Car Thread II

[Jenuall]

Anyone else driving an older car and concerned about this switch to E10 fuel which is coming? Seems like it can damage certain models of car due to the higher ethanol content but I'm struggling to find a definitive list of models to work out if it's going to be a problem for me or not!

[rinks]

Anyone else driving an older car and concerned about this switch to E10 fuel which is coming? Seems like it can damage certain models of car due to the higher ethanol content but I'm struggling to find a definitive list of models to work out if it's going to be a problem for me or not!

News to me. But my 07 plate is diesel, so it won’t affect me. Sounds like using “super” grades gets round the problem. How old is yours, and what model?

EDIT: Have you checked with this?
https://www.gov.uk/check-vehicle-e10-petrol

[Jenuall]

Anyone else driving an older car and concerned about this switch to E10 fuel which is coming? Seems like it can damage certain models of car due to the higher ethanol content but I'm struggling to find a definitive list of models to work out if it's going to be a problem for me or not!

News to me. But my 07 plate is diesel, so it won’t affect me. Sounds like using “super” grades gets round the problem. How old is yours, and what model?

EDIT: Have you checked with this?
https://www.gov.uk/check-vehicle-e10-petrol

Yeah I've looked at that, and the info from the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (which is what the gov website seems to be using as a source).

The problem is that I'm distrusting of there being ambiguity in the data they are providing. My car is a 1999 VW Polo, both the government and ACEA say something along the lines of:

With few exceptions, E10 is cleared for use in all Volkswagen vehicles with petrol engines.
The exceptions are the following models with the first generation of FSI engines:

...
List of cars from 2001 onward that doesn't include mine
...

So as my car is not listed as one of the exceptions the natural conclusion is that I'm fine, however my worry is that they simply aren't reporting on older cars because they think so few of them are still around!

But yeah the workaround seems to be switching to Super fuel - but I don't want to pay extra for that if I don't have to!

[rinks]

Anyone else driving an older car and concerned about this switch to E10 fuel which is coming? Seems like it can damage certain models of car due to the higher ethanol content but I'm struggling to find a definitive list of models to work out if it's going to be a problem for me or not!

News to me. But my 07 plate is diesel, so it won’t affect me. Sounds like using “super” grades gets round the problem. How old is yours, and what model?

EDIT: Have you checked with this?
https://www.gov.uk/check-vehicle-e10-petrol

Yeah I've looked at that, and the info from the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (which is what the gov website seems to be using as a source).

The problem is that I'm distrusting of there being ambiguity in the data they are providing. My car is a 1999 VW Polo, both the government and ACEA say something along the lines of:

With few exceptions, E10 is cleared for use in all Volkswagen vehicles with petrol engines.
The exceptions are the following models with the first generation of FSI engines:

...
List of cars from 2001 onward that doesn't include mine
...

So as my car is not listed as one of the exceptions the natural conclusion is that I'm fine, however my worry is that they simply aren't reporting on older cars because they think so few of them are still around!

But yeah the workaround seems to be switching to Super fuel - but I don't want to pay extra for that if I don't have to!

I’d be inclined not to risk it, especially as my mileage is low, so the extra cost of super wouldn’t be too much. Do you do many miles?

[Jenuall]

Anyone else driving an older car and concerned about this switch to E10 fuel which is coming? Seems like it can damage certain models of car due to the higher ethanol content but I'm struggling to find a definitive list of models to work out if it's going to be a problem for me or not!

News to me. But my 07 plate is diesel, so it won’t affect me. Sounds like using “super” grades gets round the problem. How old is yours, and what model?

EDIT: Have you checked with this?
https://www.gov.uk/check-vehicle-e10-petrol

Yeah I've looked at that, and the info from the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (which is what the gov website seems to be using as a source).

The problem is that I'm distrusting of there being ambiguity in the data they are providing. My car is a 1999 VW Polo, both the government and ACEA say something along the lines of:

With few exceptions, E10 is cleared for use in all Volkswagen vehicles with petrol engines.
The exceptions are the following models with the first generation of FSI engines:

...
List of cars from 2001 onward that doesn't include mine
...

So as my car is not listed as one of the exceptions the natural conclusion is that I'm fine, however my worry is that they simply aren't reporting on older cars because they think so few of them are still around!

But yeah the workaround seems to be switching to Super fuel - but I don't want to pay extra for that if I don't have to!

I’d be inclined not to risk it, especially as my mileage is low, so the extra cost of super wouldn’t be too much. Do you do many miles?

About 15-20k a year!

I'm going to enquire on some VW forums online, there must be a definitive answer somewhere.

Although from an economic perspective it will be interesting to see how it plays out either way, apparently when E10 becomes the norm it will be less efficient than the current E5 so people will be refuelling more often anyway

[rinks]

Anyone else driving an older car and concerned about this switch to E10 fuel which is coming? Seems like it can damage certain models of car due to the higher ethanol content but I'm struggling to find a definitive list of models to work out if it's going to be a problem for me or not!

News to me. But my 07 plate is diesel, so it won’t affect me. Sounds like using “super” grades gets round the problem. How old is yours, and what model?

EDIT: Have you checked with this?
https://www.gov.uk/check-vehicle-e10-petrol

Yeah I've looked at that, and the info from the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (which is what the gov website seems to be using as a source).

The problem is that I'm distrusting of there being ambiguity in the data they are providing. My car is a 1999 VW Polo, both the government and ACEA say something along the lines of:

With few exceptions, E10 is cleared for use in all Volkswagen vehicles with petrol engines.
The exceptions are the following models with the first generation of FSI engines:

...
List of cars from 2001 onward that doesn't include mine
...

So as my car is not listed as one of the exceptions the natural conclusion is that I'm fine, however my worry is that they simply aren't reporting on older cars because they think so few of them are still around!

But yeah the workaround seems to be switching to Super fuel - but I don't want to pay extra for that if I don't have to!

I’d be inclined not to risk it, especially as my mileage is low, so the extra cost of super wouldn’t be too much. Do you do many miles?

About 15-20k a year!

I'm going to enquire on some VW forums online, there must be a definitive answer somewhere.

Although from an economic perspective it will be interesting to see how it plays out either way, apparently when E10 becomes the norm it will be less efficient than the current E5 so people will be refuelling more often anyway

Oh crap, yeah, you don’t want to increase your costs at that mileage.

It does say it’s specifically VWs with FSI engines that are incompatible, so I guess that implies yours is OK. Volvo state that cars back to 1976 are OK!

[Jenuall]

Well that sounds promising!

[OnlyShallow]

I wasn't even aware this was a thing. Mine is a 07 Audi A4. It says mine is OK unless I have an OEM heater thing. However, I've had mine chipped, so I really should be running it off the more expensive fuel as it is...

[Chickenwings147]

This is a question for the car owners who are ANAL about keeping their car washed and cleaned -

I have just sold a car and, ashamed to say, I didn't look after her at all when it came to washing her. So much so that the laquer from the bonnet was flaking badly due to neglect.
I've just got a new car and I want to protect it as much as I can.

I've seen some good comments on Bilt Hamber products and i'm thinking of this routine -
Prewash with pressure washer with Bilt Hamber Surflex. Pressure wash this all off. Then a noodle mit 2 bucket system with grit guards in of what? Shampoo or a combined shampoo and wax? Do some of you apply a dedicated wax after drying your car?
Is it ok to pressure wash in and around the wheel arches/alloys?
Plus do you use any special products for your alloys/chrome/glass to protect them further?
Also, how often do you clean? As in, do you do a full wash & wax every clean you do or just wax the car once a month?

Thanks in advance folks

[Dual]

Maybe if I had a rare sports car I would feel differently but I couldn't think of anything worse than spending all day cleaning my car.

Just take it to your local car wash.

[Robbo-92]

Honestly I barely wash my Civic, the last time I personally washed it was July 2018..... it’s had a couple of hand washes since by the garage I take it to for its MOT and service but I’ve not touched it bar washing the windows, lights, number plates throughout the winter. It really doesn’t even look that mucky considering, only bit of the lacquer that’s come off was from when I was lazy as and decided to use the jet wash

What car have you got anyway? I’m finding myself looking at cars again now, keep telling myself no though!

[Victor Mildew]

You'd get on well with a guy on our road - he washes his car every other day, inside and out

[Robbo-92]

Who actually has the motivation and time to wash their car so often? Just take it for a drive in the rain

[Chickenwings147]

Honestly I barely wash my Civic, the last time I personally washed it was July 2018..... it’s had a couple of hand washes since by the garage I take it to for its MOT and service but I’ve not touched it bar washing the windows, lights, number plates throughout the winter. It really doesn’t even look that mucky considering, only bit of the lacquer that’s come off was from when I was lazy as and decided to use the jet wash

What car have you got anyway? I’m finding myself looking at cars again now, keep telling myself no though!

My flaky bonnet car was a Civic so watch out fella!

[Robbo-92]

Honestly I barely wash my Civic, the last time I personally washed it was July 2018..... it’s had a couple of hand washes since by the garage I take it to for its MOT and service but I’ve not touched it bar washing the windows, lights, number plates throughout the winter. It really doesn’t even look that mucky considering, only bit of the lacquer that’s come off was from when I was lazy as and decided to use the jet wash

What car have you got anyway? I’m finding myself looking at cars again now, keep telling myself no though!

My flaky bonnet car was a Civic so watch out fella!

So far it’s been fine, as I said the paintwork is very good for a nearly 14 year old car with the only bad spot being my own doing from getting too close with the jet wash!

[andretmzt]

All this talk of paint flaking on Civics is making me think I need to wash mine this weekend.

[Robbo-92]

It’s not the paint that’s flaked on mine, it’s just the lacquer on top so it doesn’t have that shine (when it is clean), the paintwork underneath is still fine, the muck is there as protection in place of the lacquer........

[rinks]

Now I know this isn’t the most egregious parking offence, but they actually opened the door to see if they were within the lines, and decided, “Yeah, that’s just fine.”

In hindsight, I should have moved my car next to it. Right up to the line.

[Victor Mildew]

Parking nose in to a space

[Jenuall]

Yellow cars