FOR the US manufacuturer’s trade association, Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI), the dangers of increasing levels of ethanol in fuel has become a major campaign, even crusade. As E15 (15% ethanol content) is being introduced in the US, although not universally across all States, OPEI are issuing dire warnings of the serious impact on small petrol engines.

At present, the ethanol level in fuel sold in the UK is 5% (E5), but that could well change. In March 2013, a revised British Standard (EN228) allowed oil companies to double the ethanol content to 10%.  Although no companies have yet made this move, it is probably only a matter of time.

Anecdotally, dealers up and down the country are reporting problems even with the fuels at the permitted 5% level. Ethanol loosens deposits in the fuel system and can cause blockages and be corrosive to some seals, plastics and metals.

One of the problems is that there is currently no indication at the pump on the actual level of ethanol content which could be zero or 5%.   Engine manufacturers such as Briggs & Stratton say that modern engines are built to run on 10% ethanol content, but of course that leaves a lot of older engines which were not designed to cope with the new ‘green’ fuels.

It also raises the question of whether these standards will be reflected in the mass of engines built in the Far East where the ethanol content is not such an issue as it is in the US. - and the 'green' lobby is not as prevalent

However, for fuel companies in the UK, there appears to be no immediate appetite to introduce E10 blends, although Jerry Burton, Tesco’s senior technical advisor says “Ultimately, E10 will be the standard unleaded petrol grade”.

 As ever, EU politics will come into it. Some countries will push to protect and support the interests of their bio-fuels industries, whilst others will want to take a more cautious approach.

As far as I am aware, the AEA has not issued any industry guidance on the matter, and although there is not an immediate issue, it would seem prudent to put the issue ‘on the agenda’.  As ever, our industry tends to operate in the shadow of the auto industry – and what suits them is not always in our best interests.