Why Unleaded 98 Is Getting Rare At Stations

With the end of the strike movement in refineries and storage centers, the situation clearly improves in the availability of fuels in France. However, difficulties persist, particularly around the big cities, and more precisely in finding gasoline.

In fact, diesel is structurally imported into France, while gasoline is refined on site. Therefore, the blockades of production and storage sites have penalized this fuel above all in recent weeks.

Why are we missing SP98?

Among the essences, it can also be more difficult for a few days to find 98 unleaded gasoline. A punctual shortage that is explained by the priority demand for 95 unleaded gasoline, explains Francis Pousse, president of the station-service and new energies of the Furniture professional union:

“In summary, it is not very complicated to vary the formulation to go from the production of 98 to 95”, he specifies.

Faced with the many stations without gasoline, demand today is logically focused on the most consumed fuel of this type in France.

In 2021, 95 E10 unleaded gasoline (containing up to 10% ethanol) was by far the most consumed gasoline in France with 51.3% of volumes, ahead of 98 unleaded gasoline (22.9 %) and unleaded gasoline 95 (21.8%).

Who shoots 98?

“All cars marketed since 2000 are compatible with the 95 E10 without lead”, recalls Francis Pousse, who recommends changing it, even temporarily.

Aside from collector cars and pre-2000 end-of-life models, cars used to running on 98 can tolerate a change to 95-E10 without mechanical risk. Some motorists opt for the 98 instead to reduce fuel consumption.

“Ethanol has a lower heat output than gasoline, explains Francis Pousse, so running on E85 (between 65 and 89% ethanol) leads to around 15 to 20% overconsumption.”

In the case of 95-E10 without lead, since the ethanol concentration is much lower, there is therefore no particular risk. But if you’re used to the full 98 and the E10 really scares you, you can always fall back on the ‘just’ 95. However, the latter has tended to become more and more rare in recent years in tourist centers.