E10 Fuel & Cavity Wall Extraction Machines
This is a quick update to let Extract Vac cavity wall extraction machine owners that the new E10 fuel will not effect the engine and is ok to use but we strongly advise to use a fuel additive/stabiliser.
You can get some at your local Toolstation or Screwfix.
What is E10 petrol?
- It's a motor fuel that contains less carbon and more ethanol than fuels.
- Current petrol grades in the UK - known as E5 - contain up to 5% ethanol, with the other 95% being regular unleaded petrol.
- Their replacement, E10, will see this percentage increased to 10% - a proportion that would bring the UK in line with countries such as Belgium, Finland, France and Germany.
Will E10 work with Extract Vac?
- Ethanol attracts water which can cause problems in starting or running the equipment, or even damage the Honda or Briggs & Stratton fuel system.
- Ethanol absorbs moisture from the atmosphere which could lead to a corrosion of parts in the fuel system, posing a safety risk and problems in running effectivly.
- Problems will occur if the fuel is left in the tank for long periods of time, particularly over the wetter and colder climates.
Under a section headed ‘avoiding fuel related problems’, Honda states not to use gasoline "containing more than 10% ethanol in your Honda lawn mower".
For storage or more than 30 days, Honda recommends adding a gasoline stabilizer to the fuel tank and filling the tank as air in the tank will "promote fuel deterioration during storage".
A stabilizer is also recommended by Extract Vac, as "ethanol causes multiple problems for small petrol engines".