Members may (or may not!) be aware that many of the UK’s petrol stations have now switched over to using E10 fuel as the standard unleaded provision.

E10 is petrol with 10% ethanol mixed in with it. Whilst we have been using E5 (5% ethanol) for some time, the switch to E10 is likely, according to many credible sources, to damage components of our classic cars.

You should therefore try and use only E5 in your cars. E5 petrol is still going to be available, in ‘most towns’ we’re told, but will be branded as ‘Super Unleaded’ or similar.

You may also have to travel to an independent filling station to obtain it, as most supermarket retailers now seem to stock only E10, and of course, since there will be less demand for it, prices of E5 will be somewhat higher than previously.

If you’ve accidentally filled up with E10, don’t panic – the damage caused by E10 builds up over time, so the advice is to top up with E5 as soon as you can.

The FBHVC offers a comprehensive explanation of the perils of E10, and the situation in respect of future supply of E5 here and here .