E10 and E5 fuel
 

I have a 1996 960 2.5 that I have owned since it was 11 months old. I have no problems with the car but have a query regarding ethanol added fuel. I live in France and now it is getting difficult to buy straight 95 octane unleaded fuel. The majority of filling stations around where I live do not sell unleaded fuel without either 5% or 10% ethanol. According to a notice on the pump all petroll engined cars can run on 5% ethanol fuel. Does anyone have any information on the suitability of the fuel for my Volvo?

I believe Volvo themselves released a statement about this as the fuel in the UK is going to 10% ethanol, it is 5% already. If I remember correctly it was saying that all Volvo's from the 1960's onwards will be absolutely fine on the 10% stuff so no need to worry about it.

I'm fairly certain the Volvos with plastic fuel tanks were designed to be compatible with E5/E10 fuels (they have a higher water content, hence the plastic tanks to minimise rusting) so you should be fine. You could also contact a Volvo dealer to be sure and someone else may be along soon to confirm or refute what i've just said with more direct knowledge/experience than i have with ethanol fuels. ;) :D

Came to France in June and drove to La Rochelle - my 1996 960 ran completely fine on E10 stuff and returned a perfect amicable 30mpg.

Cheers

I remember that modern E5 ruined the fuel lines and diaphragm in the fuel pump of my old air cooled beetle. After that I used an ethanol shield additive on every fill up.
I suspect that Volvo being Volvo this would be unnecessary, werent the Swede’s early adopters of ethanol in petrol anyway?