Dual Fuel

[Tan]

What do you guys thinks of having a car converted to run on LPG?

Apparently a dual fuel car will be 100% exempt from the Congestion Tax, oops i mean Charge.

I have been quoted £2000 to convert my SL500, although this is alot of money, the tax will cost £1200 per year. and i could save alot on petrol costs. So would probably recover my money in a year.

Will it effect the performance, reliability or value of the car?

Any views will be much appreciated.

Tan

 

[V12]

Many people will tell you it dosnet effect the performance.

It does!!!!

Ive driven a dozen or so LPG converted cars, normally V8's and they all seem kind-of gutless, especially when hitting kick-down.

Reliability as far as i know will be the same.

Dont know what an LPG car is like selling on.

HTH

 

[paulrstaylor]

You cant use the Eurotunnel with an LPG converted car, because of the high numbers of bad installations.

I have heard stats like 9 out of 10 LPG conversions are dangerously fitted.....

Have a look at the powershift website for a reputable installer, and maybe a contribution toward the costs.

 

[fuzzer]

why not buy a 190 D to run about in and keep the sl500 for the weekends if the fuel is a problem ?

 

[Koolvin]

Originally posted by fuzzer
why not buy a 190 D to run about in and keep the sl500 for the weekends if the fuel is a problem ?

Once you drive a car like that, then it's hard to drive anything else.

 

[Shude]

Originally posted by Tan
Will it effect the performance, reliability or value of the car?

From what I read, the performance difference is barely noticeable on any car with more than about a 2 litre engine.

Reliability is slightly unknown because it's not been around long enough to know for certain, although I have read that it makes your engine run a little hotter, which could cause all kinds of issues after a few years.

Value of the car is also unknown, I don't know if I would buy an aftermarket LPG converted car, if it was a factory installed system from new then I suppose it'd be fine, but now I've heard stories about dodgy aftermarket places I'm not so sure, lets face it LPG is kinda explosive so you're basically driving a bomb. I think value very much depends on the car too of course, some cars go well with LPG (like rep-mobile vectras and mondeos) whereas flagship performance roadsters...?

 

[Mark300SL]

A mate of mine has had a V12 Jag converted - and you dont feel the difference - until you go to fill it up.

There is about a 10-12% difference in power output on LPG because it has a lower calorific value, but it burns in exactly the same way as petrol. Therefore if you have a 180/200 - you will notice a difference. With a 230K and possibly even a 300 it will be a lot less noticable. Once you get out to 3.5-6.0 litres - it will be hard to use the available power anyway, and you would struggle to notice the difference !

LPG also gives fewer MPG than petrol - but again its about 10%. If you do enough miles in a big car, then its worth looking at LPG.

If you do big miles and have to drive into London everyday, etc then I would say go for it !!

BTW - LPG has an octane rating of 110 - so you can screw a load more advance out of the engine and TURBOS are less likely to detonate !

If you intend to drive hard all the time - stick to petrol, if like me you use 100% of your cars performance less than 1% of the time - the LPG is a sensible and economically viable option, - if you are prepared to lose the storage space in the boot/spare wheel well.

My SL is currently using £50-60 a week in petrol, This means that at my present rate of consumption I could save anywhere from £1400 -£1800 this year !! - if I was subject to congestion charging as well - I wouldnt hesitate.

My only concern is that the SL already has a small enough boot, and I like to have a full size spare rather than a tin of tyre weld !!

Mark

Just thought about that - If I didnt have a spare - AA would get me home anyway

 

[Tan]

Thanks Guys,

I still dont know, friends have suggested the second car option, but i couldn'y handle the 4 hours a day that i spend commuting in another car. Plus it would be a waste of money paying for the SL if i only drove it at weekends.

the boot space is an issue that i have to look into. One of my bosses has an slk with some inflatable spare wheel thing that may be an option.

In general the cost of petrol; wasn't my biggest concern, i really object to paying that congestion tax.

However on paper, with the petrol savings, around £100 per month and the tax saving again a £100 a month could save me £2400 a year thus i would break even after 10 months.

I need to find someone that has converted an MB 500, there must be some Chauffers out there.