Esso unleaded ethanol free ?

cobraboy

Well-Known Member
Just found this on another forum, have not fact checked, good if true.


Just been down to Esso station and noticed they have recently introduced Synergy Supreme +, which is not only 99 octane, but more importantly for many of our cars, totally ethanol free (unlike Shell and BP's super fuels which are 5%).

Copied from Esso website:

Although our pumps have E5 labels on them, our Synergy Supreme+ 99 is actually ethanol free (except, due to technical supply reasons, in Devon, Cornwall, North Wales, North England and Scotland). Legislation requires us to place these E5 labels on pumps that dispense unleaded petrol with ‘up to 5% ethanol’, including those that contain no ethanol, which is why we display them on our Synergy Supreme+

Saves worrying about rubber seals etc.
 
I started using it a while ago but then the E5 symbol appeared on the pumps so I assumed (possibly incorrectly) that it now contained 5% ethanol. Bit pricey as well, but saves using additives I suppose
 
I’ve been using up to 10% ethanol fuel here in the states for a decade now. Only things I’ve had to deal with are:

(1) Replace rubber seals with viton rubber. New SU kits use viton and the o rings for the reserve tap meee to be changed. You should replace any rubber fuel lines if your car has them.

(2) Beef up heat shields, I added 3mm self adhesive glass heat shield to the heat shield for my TC carbs. Ethanol lowers the boiling point and doing this stops the float chambers boiling.

other than that I’ve had no problems.
 
Aside from the obvious rubber eating capabilities of E fuel, it is the corrosion possibilities that worry me. Having tank corrosion and rare carb parts eaten away is not appealing.
 
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