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Thursday 20 April 2017

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AA warns over lead replacement fuel

The supply of 4-star lead replacement petrol (LRP), which is vital for older cars, is expected to be discontinued soon, the AA warned today.

It was crucial that petrol retailers gave "clear advice and help" to the owners of the 1.5 million cars that would be affected, the AA said. Among cars that need LRP are the pre-1989 Mini and the pre-1989 Metro.

The AA is worried that the confusion which greeted the phasing out of ordinary leaded petrol in 1999 may be repeated, and that the owners of cars that run on the fuel could end up being worried unnecessarily. In fact, they will be able to keep their cars on the road relatively easily, the AA said.

The motoring organisation is calling on the petrol industry to display warnings to customers of their intention to withdraw LRP from individual forecourts at least one month in advance, and to provide leaflets advising of the alternatives available.

John Stubbs, head of technical policy at the AA, said: "Sales of LRP have dropped to about 2-3 per cent of all car fuel sales. This means that retailers now want to switch to fuels that sell at a greater volume. "In fact, we're getting complaints from drivers that LRP has gone from some garages already. We feel that retailers owe it to their customers to give fair warning and advice when dropping LRP. Owners must not get the impression that to keep their cars going this time will cost them a lot of money, or worse, that they will have to scrap them."

The AA said owners of cars that must use LRP have three options:

  • Dose ordinary unleaded fuel with a bottled lead replacement additive. This is available from motor accessory shops and filling stations.
  • Switch to unleaded as it could take many thousands of miles for the lead coating which lubricates the valves to wear off. This will be the best option for those who expect to scrap their car within one or two years, or who do a very low annual mileage.
  • Modify the engine to run on unleaded petrol. This is quite feasible for most cars, and many classic cars which people intend to keep have already had this work done. The cost might range from £50 for some cars that only need to have the timing reset, up to several hundred pounds to have new valves and hardened valve seats fitted.

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