Can My Vehicle Operate on Ethanol Blend Petrol?

The Australian Government has limited the level of ethanol in petrol in Australia to a maximum of 10%, or E10. Most new and many older vehicle models can run on ethanol blended petrol. Vehicle manufacturers and importers have provided the following information on the capability of their vehicles to operate on ethanol fuel blends up to a maximum of 10% ethanol, subject to the fuel meeting the octane requirements for the vehicle and complying with relevant mandatory Australian fuel quality standards and particularly proper blending of the ethanol into the petrol. To avoid operational issues, vehicles should be maintained in accordance with manufacturer’s servicing procedures using genuine replacement parts. This will ensure that the fuel systems of vehicles listed as suitable to use either E5 or E10 blended petrol continue to be ethanol tolerant. The information below provides technical reasons why some models cannot use ethanol blended petrol.

For more information about national fuel quality standards or about national labelling requirements for ethanol blends, please visit Department of the Environment and Heritage or Department of Industry, Tourism & Resources.

REASONS WHY E10 IS NOT RECOMMENDED FOR SOME CURRENT MODELS

The Australian Design Rules (ADRs) are harmonised with international standards as specified in the UN ECE Regulations. The same requirements apply throughout the European Union. New vehicles certified to these standards will increasingly use advanced emission control technologies that strictly control the engine’s operating parameters and have therefore more stringent fuel quality requirements.

The maximum level of ethanol blended petrol in Europe is E5.

Depending on what markets certain models are sold in, Australian vehicles may be built to either a European specification (E5 compatible) or some other specification that is E10 compatible. This is the reason recommendations regarding E10 suitability will differ from one manufacturer to another.

The use of E10 petrol in vehicles that are E5 compatible may also result in material compatibility problems in the fuel system.

VEHICLE MODEL SUITABILITY FOR E5 OR E10 USE

The following table lists vehicle models suitability to run on E5 or E10 ethanol blended petrol. Before use of E5 or E10 in motor vehicles not listed below or if you are unsure, you should consult your handbook or manufacturer to check if the fuel is suitable.

MOTOR VEHICLES

		E5 Suitable		E10 Suitable
BRAND	MODEL	Yes	No	Yes	No
Alfa Romeo	All models post 1998	√			x
Alfa Romeo	All models pre 1998		x		x
Audi	Audi A3 1.8L (Engine Code ‘APG’ 2000 onwards) and A4 2.0L (Engine Code ‘ALT’ 2001 onwards)		x		x
Audi	All models post 1986 except above	√		√
Bentley	All models post 1990	√		√
BMW	All models post 1986	√		√
Citroen	All models post 1998	√		√
Chrysler	All models post 1986	√		√
Daihatsu	Charade (September 2004 onwards); Terios (September 2004 onwards); Copen (October 2004 onwards); Sirion (November 2004 onwards)	√		√
Dodge	All models post 1986	√		√
Fiat	Punto	√			x
Ford	Focus (2002 – 2004), F-series (1986-1992), Ka (All), Maverick (All), Transit (1996 – 2004)	√			x
Ford	Mondeo (prior to 2007)	√			x
Ford	Capri (All), Courier 2.0L & 2.6L (All), Econovan (pre-2002), Festiva (All), Laser 1.3L, 1.5L & 1.6L (All), Raider (All), Telstar (All)		x		x
Ford	All models post 1986 except above	√		√
GMDaewoo	All models		x		x
Holden	Apollo (1/87-7/89), Nova (2/89-7/94), Barina (1985-1994), Drover (1985-1987), Scurry (1985-1986), Astra (1984-1989)		x		x
Holden	Astra SRi 2.2L (11/2006 onwards); Astra 2.2L Twin Top Convertible (11/2006 onwards)	√			x
Holden	All models post 1986 except above	√		√
Honda	Insight – 2004 onwards; Civic range (including Civic Hybrid) – 2004 onwards; S2000 – 2004 onwards; CRV – 2003 onwards; MD-X – 2003 onwards; Accord & Accord Euro – 2003 onwards; Integra – 2002 onwards; Odyssey – 2004 onwards; Jazz – 2004 onwards; Legend – 2006 onwards	√		√
Hyundai	All models post October 2003	√		√
Jaguar	All models post 1986	√		√
Jeep	All models post 1986	√		√
Kia	All models post 1996	√		√
Land Rover	All models post 1986	√		√
Lexus	IS200 pre May 2002	√			x
Lexus	All models post 1986 except above	√		√
Lotus	Elan (1989-1991); Esprit (4 cyl – 1987-1999); Elise (Rover engine – 1996-2004); 340R; Exige (Rover engine – 2001, 2002 & 2004); Europa (2006 onwards)		x		x
Lotus	Esprit (V8 – 1998-2004); Exige (Toyota engine – 2004 onwards); Elise (Toyota engine – 2004 onwards)	√		√
Mazda	Mazda2 – May 2005 build onwards, Mazda3, Mazda6, RX-8, MX-5 – July 2005 build onwards, Tribute – April 2006 onwards, CX-7, CX-9	√		√
Mazda	All models except above		x		x
Mercedes-Benz	All models post 1986	√		√
MG	All models	√			x
MINI	All models	√		√
Mitsubishi	All fuel injected models post 1986	√		√
Nissan	All models post 2004	√		√
Peugeot	306 (XU engine only)		x		x
Peugeot	All models post July 1997 except above	√		√
Porsche	All models pre MY2007	√			x
Porsche	All models from MY2007	√		√
Proton	All models	√		√
Rover	All models	√			x
Renault	All models post 2001	√			x
Rolls Royce	All models between 1990 and 2002	√		√
Saab	All models post 1986	√		√
Ssangyong	Rexton, Stavic & Chairman models with 3.2 litre petrol engine	√		√
Subaru	All Subaru (before 1990) Subaru Liberty B4 (2002 to 2003) Subaru Liberty GT (2004 – 2006) Impreza WRX STI (1999 to 2005)		x		x
Subaru	All models post MY1990 except above provided the model-specific minimum octane rating is maintained	√		√
Suzuki	Alto, Mighty Boy, Wagon R+, Swift/Cino, Sierra, Stockman, Vitara, X-90, Jimny (SOHC), Super Carry, Suzuki Baleno and Baleno GTX		x		x
Suzuki	All models except above (providing RON requirements are met)	√		√
Toyota	Camry with carburettor engines pre July 1989 and Corolla pre July 1994; Supra – pre May 1993, Cressida – pre Feb 1993, Paseo – pre Aug 1995, Starlet – pre July 1999, Land Cruiser – pre Aug 1992, Coaster – pre Jan 1993, Dyna – pre May 1995, Tarago – pre Oct 1996, Hilux , Hiace, & 4 Runner – pre Aug 1997, Townace – pre Dec 1998		x		x
Toyota	All models except above	√		√
Volkswagen	All fuel injected models post 1986	√		√
Volvo	All models post 1986	√		√

MOTORCYCLES

		E5 Suitable		E10 Suitable
BRAND	MODEL	Yes	No	Yes	No
BMW	All motorcycles post 1986	√		√
Buell	All motorcycles	√		√
Harley Davidson	All motorcycles post 1986	√		√
Honda	All motorcycles and All Terrain Vehicles		x		x
Kawasaki	All motorcycles and All Terrain Vehicles		x		x
Piaggio	All motorcycles		x		x
Polaris	All motorcycles	√		√
Suzuki	All motorcycles and All Terrain Vehicles		x		x
Victory	All motorcycles	√		√
Yamaha	All motorcycle and All Terrain Vehicles		x		x

REASONS WHY ETHANOL BLENDED PETROL IS NOT RECOMMENDED FOR USE IN SOME OLDER VEHICLES

Introduction

The following information outlines the key reasons why vehicle manufacturers do not recommend the use of any ethanol/petrol blended fuels in vehicles made before 1986. This information is also applicable to post-1986 vehicles listed as unsuitable to use ethanol blended petrol.

Ethanol has a number of important chemical and physical properties that need to be considered in a vehicle’s design.

Carburettor Equipped Engines

Vehicles made before 1986 vehicles were predominantly equipped with carburettors and steel fuel tanks.

The use of ethanol blended petrol in engines impacts the air/fuel ratio because of the additional oxygen molecules within the ethanol’s chemical structure.

Vehicles with carburettor fuel systems may experience hot fuel handling concerns. This is because the vapour pressure of fuel with ethanol will be greater (if the base fuel is not chemically adjusted) and probability of vapour lock or hot restartability problems will be increased.

As a solvent, ethanol attacks both the metallic and rubber based fuels lines, and other fuel system components.

Ethanol also has an affinity to water that can result in corrosion of fuel tanks and fuel lines. Rust resulting from this corrosion can ultimately block the fuel supply rendering the engine inoperable. Water in the fuel system can also result in the engine hesitating and running roughly.

Fuel Injected Engines

In addition to the issues mentioned above for carburettor equipped engines, the use of ethanol blended petrol in fuel injection systems will result in early deterioration of components such as injector seals, delivery pipes, and fuel pump and regulator.

Mechanical fuel injection systems and earlier electronic systems may not be able to fully compensate for the lean-out effect of ethanol blended petrol, resulting in hesitation or flat-spots during acceleration.

Difficulty in starting and engine hesitation after cold start can also result.

Exhaust And Evaporative Emission Levels

Lean-out resulting from the oxygenating effect of ethanol in the fuel may affect exhaust emissions.

Of more concern is that fuel containing ethanol can increase permeation emissions from fuel system components, particularly those that have aged for nearly 20 years. Therefore the increased vapour pressure of fuel with ethanol (if the base fuel is not chemically adjusted at the refining stage) will lead to increased evaporative emissions.