Finding less expensive alternatives to noble metals catalysts is vital for implementing catalytic combustion on a wide scale, and lead substituted lanthanum manganites are a promising option. Nanometer particles of La 0.6 Pb 0.4 MnO 3 and La 0.6 Pb 0.4 MnO 3 + 0.2MeO (where Me = Mg or Ca) with perovskite structure were prepared by self-combustion method followed by heat treatment at 1000 o C in air. The effects of excess divalent ions (Ca 2+ and Mg 2+ ) in La 0.6 Pb 0.4 MnO 3 manganite perovskite on the catalyst properties were investigated. The morphological and surface properties are of great importance in the catalyst activity. Structure, specific surface area and grain size were determined using XRD, nitrogen adsorption (BET) and SEM analysis. X-ray diffraction evidenced the crystallinity and the nanosize of the perovskite crystallites. Following Mg or Ca addition to La 0.6 Pb 0.4 MnO 3 , a decrease in the grain size was detected by SEM. Rather large values for specific surface areas were obtained (of about 8 m 2 /g).The perovskite manganite powders have been tested in the catalytic combustion of three diluted gases: acetone/air, ethanol/air and methanol/air. The experimental results revealed that it was possible to start the catalytic combustion of the gases over the surface of the three perovskite at much lower temperatures than catalyst-free combustion