FOUR-STAR Lead Replacement Petrol will start to disappear from forecourts in the autumn, warns AA, which is calling on petrol retailers to give clear advice and help to 500,000 car drivers in the South East who will be affected.

There is concern that the confusion surrounding the phase-out of leaded petrol in 1999 could be repeated. Motorists who use LRP may end up worrying unnecessarily, when, in fact, they can keep their cars on the road relatively easily.

The AA wants 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, AA head of technical policy, said: “Sales of LRP have dropped to around two or three 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 are getting complaints from drivers that LRP has already gone from some garages.

“Retailers owe it to customers to give fair warning and advice when dropping LRP. There was a lot of unnecessary confusion three years ago when leaded petrol was phased out. 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.’’

Cars that use LRP tend to do lower than average annual mileages and are all at least 10 years old, as cars sold in the UK after 1992 had to run on unleaded petrol with the introduction of the catalytic converter. Lead or lead substitutes coat the valves in the engine, saving them. Constant use of ordinary unleaded fuel will eventually cause the coating to wear away, leading to damage to the valves and cylinder head.

The AA believes the removal of LRP from petrol station forecourts will probably start in rural areas where sales volumes are much lower.