French Foreign Legion FIGHTING & TRAINING [in English literature]
British tourists warned more damaging French fuel.
Vacationers who have long enjoyed driving on winding roads of the Dordogne or along stretches of the Riviera can unwittingly ruining their vehicle engines if they comply with the recently introduced biofuels.
The essence called 95-E10 is a mixture of regular fuel unleaded and ethanol is suitable for new cars, but can damage vehicles registered before 2000, automotive bodies have warned .
Biofuel is located next to the commonly used and the same name unleaded Euro 95 in many garages in France and a public awareness campaign in the country has avoided confusion among French, British holidaymakers face the prospect of unwittingly choose the wrong pump.
Motoring associations, including RAC, yesterday warned those who are preparing to go to France to be aware of the biofuel is 90 percent regular unleaded and 10 percent ethanol.
Ethanol is highly corrosive and use common metal fuel tanks in vehicles registered before 2000, leading to leaks Most new cars have tanks in plastic and are therefore not affected by corrosion.
It is a concern and anxiety, and something that holidaymakers should be aware, Paul Biggs, director at the Association of British Drivers, said.
If drivers can confuse diesel and gasoline at the pump, as they often do, they could just as easily be confused with regular unleaded unleaded with 10 percent ethanol in France, added M. Biggs.
There is obviously the potential for a holiday ruined if your car breaks down or is damaged by using the wrong fuel, he said.
The E10, which has gradually spread throughout the resorts in France since 1 April, and the French government has admitted is incompatible with 40 percent of the vehicles on the road, can damage the engines of vehicles registered before 2000, according to Holland's national association of automobile, the ANWB.
Nearly a third of the cars on the UK roads today were registered before 2000 According to the Society of Automobile Manufacturers and traders there are 31,105,988 9,579,000 cars on that predate 2000.
Markus van Tol, a spokesman for the Dutch breakdown repair service said that filling some tanks of the new biofuel could lead to problems with hoses and connectors Regular use could leave lasting legacy long, he added.
A RAC spokesman said there was some concern that some, especially older vehicles, could have problems - especially materials compatibility ith leaking hoses.
Most new cars should not have problems, but the owners, particularly older vehicles should check with the manufacturer for compatibility before using the fuel.
I would advise motorists to look for any signs, such as E10 or bio letters to guide them to choose which fuel to use.
The essence of the introduction follows an EU directive on fuel quality, which stipulates that all gasoline must be between 5 and 10 percent ethanol by 2013.
The French Department of Energy advises motorists with car over nine years to continue using Euro 98 or 95.
British tourists warned more damaging French fuel, British tourists warned.