water. It is advisable to roughly consider the shelf life of 3 and 6 months.
In addition, your car can perform better on E5. “It is the ‘grand cru’ among petrol engines and has always been a luxury product,” according to the ANWB. At low loads and low powered motors you won’t notice much of a difference. However, if you demand more from your engine, a higher octane rating will give you a little more power. In addition, additives are often added to these types of fuel, which promise better lubrication and cleaning of your engine.