semiatic
E85

E85 in a circle

A petrol-type fuel containing up to 85% ethanol by volume. On a vehicle, an E85 circle means it can use that fuel.

What to do

Only fill from an E85 nozzle if the circle by your filler flap or in your manual shows E85. A vehicle labelled only E5 and/or E10 is not labelled for E85.

What it looks like
The letters E85 in bold inside a circle, black on white.
Where you find it
On the nozzle and dispenser of a pump that sells it; next to the filler cap or flap of a vehicle that can use it; in that vehicle's manual.
Kind
petrol-type fuel
Set by
EN 16942:2016+A1:2021, identifier for petrol-type fuels (a circle), required by Directive 2014/94/EU Article 7; in the UK, SI 2019/421 Schedule 1, Part 1

Can my car use it?

“If your brand or model is not listed, consult your manual or contact your vehicle or equipment manufacturer.”

“If in doubt, continue to use E5 (97+ octane) petrol.”

Check your vehicle's manual or the label inside the filler flap. We do not say which makes or models can use this fuel.

Official guidance:

In detail

  • CEN, which publishes EN 16942, lists E85 beside E5 and E10 as a petrol-type identifier and says the quality of petrol-type fuels is laid down in EN 228 or EN 15293.
  • The number follows the same rule as E5 and E10: in UK law the symbol 'EX' carries X as 'the maximum ethanol content in volume percentage'.
  • A vehicle that can use more than one fuel carries all the identifiers that apply, next to the filler cap and in its manual (SI 2019/421, regulation 5(2) and (3)). So a car that takes E85 as well as ordinary petrol shows more than one circle.
  • We found no UK government guidance on where E85 is sold; the E10 checker covers E10 only.

What it does not mean

It does not mean the fuel is exactly 85% ethanol (85 is the maximum), and it is not a stronger version of E10 that any E10 car can take.

Labels that go with it

E10E10 in a circlePetrol containing up to 10% renewable ethanol. On a vehicle, an…E5E5 in a circlePetrol containing up to 5% ethanol. On a vehicle, an E5 circle…

Sources

Each document was fetched and read on the date shown; the clause or section is the one that sets or explains this label.