Citroëns and unleaded fuel

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An European Directive made it illegal to sell leaded fuel anywhere within the European Union after 1 January 2000 although lead replacement fuel is available.

From the middle of 1999, leaded fuel will be phased out. However a derogation permits up to 0,5% of total sales to contain lead but this will not be available on forecourts but will only be sold to specialist groups in bulk form.

In preparation for this, the major oil companies are working on the formulation for a new, anti valve seat recession additive, either potassium, sodium or phosphorous. This may be sold as a lead free replacement fuel or as an additive to be added to unleaded fuel. Either way, there will be an alternative available for those cars that need leaded fuel. The BSI has almost completed work on the new specification which is all but identical to leaded fuel but without the lead. It would appear that similar products will be sold in other EU Member States.

Why is lead added to petrol?
Lead is added to petrol to increase its octane rating; in simple terms it could be called an improver. This means that more high-grade petrol can be produced from a given quantity of crude oil than would otherwise have been the case. Modern refining technology and alternative "improvers" now allow similar quantities to be produced without the use of lead and at similar costs.

What is the problem with lead in petrol?
Lead is a poison. There is no safe level of lead in the human body. Emissions from vehicles running on leaded petrol are absorbed directly into the body and indirectly through the food chain. High levels of lead have been linked with brain damage in young people.

What happens if I run an older car which is only suitable for leaded petrol on unleaded fuel?
Valve seat wear will increase and eventually the cylinder head and valves will need major work.

So what can I do?
You can change your valve seats for hardened ones and, with suitable ignition timing adjustment, run your car on unleaded fuel. Alternatively, you can use one of the potassium/sodium or phosphorous additives mentioned above.

Can I fit a catalytic convertor?
A catalytic convertor may only be fitted to a vehicle with an appropriate engine management system.

You should contact your local Citroën specialist for further advice.

No responsibility is accepted for the accuaracy of the following information.

MODEL	ENGINE CC	MODEL YEAR	MODEL SERIES	ENGINE TYPE	FUEL CODE	STD IGNITION ADVANCE Degree at RPM	RESET TO
AX 10 E AX 10 RE AX 10 E Van	954	1987 on	ZA ZA ZH ZA ZE	C1A	E
AX 11 RE AX 11 TRE	1 124	1987 on	ZA ZB ZJ	H1A	E
AX 14 TRS, AX 14 TZS AX GT	1 360	1987 & 1988 1989 on 1988 on	ZA ZC, ZK ZA ZC, ZK ZA ZD	K1A K1G K2A	R R R	8 at 750 8 at 750 8 at 750	4 at 750 4 at 750 4 at 750
BX BX 14 E BX 14 RE	1 360 1 360	1984 to 1988 1984 to 1988 1989 on	XB XA XB XD XB ER	150 A 150 C K1G	L L R	8 at 750	4 at 750
BX 16 RE BX 16 RS, TRS BX 16 RS, TRS BX 16 RS Estate BX 16 RS, TRS BX 16 RS Estate	1 580	1987 on 1984 1985 to 1988 1986 to 1988 1989 on 1989 on	XB EE XB XB XB XB XB XE XB XB XB XE	B1A/A 171 B 171 C 171 C B2C B2C	R R R R E E	10 at 700 10 at 850 10 at 850 10 at 850	6 at 700 8 at 850 8 at 850 8 at 850
BX 19 GT/Digit BX 19 TRS BX 19 TRS Estate BX 19 GTi BX 19 TRi Estate BX GTi16V, BX 16 Valve	1 905	1985 & 1986 1987 on 1987 on 1987 on 1988 on 1987 on	XB XG XB XG XB XH XB EG XB EH XB EJ	159 A D2A D2A D6A D6A D6C	R R R R R L	10 at 850 10 at 850 10 at 850 5 at 900 5 at 900	8 at 850 7 at 850 7 at 850 2 at 900 2 at 900
CX 2000 Saloon CX 2000 Estate	1 985	1978 & 1979 1978 & 1979	MA MB MA MD	M20/616 M20/616	E E
CX 2000 Reflex, Athena CX 2000 Reflex Estate CX 20 Saloon CX 20 Estate CX 20 RE Saloon CX 20 RE Estate	1 995	1980 to 1982 1980 to 1982 1983 to 1986 1983 to 1986 1987 on 1987 on	MA MP MA MR MA MP MA MR MA MP MA MR	829A500 829A500 829A5 829A5 J6RA500 J6RA500	E E E E E E
CX 22 TRS Saloon CX 22 RS Estate	2 165	1986 on 1988 on	MA NR MA NS	J6TA500 J6TA500	E E
CX 2400 Saloon & GTi CX Injection Prestige CX 2400 Injection & GTi CX 2400 Injection Prestige CX 2400 GTi CX 2400 Injection Prestige	2 347	1978 to 1980 1978 to 1980 1981 to 1983 1981 to 1983 1982 & 1983 1982 & 1983	MA ME MA ML MA MT MA MV MA NA MA NE	M23/622 M23/622 M23/622 M23/622 M23/622 M23/622	E E E E E E
CX 2400 Estate CX 2400 Saloon CX Prestige CX 2400/Reflex 2,4 Estate	2 347	1978 to 1980 1978 to 1980 1978 to 1980 1981 to 1983	MA MF MA MJ MA MK MA MW	M23/623 M23/623 M23/623 M23/639	E E E E
CX 25 Pallas, GTi CX 25 Prestige CX 25 Estates	2 500	1984 on 1984 on 1984 on	MA NG MA NH MA NJ	M25/659 M25/659 M25/659	E E E
CX 25 GTi Turbo CX 25 GTi Turbo 2 CX 25 Prestige Turbo	2 500	1985 and 1986 1987 on 1987 on	MA NK MA NK MA NP	M25/662 M25/666 M25/666	E E E
2 CV 6 2 CV 6	602 602	1978 to 1984 1985 on	AZ KA AZ KA	A06/635 A06/635 from engine # 0906015012 on	L E
Dyane 6	602	1978 to 1983	AY CB	AM2	L
LNA 11 E, 11 RE	1 124	1983 to 1986	RB RG	109-5F	L
Visa Club, Special Visa II Club, Special Visa Club, Special	652 652 652	1979 to 1981 1982 1983 to 1985	VD VA VD VJ VD VF	V06/630 V06/630 V06/644	L L E
Visa 10 E	954	1987 and 1988	VD PC	108C	E
Visa Super, Super E Visa II Super E, Visa II L Visa Super E, Visa L Visa 11 E, 11 RE	1 124	1979 to 1981 1982 1983 1984 to 1987	VD VB VD VG VD VG VD VG	109-5 109-5E 109-5F 109-5F	L L L L
Visa Super X Visa II Super X	1 219	1981 1982	VD VE VD VH/VL	129-5 129-5E	L L
Visa GT Visa GT Visa 14 TRS	1 360 1 360 1 360	1983 to 1985 1986 1985 and 1986	VD VS VD VS VD PE	150 B 150 B 150 D	L E R	8 at 700	5 at 700
Visa GTi Visa GTi	1 360	1985 to 1986 1987	VD PD VD PD	180 A B6D	R R	30 at 3000 30 at 3000	27 at 3000 27 at 3000
GS and GSA Saloons and Estates Special, Club, Pallas, X, X1, X2 and X3	1 130	1978 to 1980 1981 to 1983	GX GA/GE GX YA/YE	G11/931 G11/631	E E
	1 220	1978 to 1980 1978 to 1980 1978	GX GB GX GC GX GH	G12/611 or /612 G12/611 or /612 G12/619	E E E
	1 299	1980 1980 and 1981 1980 and 1981 1980 and 1981 1980 and 1981 1982 to 1986 1982 to 1986 1982 to 1986 1982 and 1983	GX GL GX YL GX YR GX YS GX YV GX YL GX YR GX YS GX YV	G13/625 G13/625 G13/625 G13/625 G13/625 G13/646 G13/646 G13/646 G13/646	E E E E E E E E E
C 15 E Van C 15 E Super Van C 15 E Van C 15 E Super Van	1 124 1 360 1 124 1 360	1985 to 1988 1987 and 1988 1989 on 1989 on	VD PA VD PJ VD PX VD SA	109 K 150 D H1A K1G	E R E R	8 at 700 8 at 750	5 at 700 4 at 750
C 25 E 1000 C 25 E 1000 C 25 E 1400/1500 C 25 E 1800 C 25 E 1800	1 796 1 971 1 971 1 971 1 971	1987 and 1988 1989 on 1987 on 1988 1989 on	280A10 280A20 280B20 280J30 280J30	169 B 170 B 170 B 170 C 170 C from engine # 1ACUF001602	E E E R E	10 at 700	6 at 700

UK models from 1978 onwards