Forthcoming changes to petrol for older cars

Here you can talk about the joy owning a Volvo 480 brings. Non-technical discussions take place here, like what is the difference between an ES and a S version.

Moderators: jifflemon, coyote1980, Rachel

Post Reply
Martin63
Knows where Volvo is from
Posts: 164
Joined: Sun Oct 11, 2020 8:57 am
Location: Fareham, Hampshire UK
Contact:

Forthcoming changes to petrol for older cars

Post by Martin63 » Wed Apr 21, 2021 4:52 am

https://www.mirror.co.uk/money/drivers- ... g-23948031

Not great news. Having looked at the UK Gov site though it indicates that E10 petrol is ok for post 1976 Volvos. Anyone know more?
480 ES - M696 UFC - January 1995
480 GT - M586 TMF - August 1994

User avatar
edie_fox
480 Rookie
Posts: 415
Joined: Wed Jun 29, 2005 9:05 pm
Location: Lincolnshire

Re: Forthcoming changes to petrol for older cars

Post by edie_fox » Wed Apr 21, 2021 6:22 am

There is some good information on here and the link at the bottom of the article. :D

https://www.hagerty.co.uk/articles/main ... assic-car/

Martin63
Knows where Volvo is from
Posts: 164
Joined: Sun Oct 11, 2020 8:57 am
Location: Fareham, Hampshire UK
Contact:

Re: Forthcoming changes to petrol for older cars

Post by Martin63 » Wed Apr 21, 2021 7:04 am

edie_fox wrote:
Wed Apr 21, 2021 6:22 am
There is some good information on here and the link at the bottom of the article. :D

https://www.hagerty.co.uk/articles/main ... assic-car/
Thanks! So if I understand this properly the bottom line really is that I should be filling up with super-unleaded?
480 ES - M696 UFC - January 1995
480 GT - M586 TMF - August 1994

User avatar
edie_fox
480 Rookie
Posts: 415
Joined: Wed Jun 29, 2005 9:05 pm
Location: Lincolnshire

Re: Forthcoming changes to petrol for older cars

Post by edie_fox » Wed Apr 21, 2021 7:10 am

I’ve tried to ask Google simple questions but never seem to get the correct answers!

I think there are some fuels that say they are between 0-5% ethanol (from what I read) and I believe V-Power is 5%.

I’ve been using V-Power in my 480 since I bought it. I think a few others do. To be honest, I think whatever I used, price wise, I’d still notice it getting gobbled up quite quickly! I’ve got the 480 Turbo and a 2013 2.0L C30 and I get a hell of a lot more miles out of the C30. Just the nature of the beast I guess. :D

I think from that text it say that E5 will still be available for some time to come and that a website is supposed to be created where you can put your car in and get the suitable fuel for it. We’ll see!

User avatar
jamescarruthers
480 Is my middle name
Posts: 2501
Joined: Mon Jul 07, 2003 3:19 pm
Location: Cambridge

Re: Forthcoming changes to petrol for older cars

Post by jamescarruthers » Wed Apr 21, 2021 7:45 am

If you want to avoid Ethanol, Esso’s premium fuel is ethanol free— weirdly the law still dictates it must be labelled E5!

Of course this could all change in the future.
1987 Volvo 480 ES, 507274, 217 - Red (Ness)
2006 Citroen C6 Exclusive 3.0 petrol/LPG
2008 Mini Cooper convertible (Mau)

Previous 480's:
J123 CFU -- ES
J449 MNL -- ES auto
D864 CPV -- ES
L691 JFC -- Turbo
F70 MNR -- ES
H858 FGV -- Turbo auto
E981 KHM -- ES (509849)

User avatar
brinkie
480 Connoisseur
Posts: 857
Joined: Mon Apr 21, 2014 11:20 am
Location: The Netherlands
Contact:

Re: Forthcoming changes to petrol for older cars

Post by brinkie » Wed Apr 21, 2021 7:59 am

V-Power is ethanol-free too.

There's another reason why you don't want E10 in a car not used daily: phase separation.
See this web site (with embedded explanatory video) for explanation: https://petroclear.com/resources/dont-be-phased.php

If you're driving the 480 not very often and keep E10 too long in your tank, you're running the risk of phase separation. As a rule of thumb, if you generally don't refuel within 3 months, don't refuel with E10.
Robert.

Present cars: 1994 Volvo 480 GT 2.0i, 1999 Volvo S70 2.5 Europa, 2010 Volvo V70 2.0F Momentum

User avatar
dragonflyjewels
480 Is my middle name
Posts: 1584
Joined: Sat Dec 18, 2010 10:38 am
Location: Norfolk

Re: Forthcoming changes to petrol for older cars

Post by dragonflyjewels » Wed Apr 21, 2021 8:07 am

All the premium fuels contain a max of E5. When we first started going to French meets we spoke to club members and found they all use them rather than risk the E10 that they have had for some years now.

I started using V Power in my 2ltre many years ago and always found the performance better as well as the mpg.
Sylvia

Snazzy - 1993 Paris Blue ES red dipstick 2.0i bought 2001
Lethal Lily - 1991 White Turbo
Paris the Unicorn - 1991 Paris Edition
hubby has
Sven - 1994 Racing Green GT
Evil Eva - 1992 Paris Blue Turbo

no previous 480s - can't bear to sell any

Martin63
Knows where Volvo is from
Posts: 164
Joined: Sun Oct 11, 2020 8:57 am
Location: Fareham, Hampshire UK
Contact:

Re: Forthcoming changes to petrol for older cars

Post by Martin63 » Wed Apr 21, 2021 8:40 am

This is what the UK Gov site states:

https://check-vehicle-compatibility-e10 ... urer/Volvo

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.
480 ES - M696 UFC - January 1995
480 GT - M586 TMF - August 1994

User avatar
dcwalker
480 Is my middle name
Posts: 1522
Joined: Sun Sep 16, 2012 12:30 pm
Location: York

Re: Forthcoming changes to petrol for older cars

Post by dcwalker » Wed Apr 21, 2021 8:45 am

This one all seems a bit of a lottery really as different sources suggest different things. Given Volvo's own statements I'd like to think we were OK but it then becomes a personal choice as to the question of risk...

My 440 has the 2.0 engine and has done over 142,000 miles now - I'd be astounded if it's ever seen a premium fuel in its life!!

Regardless of this issue I too always try to run V-power in my 480s simply because both performance and economy are better.

David
Current: 1994 480 GT, 1996 460 CD & 1997 440 LE with lots of optional extras & 2007 V50 SE Sport
Previous: Celebration 331 (re-homed with Richard S), Celebration 467 (returned to Martin Mc); Celebration 346 (re-homed with Alan480); Celebration 269 (scrapped abandoned project), Celebration 73 (sold on after 6 years), 1992 ES, 1988 ES - and numerous other non-480 Volvos!

Martin63
Knows where Volvo is from
Posts: 164
Joined: Sun Oct 11, 2020 8:57 am
Location: Fareham, Hampshire UK
Contact:

Re: Forthcoming changes to petrol for older cars

Post by Martin63 » Wed Apr 21, 2021 8:50 am

dcwalker wrote:
Wed Apr 21, 2021 8:45 am
This one all seems a bit of a lottery really as different sources suggest different things. Given Volvo's own statements I'd like to think we were OK but it then becomes a personal choice as to the question of risk...

My 440 has the 2.0 engine and has done over 142,000 miles now - I'd be astounded if it's ever seen a premium fuel in its life!!

Regardless of this issue I too always try to run V-power in my 480s simply because both performance and economy are better.

David
It sounds like I will be switching to Shell V-power soon!
480 ES - M696 UFC - January 1995
480 GT - M586 TMF - August 1994

User avatar
jamescarruthers
480 Is my middle name
Posts: 2501
Joined: Mon Jul 07, 2003 3:19 pm
Location: Cambridge

Re: Forthcoming changes to petrol for older cars

Post by jamescarruthers » Wed Apr 21, 2021 9:03 am

I’m fairly sure that Shell V-Power now DOES have Ethanol in the fuel (in the UK anyway)— it is true that they also held off adding it for some time though so check the date and source of what you are reading online.
Last edited by jamescarruthers on Wed Apr 21, 2021 9:10 am, edited 1 time in total.
1987 Volvo 480 ES, 507274, 217 - Red (Ness)
2006 Citroen C6 Exclusive 3.0 petrol/LPG
2008 Mini Cooper convertible (Mau)

Previous 480's:
J123 CFU -- ES
J449 MNL -- ES auto
D864 CPV -- ES
L691 JFC -- Turbo
F70 MNR -- ES
H858 FGV -- Turbo auto
E981 KHM -- ES (509849)

User avatar
jamescarruthers
480 Is my middle name
Posts: 2501
Joined: Mon Jul 07, 2003 3:19 pm
Location: Cambridge

Re: Forthcoming changes to petrol for older cars

Post by jamescarruthers » Wed Apr 21, 2021 9:09 am

SHELL, UK:
https://support.shell.com/hc/en-gb/art ... s-Ethanol-
This means that, in the UK, Shell regular unleaded and Shell V-Power unleaded are likely to contain some ethanol, but it will not be present at more than 5% (in accordance with current UK specification requirements).

ESSO, UK
https://www.esso.co.uk/en-gb/fuels-faqs
Esso super unleaded petrol (Synergy Supreme+ Unleaded 97 and Synergy Supreme+ 99 ) is ethanol free (Except in Devon, Cornwall, North Wales, North England and Scotland).
The European standard BS EN228 covers the requirements for 0-5% ethanol unleaded petrol, the labelling requirement for zero % ethanol is E5 (as is up to 5%), a E0 label doesn’t exist.
1987 Volvo 480 ES, 507274, 217 - Red (Ness)
2006 Citroen C6 Exclusive 3.0 petrol/LPG
2008 Mini Cooper convertible (Mau)

Previous 480's:
J123 CFU -- ES
J449 MNL -- ES auto
D864 CPV -- ES
L691 JFC -- Turbo
F70 MNR -- ES
H858 FGV -- Turbo auto
E981 KHM -- ES (509849)

User avatar
dcwalker
480 Is my middle name
Posts: 1522
Joined: Sun Sep 16, 2012 12:30 pm
Location: York

Re: Forthcoming changes to petrol for older cars

Post by dcwalker » Wed Apr 21, 2021 11:02 am

jamescarruthers wrote:
Wed Apr 21, 2021 9:09 am
SHELL, UK:
https://support.shell.com/hc/en-gb/art ... s-Ethanol-
This means that, in the UK, Shell regular unleaded and Shell V-Power unleaded are likely to contain some ethanol, but it will not be present at more than 5% (in accordance with current UK specification requirements).

ESSO, UK
https://www.esso.co.uk/en-gb/fuels-faqs
Esso super unleaded petrol (Synergy Supreme+ Unleaded 97 and Synergy Supreme+ 99 ) is ethanol free (Except in Devon, Cornwall, North Wales, North England and Scotland).
The European standard BS EN228 covers the requirements for 0-5% ethanol unleaded petrol, the labelling requirement for zero % ethanol is E5 (as is up to 5%), a E0 label doesn’t exist.
Thanks for this James, very useful to know.

It looks as if, on the Ethanol question, we are fighting a losing battle hanging on to sources of fuel without it!

David
Current: 1994 480 GT, 1996 460 CD & 1997 440 LE with lots of optional extras & 2007 V50 SE Sport
Previous: Celebration 331 (re-homed with Richard S), Celebration 467 (returned to Martin Mc); Celebration 346 (re-homed with Alan480); Celebration 269 (scrapped abandoned project), Celebration 73 (sold on after 6 years), 1992 ES, 1988 ES - and numerous other non-480 Volvos!

User avatar
brinkie
480 Connoisseur
Posts: 857
Joined: Mon Apr 21, 2014 11:20 am
Location: The Netherlands
Contact:

Re: Forthcoming changes to petrol for older cars

Post by brinkie » Wed Apr 21, 2021 2:05 pm

jamescarruthers wrote:
Wed Apr 21, 2021 9:03 am
I’m fairly sure that Shell V-Power now DOES have Ethanol in the fuel (in the UK anyway)— it is true that they also held off adding it for some time though so check the date and source of what you are reading online.
That is different from the Netherlands, where Shell V-Power has 0% ethanol (confirmed by Shell on their own web site)
Robert.

Present cars: 1994 Volvo 480 GT 2.0i, 1999 Volvo S70 2.5 Europa, 2010 Volvo V70 2.0F Momentum

Post Reply