E10 or E5: which petrol should you choose?
At the pump in Belgium you choose between two types of petrol: E10 (Euro 95) and E5 (Euro 98). The price difference looks small, but if you fill up every week, you notice it over a year. Which one do you really need?
What do E10 and E5 mean?
The number after the E shows the maximum share of bio-ethanol in the petrol: up to 10% for E10, up to 5% for E5. The number 95 or 98 is the octane rating: the higher it is, the better the petrol resists uncontrolled ignition in the engine.
E10 (Euro 95): the standard choice
- Suitable for the vast majority of petrol cars from the last twenty years.
- Cheaper at the pump than E5.
- Some older cars and classic cars cope less well with the higher ethanol content.
E5 (Euro 98): if you're unsure or drive an older car
- A safe choice for older cars, classic cars and many motorcycles.
- Sometimes recommended for sporty, high-compression engines.
- More expensive per litre, and not needed for most modern cars.
Check the inside of the fuel filler flap or the owner's manual. If it says E10, you can use E10. Not sure? Ask your garage or the manufacturer. When in doubt, E5 is always safe.
Do you use less fuel with E5?
Ethanol contains slightly less energy than petrol, so consumption with E10 can rise slightly. In practice, that difference is usually smaller than the price difference per litre. For a car that can use E10, E10 is therefore usually the cheapest choice.
Filled up with the wrong fuel?
Putting E5 in a car that can use E10 is no problem. If you put E10 in a car that isn't suitable for it, top up with E5 as soon as possible and ask your garage for advice. Put petrol in a diesel car (or the other way round)? Don't start the engine and call breakdown assistance.
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