Is that the panic buying started? Unleaded out everywhere near us!
Hopefully it’s just the lawnmowers getting filled up!
Hopefully it’s just the lawnmowers getting filled up!
Fuel Shortages
- Thread starter johnnytheboy
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Local garage seems fine, 153.9 a litre though....that's up £1.70 a gallon since the latest brouhaha in the middle east.
How long does petrol last ? I know you're not supposed to leave it in things like lawnmowers over winter, but does it degrade in a car tank ?
How long does petrol last ? I know you're not supposed to leave it in things like lawnmowers over winter, but does it degrade in a car tank ?
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Yes it degrades in a can or petrol tank. You can put in a petrol additive to help preserve it. Can't remember what it's called. I'm sure someone knows and will advise.
When I didn't ride my bike over the covid period, I had to have the tank drained and carbs fettled. It was an expensive mistake!
£100 pick up fee, plus labour. Ouchy!
You may want to look into the thoughts of Professor Helen Thompson online ref this.
( Its at least a possible justification of a different perspective and desired outcome I've not seen discussed.)
Scotland now produces enough 'renewable' energy to be a reliable export component of the national grid.
It's a slow process this change, but it's real, and it's growing.
Right now though, I can't walk terribly far, public transport, though good, doesn't easily get me right to hospitals/clinic/shops. All of the hospitals need two buses......so the car makes life easy. It lets me pick up elderly friends and take them too, it lets me shop, it lets me get out and about.
I can afford the petrol, but I'm trying to avoid mostly unnecessary journeys, and it occurs to me that I don't know how long the petrol is viable in the tank. My car wouldn't start last week, the battery had sat too long unused.
I don't have an electric car. I can't get a charging point at the house, and I'm reluctant to have an electric car because the nearest public charging point is nearly a mile away....and me walking a mile some days is an exercise in misery. Not every day, but some days.
So, for the present, petrol it is.
It's a slow process this change, but it's real, and it's growing.
Right now though, I can't walk terribly far, public transport, though good, doesn't easily get me right to hospitals/clinic/shops. All of the hospitals need two buses......so the car makes life easy. It lets me pick up elderly friends and take them too, it lets me shop, it lets me get out and about.
I can afford the petrol, but I'm trying to avoid mostly unnecessary journeys, and it occurs to me that I don't know how long the petrol is viable in the tank. My car wouldn't start last week, the battery had sat too long unused.
I don't have an electric car. I can't get a charging point at the house, and I'm reluctant to have an electric car because the nearest public charging point is nearly a mile away....and me walking a mile some days is an exercise in misery. Not every day, but some days.
So, for the present, petrol it is.
There are alternatives to pure petrol or electric power, rechargeable and non rechargeable hybrids. Been a fairly happy owner of the latter type for the last 8 years. On the road it cuts petrol consumption about 25% and in town about 50%, the slightly higher buying price was covered in little over a year.
A word of warning on the rechargeable type; here many people use them as all EVs that is a big no-no, the battery is not large enough for that and the engine needs to be used to remain workable. So petrol on the road and electric in slow areas. One still gets a lot lower cost than pure petrol.
A word of warning on the rechargeable type; here many people use them as all EVs that is a big no-no, the battery is not large enough for that and the engine needs to be used to remain workable. So petrol on the road and electric in slow areas. One still gets a lot lower cost than pure petrol.
Oh yeah, I'll flick both my petrol cars over to the electric mode. Good idea...
You missed out. Covid was the best time to ride. Hardly any cars about, very quiet and even 6 years ago the roads were in a far better state. A great time to be had if you didn’t get too wrapped up in all the hysteria and government overreach.
I’ve found E5 preserves longer than E10. I can leave E5 for several months and it’s A ok upon start up.
Fully agree, though I can't count out the effect of low winter temps we have. Had some trouble with E10 (in canister for 2 years) but no with E5. I am not sure what causes it as alcohol itself should not be that reactive might be the amount of water that E10 tends to gather. I use one amine based preservative in recommended amount.
I've been out panic buying, topped up the car and filled a couple of cans. Also did a large shop and bought a large bag of toilet rolls just to annoy people. 
I'm just being sensible as it'll be Easter weekend down here so full of tourists and at any moment I might need to dash off on a 500 mile round trip as Mum is still in hospital and the NHS is still being useless.
£1.58 for branded unleaded, filling station busy but all pumps working.
I'm just being sensible as it'll be Easter weekend down here so full of tourists and at any moment I might need to dash off on a 500 mile round trip as Mum is still in hospital and the NHS is still being useless.
£1.58 for branded unleaded, filling station busy but all pumps working.
Its the ethanol content. E5 has up to 5%, E10 up to 10%. Ethanol is hygroscopic - it attracts water (via the atmosphere). After time you get separation - the ethanol/water mix sinks to the bottom of the fuel tank (where the pump inlet normally is) and its non-combustable. The ethanol depleted petrol rises to the top of the fuel tank but it is now a lower octane rating.
All stations to the west of Taunton seem to be ok. A few people filling approved containers, including me. Ten litres of SUL will keep our garden tools happy for a good few months!
Absolutely! Petrol was quite cheap and the roads were deserted, so lots of two wheeled adventures and explorations for me
The last fuel ship, the Maetiga, which is loaded with jet fuel is due to dock in the UK today. After that there are no more fuel ships destined for the UK at all. 
I can't help wondering if people are underestimating the severity of this situation. Is the term 'Energy Lockdown' about to become the new buzz-phrase of 2026?
I can't help wondering if people are underestimating the severity of this situation. Is the term 'Energy Lockdown' about to become the new buzz-phrase of 2026?
We don’t usually get jet fuel shipped here from the US - this is the first time since 2024, and we haven’t been under ‘energy lockdown’ for the last two years. We also get jet fuel via Europe, which itself gets 40% of its jet fuel via the Strait. Planes are going to be more expensive to fly.
Unless any of us are flying jets, we’re fine. Remember this thread is about fuel for our cars which remains unaffected beyond the price getting silly.
Unless any of us are flying jets, we’re fine. Remember this thread is about fuel for our cars which remains unaffected beyond the price getting silly.
Chris , I've left the radio on in the Lear 55 overnight -
Can you give me a hand to jump start it ??
If you can get round the back and push , I'll pump the starter from the cockpit.
Only yesterday? it was £1.76 a litre for diesel here for a fortnight, a couple of weeks ago every garage in Bognor was tailed out onto the road.
Prices have dropped back a fair bit to £1.31 - £1.57. Doesn’t really affect me, I still get my £20 worth.
Prices have dropped back a fair bit to £1.31 - £1.57. Doesn’t really affect me, I still get my £20 worth.
Doesn't affect me as I only fill up to the half way point.
