Since my S1 plastics are away at the moment at DaveH's painters (along with
's plastics) I thought I'd drop a line to the major UK fuel companies to ask about the levels of ethanol in their fuel, in the hope that by filling up at the right place with the right stuff I can minimize ethanol content in the fuel and therefore save my new paintjob (wanting not to drop £800 on a holtworks tank if possible).Responses have been quicker than I expected, though not necessarily as positive as I had hoped:
BP: Bioethanol is becoming increasingly present in the UK’s super-unleaded (premium/higher octane) petrol, because, in compliance with the UK government’s Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation, fuel suppliers have been required to increase the quantity of bio fuels in their transport fuels since 2008. As a consequence, the inclusion of bioethanol in our BP Ultimate Unleaded supply chain is an evolving situation and we are therefore unable to give you categorical assurances as to its absence or presence. However we can assure you that – as required by the The Motor Fuel (Composition and Content) (Amendment) Regulations 2013 – the content of bioethanol in our BP Ultimate Unleaded gasoline will never be more than 5% by volume until 1st January 2017 at the earliest.
ESSO: You may be aware that the majority of unleaded 95 Octane petrol sold in the UK contains 5% ethanol as required under the Government’s Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation (RTFO). Our energy Supreme Unleaded is largely ethanol free with the exception of Scotland, the North eastern corner of England and the far South West. Where ethanol free energy Supreme Unleaded is available, customers may wish to choose that grade – at least 80% of Esso retailed energy Supreme Unleaded is ethanol free and will remain so into the foreseeable future.
Texaco (Valero) : Please be advised that both our Premium grade fuels now have a 5% Ethanol content.
Still waiting for a response from Shell......though I understand from other sources that they tend to stay tight lipped about actual ethanol levels in their fuel.
So if the tank bubbling is ethanol related then there are not many options now (especially if you live in certain areas of the UK) and looking it'll be getting worse in the future.....though DaveH's tipple of choice (ESSO Super) still seems like the best bet.
