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8 Minute Read

The Best UK Coffee Stops

Posted by - Tim Earnshaw on 10 May 2022
Categories: Advice, Road Trip Inspiration

There’s just something about cars and coffee that fits. Sometimes, we’ll opt for going solo, finding the perfect sunset, then leaning back on the bonnet, sipping a flask. Other times, we’ll drop in at one of our favourite coffee stops across the UK, blowing the froth off a latte while catching up with old faces.

Of course, there are countless generic coffee chains on every motorway. But in this countdown, Windrush’s classic car storage team picks out eleven great independents that give a particularly warm welcome to the motoring community, going the extra mile with themed décor, enthusiast events and automobile displays.

Caffeine And Machine, Ettington, Warwickshire

Caffeine And Machine, Ettington, Warwickshire

Self-described as a “destination for those who appreciate moving things”, Caffeine And Machine includes a coffee house, licensed bar and restaurant, boutique b&b and living art gallery – it’s more of a shrine to motoring and gastronomy than a half-hour stop-off.

https://caffeineandmachine.com/

Podium Place, Newbury

Podium Place, Newbury

The aroma of artisan coffee greets you as you pull into Podium Place, with a team of Per’La speciality roasters responsible for one of the best cups in the South East. The biggest draw, though, is sipping said coffee amongst a fleet of aspirational supercars, from rare Ferraris to limited-edition Aston Martins.

www.podiumplace.co.uk

Baffle Haus, Pontypool, Wales

Baffle Haus, Pontypool, Wales

Painted onto the wall of Baffle Haus is the ‘Share The Ride’ mantra that this Pontypool café lives by. Best-known as a biker hub – but equally welcoming to anyone on wheels – you’ll fuel up with an americano or panini while browsing the motoring memorabilia, and perhaps even pick up some new leathers from the adjoining clothing shop.

www.baffleculture.com/bafflehaus

The Carding Shed, Holmfirth, West Yorkshire

The Carding Shed, Holmfirth, West Yorkshire

Not just a coffee stop but a veritable time machine, this former Yorkshire mill serves its brews in traditional china cups and completes the Goodwood Revival vibe with a classic car display, including vintage Mercedes and more.

www.thecardingshed.co.uk

Gilks Garage, Kineton, Warwickshire

Gilks Garage, Kineton, Warwickshire

Don’t mistake Gilks for a gimmicky themed café. This genuinely retro stop-off is authentic to the bone, still run by the family who manned the pumps back in the 1950s. Even so, the menu has moved with the times: try the Full Service Pizza or Mighty Mechanic Burger.

www.gilksgaragecafe.com

Duke Of London, Brentford, West London

Duke Of London, Brentford, West London

Founded in 2015 by Merlin McCormack, coffee is just the start at this classic and supercar hub – you’ll also find car sales, restoration, servicing, detailing and more. For those who run on heavier fuel, the onsite Brewery Tap Pub and Santa Maria Pizzeria – voted London’s best – are a must.

www.dukeoflondon.co.uk

The Motorist, Sherburn In Elmet, North Yorkshire

The Motorist, Sherburn In Elmet, North Yorkshire

This stylish hub for all things auto offers both the Arnage Restaurant (named after the famous corner on the Le Mans circuit), and the Motorist Café and Showroom (where you can pit for coffee and rocky road, surrounded by a lineup of immaculate vintage cars).

www.themotorist.com

Ace Café, Stonebridge, London

Ace Café, Stonebridge, London

Founded in 1938 – and now with outposts across the globe – the original Ace is arguably the world’s most famous motor café. A mecca for scooter-riding mods in the Sixties, rock ‘n’ roll remains in the Ace’s DNA, and while browsing the menu, also keep an eye out for upcoming gigs.

https://london.acecafe.com/

NY500, Pickering, North Yorkshire

NY500, Pickering, North Yorkshire

You might come to NY500 for the SpeedFest 22 event, but you’ll return for one of Yorkshire’s best no-nonsense cafés, whose Bangkok Bad Boy Burger is the stuff of local legend.

www.ny500.co.uk

Bike Shed, Hackney, London

Bike Shed, Hackney, London

In a digital world, Bike Shed stands apart with its proud “analogue” ethos, inviting all-comers to watch the bikes rumble past, strike up a conversation with a fellow enthusiast or cheer on the MotoGP in a dedicated screening room beneath the atmospheric Victorian arches.

https://bikeshedmoto.co.uk/

Recharge and return to Windrush classic car storage

Wherever you roam, come back refreshed to Windrush classic car storage. We’re the most trusted name in luxury car storage, for reasons that become clear when you arrive at our state-of-the-art facilities in Central London and the Cotswolds.

Windrush’s long term car storage service begins with our pace-setting twelve-step induction process. But when it comes to your pride and joy, our attention to detail never ends. Whatever the duration of your stay, we’ll devise an ongoing maintenance programme for your model – all part of a luxury car storage service whose reputation precedes it.

The Windrush classic car storage team would love to tell you more over coffee. Drop us a line on info@windrushcarstorage.co.uk

There’s just something about cars and coffee that fits. Sometimes, we’ll opt for going solo, finding the perfect sunset, then leaning back on the bonnet, sipping a flask. Other times, we’ll drop in at one of our favourite coffee stops across the UK, blowing the froth off a latte while catching up with old faces. Of course, there are countless generic coffee chains on every motorway. But in this countdown, Windrush’s classic car storage team picks out eleven great independents that give a particularly warm welcome to the motoring community, going the extra mile with themed décor, enthusiast events and automobile displays. Caffeine And Machine, Ettington, Warwickshire Self-described as a “destination for those who appreciate moving things”, Caffeine And Machine includes a coffee house, licensed bar and restaurant, boutique b&b and living art gallery – it’s more of a shrine to motoring and gastronomy than a half-hour stop-off. https://caffeineandmachine.com/ Podium Place, Newbury The aroma of artisan coffee greets you as you pull into Podium Place, with a team of Per’La speciality roasters responsible for one of the best cups in the South East. The biggest draw, though, is sipping said coffee amongst a fleet of aspirational supercars, from rare Ferraris to limited-edition Aston Martins. www.podiumplace.co.uk Baffle Haus, Pontypool, Wales Painted onto the wall of Baffle Haus is the ‘Share The Ride’ mantra that this Pontypool café lives by. Best-known as a biker hub – but equally welcoming to anyone on wheels – you’ll fuel up with an americano or panini while browsing the motoring memorabilia, and perhaps even pick up some new leathers from the adjoining clothing shop. www.baffleculture.com/bafflehaus The Carding Shed, Holmfirth, West Yorkshire Not just a coffee stop but a veritable time machine, this former Yorkshire mill serves its brews in traditional china cups and completes the Goodwood Revival vibe with a classic car display, including vintage Mercedes and more. www.thecardingshed.co.uk Gilks Garage, Kineton, Warwickshire Don’t mistake Gilks for a gimmicky themed café. This genuinely retro stop-off is authentic to the bone, still run by the family who manned the pumps back in the 1950s. Even so, the menu has moved with the times: try the Full Service Pizza or Mighty Mechanic Burger. www.gilksgaragecafe.com Duke Of London, Brentford, West London Founded in 2015 by Merlin McCormack, coffee is just the start at this classic and supercar hub – you’ll also find car sales, restoration, servicing, detailing and more. For those who run on heavier fuel, the onsite Brewery Tap Pub and Santa Maria Pizzeria – voted London’s best – are a must. www.dukeoflondon.co.uk The Motorist, Sherburn In Elmet, North Yorkshire This stylish hub for all things auto offers both the Arnage Restaurant (named after the famous corner on the Le Mans circuit), and the Motorist Café and Showroom (where you can pit for coffee and rocky road, surrounded by a lineup of immaculate vintage cars). www.themotorist.com Ace Café, Stonebridge, London Founded in 1938 – and now with outposts across the globe – the original Ace is arguably the world’s most famous motor café. A mecca for scooter-riding mods in the Sixties, rock ‘n’ roll remains in the Ace’s DNA, and while browsing the menu, also keep an eye out for upcoming gigs. https://london.acecafe.com/ NY500, Pickering, North Yorkshire You might come to NY500 for the SpeedFest 22 event, but you’ll return for one of Yorkshire’s best no-nonsense cafés, whose Bangkok Bad Boy Burger is the stuff of local legend. www.ny500.co.uk Bike Shed, Hackney, London In a digital world, Bike Shed stands apart with its proud “analogue” ethos, inviting all-comers to watch the bikes rumble past, strike up a conversation with a fellow enthusiast or cheer on the MotoGP in a dedicated screening room beneath the atmospheric Victorian arches. https://bikeshedmoto.co.uk/ Recharge and return to Windrush classic car storage Wherever you roam, come back refreshed to Windrush classic car storage. We’re the most trusted name in luxury car storage, for reasons that become clear when you arrive at our state-of-the-art facilities in Central London and the Cotswolds. Windrush’s long term car storage service begins with our pace-setting twelve-step induction process. But when it comes to your pride and joy, our attention to detail never ends. Whatever the duration of your stay, we’ll devise an ongoing maintenance programme for your model – all part of a luxury car storage service whose reputation precedes it. The Windrush classic car storage team would love to tell you more over coffee. Drop us a line on info@windrushcarstorage.co.uk

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8 Minute Read

The Best Driving Roads In Oxfordshire

Read Article
You might be wondering why – as the leading providers of classic car storage for Oxfordshire and the…
Read Article
You might be wondering why – as the leading providers of classic car storage for Oxfordshire and the Cotswolds – we’re urging you to get out and about on the region’s best driving roads. The fact is, at Windrush, we believe you can (and should) enjoy your car, and from dappled stretches sprinkled with rustic pubs, to deserted former Roman roads that demand fifth gear – you’ve come to the right county. Best of all, with Windrush’s classic car storage in Oxfordshire keeping every vehicle ready to roll at a moment’s notice, all it takes to satisfy your need for an impulse drive is a quick call to the team. If you’ve already tackled the routes in our last blog, here are four more to try.   B4507 Wantage To Ashbury When you check your car out of Windrush’s classic car storage in Oxfordshire, you’ll want to remind yourself of its pace and handling. The B4507 ticks both boxes, inviting you to open her up, then testing your mettle with some addictive slow-speed corners. Ease off as you pass the Uffington White Horse: a 110-metre prehistoric hill figure that’s visible from the road. B4100 Banbury to Warwick The M40 that runs parallel is faster, but the B4100 is the more interesting drive, hence its high placing in a Caterham Cars survey of the UK’s favourite roads. Expect a great surface and enough challenging features to keep the blood pumping – while the cherry on top is the British Motor Museum in Gaydon. B4455 Chipping Norton to Princethorpe What have the Romans ever done for us? Well, for starters, there’s the B4455. Having breakfasted at Chipping Norton, fork north-west out of the market town on the A3400 until you reach this famous 25-mile stretch of road, so arrow-straight that your steering wheel is practically redundant. B480 Oxford To Reading If the objective is to hit the maximum number of chocolate-box villages per mile travelled, the B480 has a reasonable claim to be the world’s greatest stretch. At Cookley Green, you can either stick with it and enjoy a riverside lunch at Henley-on-Thames, or fork onto the B481, skirting the Chilterns and ghosting through emerald blankets of shaded woodland. There is no wrong answer here. Then back to the best classic car storage in Oxfordshire There’s nothing wrong with letting your vintage car off the leash – provided it gets the best downtime once you’re done, courtesy of Windrush’s acclaimed classic car storage in Oxfordshire. Trust our expert team to look after every detail, welcoming your pride and joy to our dedicated classic car storage facility, putting it through our famous twelve-step induction programme and keeping everything limber with a tailored maintenance programme that ensures we can hand you the keys at a moment’s notice. To discover more about our acclaimed car storage in Oxfordshire, get in touch with the team today on info@windrushcarstorage.co.uk
the-uks-best-driving-roads-main-original-1.jpeg?w=768&h=1024&scale
8 Minute Read

The UK’s Best Driving Roads

Read Article
As motoring enthusiasts, we are all counting down the days to April 12th. According to the government’s roadmap…
Read Article
As motoring enthusiasts, we are all counting down the days to April 12th. According to the government’s roadmap out of lockdown – and touching wood, obviously – this is the glorious day when UK-wide travel will be green-lit, and the vehicles you’ve trusted to Windrush’s long term car storage will finally be allowed off the leash. After more than a year of on/off lockdown, you’ll naturally want to stray beyond the functional A-to-B journeys and stretch your classic’s legs with something a little more scenic. So why not try one of these breathtaking UK driving routes – before letting your vehicle wind down in style with our prestige car storage? The Brecon Beacons Threading from Conwyn to Cardiff, the A470 is simply the finest stretch of tarmac in Wales, with its 186-mile run serving up every kind of twist, turn and straight within beautiful scenery. Drink in the rugged peaks of Snowdonia and the Cambrians, slice through the Severn and Wye Valleys, and fork through the Brecon Beacons on the A4069 – a local legend and favourite of motoring journalists, where the widescreen views seem to put the world on pause. The North York Moors Sprawling across 550 miles of bleakly beautiful heather moorland, the North York Moors National Park is England in excelsis, offering an autumnal colour palette, unbroken horizons and bruised lilac sunsets that dare you to take your eyes off the road. If you only have time for one run, drive from Kirkbymooreside to York, stopping off at the postcard-perfect market town of Malton. Glasgow to Fort William Don’t rush this fantasy route through the Scottish Highlands. As you back off the accelerator pedal to soak up the heather-dusted panorama, cloud-shrouded mountains, and mirrored waters of Loch Lomond, you’ll swear you’ve strayed onto the film set of Highlander (and you have – it was filmed in Glencoe). The Keswick Loop Everything that made the Lake District the inspiration for a thousand romantic poets is summed up in this spellbinding round trip. Starting and ending at the bustling market town of Keswick, highlights include the king-of-the-world views of the Newlands Valley and Honister Pass, where you’ll look down on scenery so sublime, you may feel a Wordsworth poem coming on. Cheddar Gorge According to data scientists, the B3135 from Cheddar to Ashwick is the UK’s most enjoyable road to drive – and it’s hard to argue. There’s something otherworldly about the limestone cliffs of Cheddar Gorge – like an alien landscape transplanted into the wilds of Somerset – and as you negotiate the twists and power down the straights, lockdown has never seemed so far away. Then sit back and relax, with Windrush long term car storage Cars are made to be driven – but they also need to be stored the right way. At Windrush, we set the standard for long term car storage, welcoming your vehicle with our twelve-step induction programme and treating it with personal care and attention for the duration of your stay. Wherever your UK adventure takes you – come home to the best long term car storage in Britain. With professional car storage facilities in Central London and the Cotswolds, Windrush is the perfect base for your next UK adventure. Drop us a line today on info@windrushcarstorage.co.uk
the-windrush-guide-to-e5-e10-and-ethanol-free-fuel-main-original-1.jpeg?w=1024&h=681&scale
8 Minute Read

The Windrush Guide To E5, E10 and…

Read Article
With varying ethanol levels in modern fuel impacting everything from performance to corrosion, it’s worth learning a little…
Read Article
With varying ethanol levels in modern fuel impacting everything from performance to corrosion, it’s worth learning a little more about what comes out of the pump. As we move closer to the UK’s adoption of ethanol-rich E10 in September, here’s what you need to know about fuelling for everyday driving and long term car storage. What are E5 & E10 fuels? Fill up on a UK forecourt today and, chances are, you’ll be putting E5 into the tank. E5’s name comes from the fact that it contains up to 5% bio-ethanol – a figure that will rise to 10% in the E10 fuel set to be rolled out across the UK from September. It’s hard to fault the government’s logic: that additional 5% ethanol could cut CO2 emissions by 750,000 tonnes/year (equivalent to 350,000 cars) and give the UK a fighting chance of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050. For motorists, however, E10 is contentious – even the RAC has advised owners of any car built before 2002 to avoid it or risk mechanical damage. Why could E10 damage my classic car? It’s all down to that double dose of ethanol. Ethanol is hygroscopic: it attracts water and absorbs moisture from the air, causing condensation and, in the long-term, the corrosion of car parts like carburettors, fuel lines and fuel tanks. To compound the problem, ethanol is a solvent, so over time it will damage any component made of plastic, rubber or fibreglass. Modern fuel-injected cars have fuel systems designed to process E10, which has been a fixture in European countries like Germany since 2011. But for historic vehicles, the added ethanol in the blend spells potential damage, especially if you put it into long term car storage without precautions. At Windrush, preventing fuel-related mechanical damage is a key part of our long term car storage programme. Here are four fuelling solutions to get familiar with. How does the long-term performance of different fuels compare? As a general rule of thumb, old fuel doesn’t combust as readily as fresh. On the road, a lack of power following long term car storage is the telltale symptom of degraded fuel, and this explains why classics that have been off the road a long time will often only run on choke/blipping of throttle. But the blend makes a big difference in how well your fuel lasts. In independent tests, non-ethanol fuel has been shown to stay more flammable over extended periods. Meanwhile, the RAC has referred to reports that claim E10 is less stable, which can make a vehicle with E10 in the tank particularly difficult to start following long term car storage. Can fuel stabilisers improve fuel performance? In a recent video by the YouTube channel Project Farm, presenter Todd Osgood ran a series of tests that suggested fuel stabilisers aren’t the silver bullet you might think. He acknowledged that when an additive was added to E10, an aluminium part left to soak in the blend corroded less than it did in standard E10 (although there was still some damage). But he also found that adding stabiliser to E10 didn’t stop it degrading. By contrast, with non-ethanol fuel, there was less evaporation, greater lifespan and no hint of parts corrosion (regardless of whether stabiliser was added or not). “If you’re using non-ethanol fuel,” concluded Osgood, “your carburettor is safe from the type of corrosion that ethanol causes.” What’s the best fuelling solution? It’s worth remembering that E10 is not the only option. E5 is likely to remain on UK forecourts for another five years, but even better for owners of historic cars could be investigating ethanol-free fuels. At the time of writing, there is no requirement for ethanol to be included in super unleaded (97/99) grade petrol, so if you’re driving a cherished older vehicle (or putting one into long term car storage), consider a switch to the UK’s only ethanol-free fuels, Esso Synergy Supreme+ Unleaded 97 and Synergy Supreme+ 99. Taking a long-term view, we’d advise that any car with fuel held in the tank for over three years should be drained and replaced with ethanol-free petrol. Optimal fuelling is just one element of Windrush’s long term car storage in Central London and the Cotswolds. To find out more, email us on info@windrushcarstorage.co.uk.
  • the-best-driving-roads-in-oxfordshire-main-original-scaled.jpg?w=1024&h=546&scale
    8 Minute Read

    The Best Driving Roads In Oxfordshire

    Read Article
    You might be wondering why – as the leading providers of classic car storage for Oxfordshire and the Cotswolds – we’re urging you to get out and about on the region’s best driving roads. The fact is, at Windrush, we believe you can (and should) enjoy your car, and from dappled stretches sprinkled with rustic pubs, to deserted former Roman roads that demand fifth gear – you’ve come to the right county. Best of all, with Windrush’s classic car storage in Oxfordshire keeping every vehicle ready to roll at a moment’s notice, all it takes to satisfy your need for an impulse drive is a quick call to the team. If you’ve already tackled the routes in our last blog, here are four more to try.   B4507 Wantage To Ashbury When you check your car out of Windrush’s classic car storage in Oxfordshire, you’ll want to remind yourself of its pace and handling. The B4507 ticks both boxes, inviting you to open her up, then testing your mettle with some addictive slow-speed corners. Ease off as you pass the Uffington White Horse: a 110-metre prehistoric hill figure that’s visible from the road. B4100 Banbury to Warwick The M40 that runs parallel is faster, but the B4100 is the more interesting drive, hence its high placing in a Caterham Cars survey of the UK’s favourite roads. Expect a great surface and enough challenging features to keep the blood pumping – while the cherry on top is the British Motor Museum in Gaydon. B4455 Chipping Norton to Princethorpe What have the Romans ever done for us? Well, for starters, there’s the B4455. Having breakfasted at Chipping Norton, fork north-west out of the market town on the A3400 until you reach this famous 25-mile stretch of road, so arrow-straight that your steering wheel is practically redundant. B480 Oxford To Reading If the objective is to hit the maximum number of chocolate-box villages per mile travelled, the B480 has a reasonable claim to be the world’s greatest stretch. At Cookley Green, you can either stick with it and enjoy a riverside lunch at Henley-on-Thames, or fork onto the B481, skirting the Chilterns and ghosting through emerald blankets of shaded woodland. There is no wrong answer here. Then back to the best classic car storage in Oxfordshire There’s nothing wrong with letting your vintage car off the leash – provided it gets the best downtime once you’re done, courtesy of Windrush’s acclaimed classic car storage in Oxfordshire. Trust our expert team to look after every detail, welcoming your pride and joy to our dedicated classic car storage facility, putting it through our famous twelve-step induction programme and keeping everything limber with a tailored maintenance programme that ensures we can hand you the keys at a moment’s notice. To discover more about our acclaimed car storage in Oxfordshire, get in touch with the team today on info@windrushcarstorage.co.uk
  • the-uks-best-driving-roads-main-original-1.jpeg?w=768&h=1024&scale
    8 Minute Read

    The UK’s Best Driving Roads

    Read Article
    As motoring enthusiasts, we are all counting down the days to April 12th. According to the government’s roadmap out of lockdown – and touching wood, obviously – this is the glorious day when UK-wide travel will be green-lit, and the vehicles you’ve trusted to Windrush’s long term car storage will finally be allowed off the leash. After more than a year of on/off lockdown, you’ll naturally want to stray beyond the functional A-to-B journeys and stretch your classic’s legs with something a little more scenic. So why not try one of these breathtaking UK driving routes – before letting your vehicle wind down in style with our prestige car storage? The Brecon Beacons Threading from Conwyn to Cardiff, the A470 is simply the finest stretch of tarmac in Wales, with its 186-mile run serving up every kind of twist, turn and straight within beautiful scenery. Drink in the rugged peaks of Snowdonia and the Cambrians, slice through the Severn and Wye Valleys, and fork through the Brecon Beacons on the A4069 – a local legend and favourite of motoring journalists, where the widescreen views seem to put the world on pause. The North York Moors Sprawling across 550 miles of bleakly beautiful heather moorland, the North York Moors National Park is England in excelsis, offering an autumnal colour palette, unbroken horizons and bruised lilac sunsets that dare you to take your eyes off the road. If you only have time for one run, drive from Kirkbymooreside to York, stopping off at the postcard-perfect market town of Malton. Glasgow to Fort William Don’t rush this fantasy route through the Scottish Highlands. As you back off the accelerator pedal to soak up the heather-dusted panorama, cloud-shrouded mountains, and mirrored waters of Loch Lomond, you’ll swear you’ve strayed onto the film set of Highlander (and you have – it was filmed in Glencoe). The Keswick Loop Everything that made the Lake District the inspiration for a thousand romantic poets is summed up in this spellbinding round trip. Starting and ending at the bustling market town of Keswick, highlights include the king-of-the-world views of the Newlands Valley and Honister Pass, where you’ll look down on scenery so sublime, you may feel a Wordsworth poem coming on. Cheddar Gorge According to data scientists, the B3135 from Cheddar to Ashwick is the UK’s most enjoyable road to drive – and it’s hard to argue. There’s something otherworldly about the limestone cliffs of Cheddar Gorge – like an alien landscape transplanted into the wilds of Somerset – and as you negotiate the twists and power down the straights, lockdown has never seemed so far away. Then sit back and relax, with Windrush long term car storage Cars are made to be driven – but they also need to be stored the right way. At Windrush, we set the standard for long term car storage, welcoming your vehicle with our twelve-step induction programme and treating it with personal care and attention for the duration of your stay. Wherever your UK adventure takes you – come home to the best long term car storage in Britain. With professional car storage facilities in Central London and the Cotswolds, Windrush is the perfect base for your next UK adventure. Drop us a line today on info@windrushcarstorage.co.uk
  • the-windrush-guide-to-e5-e10-and-ethanol-free-fuel-main-original-1.jpeg?w=1024&h=681&scale
    8 Minute Read

    The Windrush Guide To E5, E10 and Ethanol-Free Fuel

    Read Article
    With varying ethanol levels in modern fuel impacting everything from performance to corrosion, it’s worth learning a little more about what comes out of the pump. As we move closer to the UK’s adoption of ethanol-rich E10 in September, here’s what you need to know about fuelling for everyday driving and long term car storage. What are E5 & E10 fuels? Fill up on a UK forecourt today and, chances are, you’ll be putting E5 into the tank. E5’s name comes from the fact that it contains up to 5% bio-ethanol – a figure that will rise to 10% in the E10 fuel set to be rolled out across the UK from September. It’s hard to fault the government’s logic: that additional 5% ethanol could cut CO2 emissions by 750,000 tonnes/year (equivalent to 350,000 cars) and give the UK a fighting chance of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050. For motorists, however, E10 is contentious – even the RAC has advised owners of any car built before 2002 to avoid it or risk mechanical damage. Why could E10 damage my classic car? It’s all down to that double dose of ethanol. Ethanol is hygroscopic: it attracts water and absorbs moisture from the air, causing condensation and, in the long-term, the corrosion of car parts like carburettors, fuel lines and fuel tanks. To compound the problem, ethanol is a solvent, so over time it will damage any component made of plastic, rubber or fibreglass. Modern fuel-injected cars have fuel systems designed to process E10, which has been a fixture in European countries like Germany since 2011. But for historic vehicles, the added ethanol in the blend spells potential damage, especially if you put it into long term car storage without precautions. At Windrush, preventing fuel-related mechanical damage is a key part of our long term car storage programme. Here are four fuelling solutions to get familiar with. How does the long-term performance of different fuels compare? As a general rule of thumb, old fuel doesn’t combust as readily as fresh. On the road, a lack of power following long term car storage is the telltale symptom of degraded fuel, and this explains why classics that have been off the road a long time will often only run on choke/blipping of throttle. But the blend makes a big difference in how well your fuel lasts. In independent tests, non-ethanol fuel has been shown to stay more flammable over extended periods. Meanwhile, the RAC has referred to reports that claim E10 is less stable, which can make a vehicle with E10 in the tank particularly difficult to start following long term car storage. Can fuel stabilisers improve fuel performance? In a recent video by the YouTube channel Project Farm, presenter Todd Osgood ran a series of tests that suggested fuel stabilisers aren’t the silver bullet you might think. He acknowledged that when an additive was added to E10, an aluminium part left to soak in the blend corroded less than it did in standard E10 (although there was still some damage). But he also found that adding stabiliser to E10 didn’t stop it degrading. By contrast, with non-ethanol fuel, there was less evaporation, greater lifespan and no hint of parts corrosion (regardless of whether stabiliser was added or not). “If you’re using non-ethanol fuel,” concluded Osgood, “your carburettor is safe from the type of corrosion that ethanol causes.” What’s the best fuelling solution? It’s worth remembering that E10 is not the only option. E5 is likely to remain on UK forecourts for another five years, but even better for owners of historic cars could be investigating ethanol-free fuels. At the time of writing, there is no requirement for ethanol to be included in super unleaded (97/99) grade petrol, so if you’re driving a cherished older vehicle (or putting one into long term car storage), consider a switch to the UK’s only ethanol-free fuels, Esso Synergy Supreme+ Unleaded 97 and Synergy Supreme+ 99. Taking a long-term view, we’d advise that any car with fuel held in the tank for over three years should be drained and replaced with ethanol-free petrol. Optimal fuelling is just one element of Windrush’s long term car storage in Central London and the Cotswolds. To find out more, email us on info@windrushcarstorage.co.uk.
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