Eric Collins, owner of Classic Car Mechanic Ltd said it would “take a while” for historic cars to be damaged if they are filled with the new petrol but it could be an issue for some drivers this year. He has urged road users to look into using additives with the new fuel to minimise any possible damages.
“It probably would be ok as it stabilises it.
“If it’s longer, six months, it’s worth draining the fuel and putting fresh in.
“Still using the additive but drain the fuel and put fresh in before using it.”
The warning comes weeks after the Historic and Classic Vehicle Alliance (HCVA) urged drivers against using E10 when storing a vehicle this winter.
Nigel Elliott, fuel specialist at the Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs (FBHVC) also urged drivers to take precautions when storing a car.
He said drivers should “keep the tank at least two-thirds full” but to never leave a car fully topped up.
He added: “The danger is on a completely full tank, when you come to start the vehicle you’ve lost some of the lighter ends of the fuel.
“They have evaporated and you will have some trouble getting the vehicle going.
“It’s always handy to leave a bit of space in the tank you can splash in a bit of new fuel to increase the volatility.”