Bioethanol-blended petrol

What is bioethanol-blended petrol?

Bioethanol-blended petrol is similar to ordinary petrol but contains bioethanol which is a biofuel. Bioethanol is made from wastes and plants that contain sugars and starches.

In New Zealand bioethanol-blended petrol is available in blends of up to 10%. A 10% blend means 10% bioethanol in ordinary petrol. Likewise, a 3% blend would mean 3% bioethanol in ordinary petrol.

Bioethanol blends are often referred to as E3, E5, or E10. These names relate to the percentage of bioethanol in the petrol mix.

You can switch between using bioethanol-blended petrol and ordinary petrol in your vehicle at any time.

Less CO2 emissions and cleaner burning

Using bioethanol-blended petrol in your vehicle will help reduce overall emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2). Carbon dioxide is the main greenhouse gas contributing to global climate change Bioethanol-blended petrol can also burn more cleanly, help reduce pollution and improve air quality.

Biofuels for sale in New Zealand are sustainable

By using biofuels, you can be part of New Zealand’s move to be a world leader in sustainable, renewable fuels. This is New Zealand’s chance to show the world that biofuels can be used sustainably, with overall benefits for the environment.

>> M ore information on the sustainability of biofuels sold in New Zealand

Using bioethanol-blended petrol

You can be confident about the quality of bioethanol-blended petrol for sale in New Zealand as it must meet the fuel specifications regulated by the Government.

The Automobile Association (AA) website has a list of vehicles that support the use of bioethanol-blended.petrol. To find out if your vehicle supports the use of a bioethanol blend visit www.aa.co.nz. You can also contact the official representative of the vehicle manufacturer in New Zealand.

What else can use bioethanol-blended petrol?

Bioethanol-blended petrol can be used in almost any petrol engine, from lawn mowers to generators. There is one precaution you need to take: don’t leave bioethanol-blended petrol in the tank for periods of longer than two months as it may absorb moisture from the air. Looking after the fuel this way is the same as what you should do with ordinary petrol. You can also check the handbook or check with the equipment supplier.

When NOT to use bioethanol-blended petrol

Bioethanol-blended petrol must not be used in any aviation application such as microlights (due to very cold temperatures at altitude) and should not be used in marine applications such as boats (due to the higher risk of contamination with water).

Useful tips

When first using bioethanol-blended petrol in your car follow these simple, low cost tips to get the best out of your car. To make it as easy as possible, this can be done when you next take your car in for a service:

• Check for water. Older vehicles should be checked for excessive water at the bottom of the fuel tank. A qualified mechanic or other authorised person can easily check this for you.
• If you are driving to a very cold place, such as a ski field or any other very cold place then checking for water in your tank is important.
• The first fill should be a big fill. Make your first fill with bioethanol-blended petrol a big fill to absorb any existing water in your tank.
• Change your fuel filter. If your fuel filter hasn’t been changed recently, it should be changed after the first few fills of bioethanol-blended petrol. Bioethanol-blended petrol cleans your fuel tank so changing the filter will help remove any debris allowing your car to run as smoothly as possible.
  
  

More information

EECA bioethanol consumer brochure [PDF 461KB]