A UK Guide to Fuel!
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  • A UK Guide to Fuel!
  • 16 September 2021
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    A UK Guide to Fuel!

    A quick guide on different fuel types in the UK and which is best for your car!
You think you know all there is to know about fuel, but you'd actually be surprised be how little you do know! There's actually a much bigger fuel 'range' than you realise, and we're going to give you the low down. 

What types of fuel are available?
There are actually six fuel types that are available within the UK, here's the break down:

   - Petrol. This is the most commonly used fuels within the UK, it is mixed with bioethanol which makes it more environmentally friendly. 
 
   - Diesel. In recent years, demand for diesel powered vehicles has declined due to environmental impact. You can get two types of diesel which are regular and premium.

   - LPG. Liquefied Petroleum Gas is made up of Butane and Propane, and is available at most fuel stations. It's typically cheaper than both petrol and diesel, however, cars need to be specifcally converted to run on this fuel.

   - Biofuels. This is a blend of unleaded petrol and standard diesel, making it more environmentally friendly option than diesel, however, it's not commonly available on it's own within the UK.

   - Electric. As we grow to becoming a more sustainable society, and lead away from fossil fuels, electric is becoming more and more common. Electric vehicles(EV's) are powered by rechargable batteries, and need no fuel. 

   - Hybrid. This where a vehicle is powered by two types of fuel - the first type is always Electric, and the second can be petrol or diesel.


What types of petrol are available?
As Petrol is the most commonly used within the UK, there is a wide range of different types of petrol that is available. All petrol contain 5% bioethonol - apart from E10 which has 10%, and are differentiated by their Research Octane Number (RON).

As of September 1st, E10 (95 OCTANE) become the standard petrol within Great Britain, and will be rolled out in Northern Island in 2022. To find out more read our E10 Petrol Guide.

Premium unleaded(95 RON), although premium by name, is actually a standard fuel across Europe, and can be used within all petrol vehicles.

Super unleaded(97/98 RON) is typically used for higher performance cars, and has the highest level of octane.

What's the best petrol for my car?
As a general rule - you can use a petrol that has a higher octane level than reccomended and your car will still run, however, lower-octane fuel can cause damage to your engine. Many cars will optimally run on a standard premium unleaded, but to ensure you are using the best the fuel type for your car, check the manual!

Should I use premium fuel?
If you own a high performance car, you should definitely consider the benefits of premium fuel, as it'll improve the driving performance and fuel efficiency. However, standard cars don't NEED premium level fuels to ensure optimal performance.

What is B10 Diesel?
This is a new type of diesel that is currently available in France, it contains 10% BioDiesel. The issue with this type of diesel, however, is that it may not be compatible with ALL diesel engines, and could cause damage to engines that aren't compatible.









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