Due to the corona crisis, there is much less driving. Many cars are stationary for a long time, often with E10 in the tank. There are risks involved.
You probably already knew that the ‘new’ petrol E10 is not free of controversy. Due to the higher bioethanol content, older cars and other vehicles in particular can have problems with pipes and fuel systems. When in doubt whether a car can withstand it, it is recommended to refuel E5. Now that many cars have been standing still for a long time, a new risk is emerging. E10 attracts moisture faster and that can lead to problems. “The alcohol in the gasoline is hygroscopic, in other words it tends to absorb water. Especially a problem if you don’t drive for a long time and it sinks at the bottom of your tank. This can cause oxidation and sometimes even sludge formation,” explains Wout Benning of RAI Association from to Techzle.
Of course you don’t want rust or sludge in the tank that finds its way into the fuel systems of your car. It is therefore recommended to drive regularly for a while to ‘shake up’ the tank. Either way, parking the car with E5 in the tank is better, as it will be less likely to cause problems during a long standstill. Also in that case, however, it is advisable to occasionally drive a bit (and then longer than a block to), for example, to prevent the battery from draining or braking systems blocking.
In Techzle number 17, which will be in stores next week, we will discuss E10 and its potential in more detaildangers.