FBHVC hopeful E5 will continue to be available The availability of E5 fuel is due to be reviewed by the UK Government in 2026. So E5 is safe for now but it’s not a certainty looking ahead. That’s why understanding E10 - rather than avoiding it entirely - is worth the effort. This is very much the case as the possible cut-off point for the availability of E5 could be in September 2026. Biofuel concerns with classic MGs See our Index to articles that are available on the V8 website on these biofuel & E5 topics. Link Continued availability of E5 fuel is essential for historic & classic vehicles Note on a comment from the FBHVC that the UK Government intends consulting on retaining E5 motor fuels in 2026. Link Replacing rubber fuel hose with Gates Barricade hose Link Posted: 260130 FBHVC update regarding the transition to E10 fuel in the UK An update from the FBHVC at the Club Expo event mentioned that with the introduction of E10 petrol back in September 2021 the UK Government at the time said "E5 fuel would be available for the next 5 years". The availability of E5 fuel is due to be reviewed by the UK Government in 2026 so the cutoff point for the availability of E5 could be in September 2026. So E5 is safe for now but it’s not a certainty looking ahead. That’s why understanding E10 - rather than avoiding it entirely - is worth the effort. E5 availability concerns: When E10 petrol became the standard fuel in September 2021, E5 was designated as the "protection grade" to protect older engines that are not compatible with E10. E5 is known as "premium/super unleaded 97+ octane petrol". With up to 5% ethanol E5 is still available as the "super" grade, but it is more expensive and not guaranteed to be stocked at all smaller, rural and smaller fuel stations long-term. E10 and E5 petrol The change to E10 fuel was driven by environmental goals: increasing ethanol content helps reduce CO2 emissions from petrol vehicles by up to 750,000 tonnes per year, which is equivalent to taking 350,000 cars off the road. But while modern engines and fuel supply systems are designed to handle higher ethanol in fuels without difficulties, for many classic cars the higher ethanol content can cause problems. Ethanol is hygroscopic, which means it absorbs water from the atmosphere which can cause condensation to form in the fuel system, which in turn causes corrosion - especially in older components like carburettors and fuel tanks - and damage to rubber fuel hoses. Also ethanol also acts as a solvent which can dissolve old varnishes and deposits inside fuel systems. In older engines in classic cars that can clog fuel lines, filters and carburettors, causing poor running and breakdowns. Prices of E10 and E5 petrol Looking at the prices of E10 and E5 on the petrolprices.com website in four locations around England today: E10 concerns classic car owners Perished rubber fuel lines and seals Ethanol can degrade rubber and plastic components that are not made to cope with it. See our note on checking the condition of your fuel hoses. Link Blocked fuel jets and filters Ethanol's solvent properties can dislodge gunk that’s been stable in fuel systems for years. Poor starting and running Ethanol affects air/fuel mixtures and volatility, which can disrupt performance in carburetted engines. According to the Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs (FBHVC), around 600,000 vehicles on UK roads are not compatible with E10 - a large proportion of which are classic cars like MGV8s. Fortunately E5 petrol hasn’t disappeared, yet. With E10 now the standard ‘Premium’ (95 RON) petrol, E5 remains available as the higher-octane ‘Super Unleaded’ (97+ RON) at most forecourts.