Most of us recognise E10 petrol as the typical, go-to option when fuelling our cars. After all, it’s cheaper, and if your car doesn’t specifically need premium, why would you pay extra? Well, this isn’t quite the whole truth, and E5 petrol definitely has a couple of key benefits that are good to know. And so, today, we’re exploring these secret benefits to help you find out if this petrol might work for your needs.
Why Expensive E5 Petrol is Worth Every Penny!
Although E5 petrol is more expensive than its cheaper E10 counterpart, there are surprising benefits to using it. Indeed, even though it’s not necessarily required for your car, using E5 could potentially offer several notable benefits instead.
Increasing Fuel Economy for Vehicles
The first and most obvious benefit many people will notice is that E5 petrol can potentially offer better fuel economy. In other words, many cars will manage a slightly higher MPG on a tank of E5 fuel compared to E10. In turn, this can potentially help offset the difference in price. However, this will come down to individual car performance.
Test Out How Fuel Economy Changes with Fuel Type
So, if you’re thinking about filling your car with E5 petrol for the cost savings, don’t rush into it. Instead, it may be worth running a comparison of a tank of E5 and a tank of E10. By driving similar routes during the tests, you should be able to see whether you get better MPG results.]
If you want to check fuel prices in your area, all you need is your current postcode. Once you enter it, you can see every nearby station along with their latest prices. It makes it easier to compare your options, choose the best place to fill up, and save a bit of money each time you stop for fuel.
Giving a Smoother Driving Experience and Better Responsiveness
In addition, and perhaps more influentially for many drivers, E5 petrol tends to give a smoother drive. Indeed, since E5 has lower ethanol content in the fuel, you’ll often notice your car drives a lot smoother. In turn, even if it’s only a subtle difference, this can help make a drive feel much more pleasant overall – fewer awkward and shuddery gear changes, for example!
Engine Condition and Overall Running
And, of course, there’s simply the fact that many cars run better on E5 fuel, especially older models from before 2011. Indeed, modern engines are generally designed to accommodate E10 better. However, older cars probably won’t have been designed with this in mind. In turn, this can potentially cause issues with the engine, such as corrosion from ethanal to rubber seals.
The Final Takeaway
Overall, E10 fuel is generally adequate for most cars. However, many people are making the switch to E5 for the benefits it can potentially offer. And, of these factors, engine condition can often be especially notable for many.
However, if you’re buying a used car, you likely won’t have much history on the vehicle; so, before buying, make sure you’ve asked the seller about the vehicle’s past. Plus, running a HPI check can help verify a seller’s claims, so you can buy with greater confidence. Don’t risk buying unknown!
