Fuel Types Explained

Ever wondered what all the letters and numbers mean on a fuel pump?

Each service station offers multiple types of fuel, but no explanation regarding the differences, which can be an area of confusion for many drivers. Here is our guide to better understanding the different fuel types.

E10

E10 is an ethanol-based fuel, in that it’s 10% ethanol and 90% unleaded petrol. It has a higher octane rating of 94, so it’s more powerful than standard unleaded petrol, but the presence of the ethanol does mean it can be slightly less fuel-efficient. 

• Often cheaper than 91
• Supports sugarcane industry
• Can hamper fuel economy
• Not as many vehicles compatible

To check if your car is E10 compatible visit E10 checker.

Standard unleaded petrol (91)

Unleaded 91 petrol is the most common type of fuel in Australia and can be found at pretty much every petrol station. Most cars will be able to use it, although you may find the more premium fuel to be more fuel-efficient, depending on what car you have.

• Can be found nearly everywhere
• More cars can run on it than E10
•  More expensive than E10
• A lot of modern cars demand better

Premium, 95-octane unleaded petrol

Premium unleaded 95 petrol (PULP 95) is a type of unleaded fuel that is designed to be more fuel-efficient and cause a smoother engine operation, which in turn improves performance. It is meant for use by imported and high-performance vehicles but can be used by the majority of cars.

• Good mid-range performance fuel
• Many small turbo cars run on it
• Usually much more expensive than 91

Premium 98-octane unleaded

Sometimes referred to as Ultra Premium unleaded petrol (UPULP), premium 98-octane fuel is the highest octane unleaded fuel, providing higher engine power and performance as well as less pollution, according to providers. As with PULP 95 it is best-utilised by performance cars, and some models will say that they can only take 98 and not anything else.

• Ultimate performance
• Can 'clean' injectors, engine etc
• Most performance cars demand only 98
• A much bigger price jump from 95 usually

E85

The other ethanol option available is E85, a fuel so powerful it’s often used on V8 supercars. As the name suggests it’s 85% ethanol and only 15% regular petrol, meaning that in addition to being more powerful, E85 is cheaper and has much less of an effect on the environment. According to United Petroleum, it has an octane rating of 107. The most common fuel station in Australia to have it is United Petroleum. 

The fuel option you choose ultimately depends on the type of vehicle you drive and your own preferences, but if you’re in the market for a new car, you may be wondering what the differences are.

When you select a new Mazda or used vehicle from Mount Gravatt Mazda, we want to make sure that you know everything that you need to about that vehicle before driving away.