Anyone noticed any variation in mileage achieved since that E10 petrol was introduced a couple of years ago?
I drive a 2019 Seat Leon. I was getting about 500 miles to a full tank 3-4 years ago ( just short 5-10 mile journeys) and up to 600 miles if I went on a long journey (approx 150 miles and back).
When E10 was introduced it dropped right down so I was lucky to get 430 miles for a full tank if I was doing solely short journeys.
The last couple of months it has gone back up to the point I am getting about 460-470 miles for the same journeys.
Just a bit strange, wondered if anyone else has experienced the same thing?
What engine do you have on the Leon. I’ve used it almost exclusively on my 2020 Golf. The one odd occasion that I couldn’t get it was in Bavaria, and I thought the fuel consumption was notably bad.
It’s got a slightly lower energy density, so E10 should have around a 1% higher fuel consumption, all else being the same.
I have the 1.5 EVO engine, which is a Miller cycle engine, so it is a bit of an oddity.
I’ve noticed annd strongly suspect that my mpg goes down if I use supermarket fuel in my Volvo V60 (diesel). The car also seems less happy on it as well.
I should really be more scientific about it I guess but it was enough for me to think twice about using it again.
It’s a 1.5 TSI EVO so possibly the same as yours given SEAT use VW engines.
The only thing I can think of to explain it is the E10 petrol has been developed in some way since it was introduced.
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Years ago I signed up for a car maintenance class and the bloke running it said he never used supermarket petrol because it was inferior to garage petrol. I don’t know in what way it was inferior or whether that’s changed in the 30+ years since but it stuck in my mind and I’ve never used it.
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I noticed a drop in performance of my Toyota Picnic 2.0 3sfe engine between E5 and E10. A slight excess in consumption.
Essentially the alcohol ignites ‘later’ than the petrol. This causes timing problems so a slight loss of power.
As for supermarket or known mark of petrol, Total or whatever, this is just down to additives. It’s the same petrol except the Total has engine cleaning additives added. For petrol engines this isn’t a big problem as long as the engine is well maintained, change filters and spark plugs, from time to time the ignition cables. The occasional addition of an engine cleaner particularly with an older car is helpful as well I add a can once a year it can make the difference between passing an MOT or not.
Here in France E5 was still available till recently and I always went to a supermarket that sold that as even the E10 from the garages that added additives caused the drop in performance. Now I just have to make do with E10.
Diesels are different there is definitely an advantage of using diesel that has cleaning additives on a regular basis as they are mucky burners the whole lot from direct injectors to exhaust need a good ‘scrub’ as often as possible.
I do know that garage fuel has a lot more beneficial additives to it that help preserve your engine but I honestly couldn’t answer why there vould be better performance in the garage stuff. Only thing that dprings to mind is a better burn but that doesnt answer your fuel question sorry.
My favourite one was a note stuck to a Range Rover which was parked over two spaces and leaving an impossibly narrow gap between it and the adjacent space bordering the car park wall.
The note simply said, “Next time leave me a can opener, ya fanny!”
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My sister-in-law many years ago got a snarky note left on her window at the local shopping center, other woman complaining that she couldn’t open her door to get out of the car and my s-i-l should park better and with others in mind.
S-i-L flipped the note over and replied “I was perfectly able to load a full shop, a 2yo and 6 month old twins without any problem. If you struggle getting out of your car, I suggest you learn to use the door in a more dignified fashion”
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Paint it green and its like my van.
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Arh so you cheat when asked about driving and damage to the environment…
You say i drive a green van…
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Excellent, like that a lot, although it is slowly turning brown at the moment.
Still just got it through another MOT. Not bad for a 34 year old beasty. It does need work to get it where I want it though.
Wow fair play, how many of those 34 years have you had it ?
Since 2008, so 17 years now. It was my main mode of transport for a good while too when I used to work in Reading. Home is north Wales.
I’ve subsequently looking to make it more of a project vehicle although I’ve always done stuff to it.
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How clever to think of doing this eh…
1954 camper with a detachable boat that doubles as the roof.
This unusual 1954 camper was designed with a clever twist, its roof doubled as a detachable boat. Known as the Boat Camper or sometimes the Kom-Pak Sportsman, it was marketed to outdoorsmen and families who wanted the best of both worlds: a mobile camper for the road and a small fishing boat for the water. With a streamlined, mid-century design, it reflected the postwar boom in recreational vehicles, when Americans were eager to explore highways, lakes, and campgrounds.
Fun fact: the camper’s fiberglass body made it lightweight compared to other trailers of its era. At a time when most campers were heavy and bulky, this design stood out for its portability and efficiency. Another fun detail is that the styling was intentionally matched to popular 1950s cars, so when towed, the set looked sleek and futuristic.
Though only a limited number were made, surviving examples are now rare collector’s items, celebrated for their quirky ingenuity and retro charm.
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