Volvo 480 Club Europe

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?

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

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

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.

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?

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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!

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.

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.

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

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)