An industry report indicates that an large number of motorists are filling up with the wrong fuel, particularly when it comes to Lead Replacement Petrol (LRP), commonly known as Super.

BP Fuels services manager Tebogo Mekoa says even though less than 2.5 percent of cars in South Africa require LRP, about 32 percent of motorists still use the fuel.

This, he believes, is because of the many misconceptions that still exist around LRP.

"Many still believe LRP is cheaper than unleaded petrol and that it allows their cars to perform better, which simply isn't true.

"LRP costs the same as unleaded petrol, so there is no cost saving when purchasing LRP. Also, since the abolition of leaded petrol in SA in 2006, no further research and development has been invested in LRP. R&D budgets have largely been spent on unleaded petrol to benefit the existing car park."

Most engines manufactured in the early 90s can use unleaded petrol without any modification and actually show improved performance when using unleaded petrol.

Taxi mini-buses manufactured after 1996 are also meant to use unleaded petrol. By using LRP it can actually cause damage to catalytic converters fitted to these vehicles. Both the Toyota Hi-Ace and newer Quantum mini-buses have been designed to run on unleaded petrol. Switching to unleaded petrol will not only improve performance, but will also prolong the life of fuel related components of these vehicles.

Even though there is no legislation that requires South African service stations to sell LRP, BP says it will be phasing out LRP over the next few months. The phase-out programme also will make additional pumps available for more advanced fuels to meet growing demand as a result of the increase in new generation cars.

"It is vital to educate motorists and debunk the many myths surrounding LRP, and BP’s awareness campaign will focus on empowering motorists with relevant facts that will not only save them money in the long run, but also go a long way in saving the environment," says Mekoa.

To find out which fuel is best for your car consult the National Association of Automobile Manufactures of South Africa’s website, www.naamsa.co.za to view recommendations by motor manufacturers related to specific vehicles.