The colour of Australian unleaded petrol is changing to red/orange

The Australian Institute of Petroleum (AIP) advises that petrol manufacturing and importing member companies are currently in the process of changing the industry controlled standard colour (dye) of unleaded petrol (i.e. 91 Research Octane Number grade) from Purple/Bronze to Red/Orange. This colour change will not have any impact on the fuel’s performance or on compliance with federal and state quality standards or other legislation. All petrol sold in Australia is dyed so that it is possible to distinguish between lower octane regular grades and higher octane premium grades. The current colour of unleaded petrol and E10 (regular unleaded petrol with 10% ethanol) is purple or bronze and the colour of premium unleaded petrol is yellow. The colour of unleaded petrol and E10 will change to red or orange starting in October 2012 but there will be a period where both red/orange and purple/bronze coloured petrol will be supplied at the bowser. It is anticipated that by late 2013 all regular unleaded petrol will be red/orange in colour. The colour of premium unleaded will remain unchanged as yellow.