I’m sure everyone has heard by now about the introduction of E10 petrol across the UK. But how does it affect your vehicle, the environment and most importantly what can you do to help your petrol vehicle keep in good condition!

Current petrol grades in the UK contain up to 5% bioethanol. The new percentage of bioethanol has increased to 10%. It’s estimated that the greener fuel could reduce CO2 emissions by 750,000 tonnes per year. This will help massively to reduce the effect of climate change than at the current rate. It is the equivalent of taking 350,000 cars of todays roads! The E10 blend is already used in other countries such as Belgium, Finland, France and Germany.

However its not all sunshine and roses. There could be as many as 600,000 cars which aren’t compatible with the new grade of petrol due to a number of reasons.

How to check if your vehicle is compatible?

You can check if your vehicle is compatible by using the online fuel checker here. Drivers are advised to contact the manufacturers for their specific vehicle. That is, if there are any questions surrounding which fuel is to be used. If you put E10 fuel in an incompatible car it will still run, you are advised to then fill up with the E5 fuel when you next can. Most petrol stations will have both fuel available however in rural areas you may just get one or the other. If you continue to put E10 in your non-compatible car then over time (especially in classic cars) the seals, plastics and metals will be damaged due to the corrosive properties of bioethanol. E10 is hygroscopic, meaning it absorbs water from the atmosphere. This can lead to condensation and corrosion of the fuel tank if unused for periods of time.

To re-iterate, if you fill up with E10 Fuel and your car isn’t compatible, don’t panic just fill up with E5 when possible!

Performance changes?

Unfortunately those with cars compatible to use E10 fuel may see a decrease in performance too. They may get fewer miles to the gallon due to it containing double the percentage of ethanol. You may see a reduction of around 1%, but it is unlikely to be noticeable in everyday driving. It looks as though those drivers who have no choice but to use super unleaded E5 petrol will be paying through the nose, as it’s averaging around 147p a litre – that’s 12p more expensive than the current UK average for standard unleaded. This will quickly mount up for anyone who has to drive a lot of miles to get to work every week. It’s also probably the case that many of those driving older cars will already be from lower income backgrounds, so they will end up being even worse off.

So what can help your vehicle using E10 fuel?

We sell Liqui Moly E10 fuel additive in the workshop and on the VAG performance website. Additives are like vitamins for your car, they aren’t necessary, but they will improve the vehicles running over time. It is an Ash-free fuel additive for improving combustion and faster acceleration in partial load range. It is specially developed to compensate loss of performance from E10 fuel and improves the vehicle acceleration and smoothness. This product protects against the higher water content in E10 fuel. You can purchase direct here.

Ultimately we all care about the environment and little changes we can make to counteract the rate of climate change, but how does this affect you? What are your thoughts on the E10 fuel?

Read more about the E10 fuel in a blog by Liqui Moly here!

Introduction of E10 petrol across the UK

Back again with a blog on common seat Ibiza issues! The Ibiza’s popularity hasn’t really stopped growing however, its best to know where issues may arise and how to stop them!

We’ll discuss the bigger issues first, starting with the coil packs! Not too much of a costly repair however they can cause a lot of different problems. From the easiest to spot, a rough idle and running to a noticeable lack of power. You may also experience a significant drop in RPM’s whilst accelerating for no apparent reason. As well as the active gas waning light appearing on the dash when the vehicle has plenty of fuel!

Costly issues

The Ibiza is also common for having gearbox issues. Sticking in gears and lots of clunking noises! You’ll find that if your clutch is on its way out, it may be noisy in neutral but quiet when the clutch is pressed. Grinding noises, noisy in acceleration, struggling to get it into gear and a squealing when the clutch pedal is pressed. Generally there are a lot of symptoms to recognise if you think you may have a clutch on its way out! It’s a good excuse to look at upgrading to a RTS clutch kit which you can purchase here: RTS

Slightly more complex is having issues with your ECU. There are a few signs to look out for including, engine stalling or misfiring, Performance issues, car not starting and of course the warning light appearing on the dash. If you do think you may be experiencing some of the above issues, you can get your ECU tested prior to purchasing a new one. Depending on the issue you can get it repaired by companies such as ecutesting.com. However, the first port of call would be to get a diagnostic test carried out to determine the issues so your not changing parts without the knowledge its correct!

Less complex issues

Less complex issues include window regulator issues and door latch problems. New units are generally the only option to fix the issue and they both have very noticeable symptoms. The window would struggle and jump to go up and down if your having issues with the regulator. Issues with the door latch would include the door not staying closed as well as the door not opening on the first try.

So hopefully this has simply lined out some issues with the Seat Ibiza’s and any potential problems! You can get in touch with us on 01642 613852 if you are wanting vehicle inspection/diagnostic test. We carry out a full report on the vehicle which you can also keep for your records!
You can also get in touch via the contact page here: https://www.northeastautotech.com/contact/ or our Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/northeastautotech/

Common seat ibiza issues

Adding a Racingline Carbon Fibre brace?

So this one is specifically for the MQB vehicle owners! (Golf 7 & 7.5 / Leon / Octavia). This may not be a mod you have even seen before, never mind knowing the benefits to your vehicle and overall drive! The Racingline Carbon Fibre Rear Brace reinforces the bodyshell at its weakest point for a more precise and pleasurable drive.

The MQB platform vehicles have a pretty stiff bodyshell. Between the front end suspension the chassis is very rigid however, at the rear the chassis has much more flex. This means that with hard driving the handling of the vehicle is much harder. You can upgrade the suspension underneath and try to strengthen and secure however it won’t affect the flex of the body up top! VW have acknowledged this and the Clubsport  S Golf gets a factory rear brace!

How does it work?

Adding a Racingline carbon fibre brace creates a stronger, stiffer rear body. It solves this issue by locking the crucial hard points together. Despite the added stiffness, this improved handling performance comes without sacrificing any ride quality or introducing any additional noise, vibration, or harshness into the cabin. Solid billet aluminium mounts are used and secured into beautiful, ultra-stiff carbon fibre link bars drastically stiffening the rear of the chassis.

Easy to fit?

All you need to fit the brace is a set of triple square drive sockets! The brace comes in pieces, with instructions on how to put together and fit to the vehicle. That’s another pro of this performance part, you can easily fit it yourself! The clever design means that installation is simple, using existing body mounting points with no drilling and no removal of trim required, and is completely reversible. You can use the brace with the back seats up or down and it doesn’t really take up any boot space!

You can purchase the Racingline Carbon Fibre Rear Body Brace here at our sister company. ‘VAG performance’ You also have the option to pay conveniently with Klarna!

If you have any questions regarding the fitment or whether its for you, pop us a message ‘Here’. We always have someone available and happy to help with any queries.

Thinking of upgrading to a REVO Air intake kit? You’ve come to the right place! We’ll go through the benefits of upgrading and the hardware/software options to go along side. Air intake kits are a complete replacement of the OEM standard already fitted to your vehicle. Initially you may be thinking about having a Stage 2 remap, in which an upgraded intake kit is required. This is because the standard kit cant allow enough air through the engine to allow for the stage 2 power, Therefore it becomes a restriction on power. Upgrading allows the engine to access enough air and reach the turbo as quickly as possible whilst minimising turbulence and restriction.

What does it do?

So as a result of the air being able to travel through the engine effectively, there are many benefits. Boost can be maintained for longer which will give you access to more power through the rev range. You will experience a more aggressive sound, which is why upgrading the Air intake is usually the first port of call for hardware upgrades. You can also gain a lot from just upgrading this one part. They are also not too complex to fit, and usually only take half an hour with a specialist.

Why REVO?

REVO have worked alongside some of the biggest names in the Air Filter industry. Therefore, engineering and designing one of the highest flowing kits available. They carry out extensive testing and use the highest quality materials to enable their products to be top of the market.

Where to buy?

You can purchase the REVO Air Intake Kits through our sister company: VAG-performance. If you require any information on fitment, best software and hardware to go hand in hand, you can email us or fill out the contact form here: Contact

What are the benefits of upgrading to a Superpro Anti Roll bar on your VAG Vehicle?

As most people should know now, we are a Superpro performance dealer. Therefore, any Superpro bushes, anti-roll bars and control arms, you can purchase through us or our sister company ‘VAG Performance’ https://www.vag-performance.co.uk/

We get a lot of enquiries for Superpro upgrades. However, a lot of people don’t actually know how the parts actually benefit your car. To start with lets find out how the anti-roll bars affect your vehicle!

What does it do?

Anti-roll bars or Sway bars help keep the vehicle structure and contact to the road when turning. The Bar will distribute your vehicle’s weight over all four tires to keep your vehicle as flat as possible through a turn. Sway bars improve a car’s handling around turns and corners by controlling the vehicle’s weight transfer, including body roll. By working to keep the wheels on each side of the car as even as possible, they help keep the car more planted and maintain a strong contact patch between the tires and the ground.

Certain vehicle models struggle more with poor traction and road handling therefore would massively benefit from having an upgraded Super pro anti roll bar. The most common vehicles we fit these too are Golf R’s and Audi S3’s. It reduces under steer in quattro vehicles having the upgraded rear anti roll bar fit.

What are the differences?

So what are the differences between stock anti-rollbars and upgraded ones? Aftermarket bars are often solid rather than hollow stock bars, with wider range of adjustment. They are largely beneficial for performance vehicles or vehicles that carry or tow loads. That being said, anyone can benefit from an upgraded Anti-rollbar as it will give an overall better driving experience.

You can contact us here: https://www.northeastautotech.com/contact/ to enquire or get a free no obligation quote.

Upgrading to a Superpro Anti Roll bar?