Petrol: data sheet
In brief
Unleaded petrol, also called gasoline or motor spirit, is a light, volatile fuel for spark-ignition engines, made in the UK to BS EN 228. Since September 2021 the standard grade in Great Britain has been E10, with up to 10% ethanol; super unleaded remains E5, with up to 5% ethanol. Call 07950 582635 or send an enquiry.
| Density at 15°C | 720–775 kg/m³ (BS EN 228 limits) |
|---|---|
| Flash point | About −40°C or lower |
| Final boiling point | No higher than 210°C |
| Octane (RON) | At least 95 |
| Sulphur | 10 mg/kg maximum |
| Ethanol | Up to 10% (E10) or 5% (E5) |
| Waste code | 13 07 02* (petrol) |
| Transport | UN1203 MOTOR SPIRIT (PETROL), class 3, packing group II |
| Also called | gasoline, motor spirit, unleaded, E10, E5 (super unleaded) |
What petrol is made of
Petrol is a blend of hydrocarbons with roughly 4 to 12 carbon atoms (paraffins, olefins, naphthenes and aromatics), plus ethanol and other oxygenates and a small package of additives. BS EN 228 limits aromatics to 35%, benzene to 1% and sulphur to 10 mg/kg. Petrol has no single formula; it is often represented by octane, C8H18, for calculations.
How petrol is made
Petrol is blended from several refinery streams: straight-run naphtha from distillation, reformate from catalytic reforming, gasoline from catalytic cracking, alkylate and isomerate. Ethanol is usually added at the fuel terminal, giving E10 or E5.
What petrol is used for
Cars, motorcycles, small vans, garden and power tools, small generators and outboard motors.
Storing petrol
Petrol needs containers made for it and strict control of ignition sources. At home or other non-workplace premises you may keep up to 30 litres in suitable containers without telling the authorities; workplaces that dispense petrol need a petroleum storage certificate, and DSEAR applies at work. Commonly quoted as about 3 to 6 months for E10 in a sealed container, because the ethanol absorbs water and light ends evaporate. Old petrol loses octane and leaves gum.
Hazards of petrol
Typical safety data sheets class petrol as extremely flammable, harmful if swallowed and it enters the airways, irritating to skin, able to cause drowsiness, able to cause genetic defects and cancer, suspected of damaging fertility, and toxic to aquatic life.
Contamination in petrol
- Water in petrol
- Phase separation in petrol
- Diesel in petrol
- Coolant in petrol
- Sediment in petrol
- Old petrol
- Chemicals in petrol
What happens to waste petrol
Waste petrol is tested, dewatered and recovered, usually as refinery feedstock or into fuel blending; phase-separated ethanol and water are treated separately. Because of its flash point it is handled under tighter fire and explosion controls than diesel.
What waste petrol is worth
Petrol can be recovered, but its volatility, evaporation losses and handling controls mean it is usually worth less than the same volume of clean diesel. Waste petrol can earn a rebate or carry a collection charge, depending on its volume, quality, contamination and access, and on the oil market on the day. We never publish prices, because every load and every day is different: for an actual figure, call 07950 582635 or send an enquiry.
Rules for petrol
As waste, petrol is hazardous waste (special waste in Scotland). Storage is controlled by the Petroleum (Consolidation) Regulations 2014 and DSEAR; transport is UN1203, class 3, packing group II under ADR. E10 petrol in older vehicles and small engines that sit unused is a common source of phase-separated, water-laden waste petrol.
Questions about petrol
- What is petrol?
- What is petrol made of?
- What is the chemical formula of petrol?
- How is petrol made?
- What is petrol used for?
- What is waste petrol?
- What is contaminated petrol?
- What happens to contaminated petrol?
- What happens to waste petrol after it is collected?
- How do you dispose of waste petrol?
- Can waste petrol be recycled?
- Who buys waste petrol?
- How much is waste petrol worth?
- What affects the price of waste petrol?
- How do I sell waste petrol?
- Is waste petrol hazardous waste?
- What is the waste code for waste petrol?
- What is the UN number for petrol?
- How should petrol be stored?
- How long does petrol last?
- What happens to petrol over time?
- How do you test petrol?
- What should you do if you spill petrol?
- Is petrol flammable?
- What containers can waste petrol be collected from?
- How do I work out how much petrol I have?
- What does petrol look like?
- How is waste petrol transported?
- What are the dangers of petrol?
- What rules apply to waste petrol?
- Does City Fuel Services buy waste petrol?
- How many litres of petrol are in a tonne?
- What is the flash point of petrol?
- What is the density of petrol?
- What is the boiling range of petrol?
- How many carbon atoms are in petrol?
- How much sulphur is in petrol?
- Does petrol float on water?
- What standard does petrol meet?
All 1,719 questions about petrol
Official guidance: GOV.UK: hazardous waste.