LPG - Gas conversion

[Koolvin]

Anyone know who does LPG conversion reasonably good and cheap? would it be cheaper to get it done abroad? (not for my car btw but another I am considering)

 

[andy_k]

if it's a Merc I'd talk to Andy Gayle first - he doesn't recommend the conversion but he'll no doubt be able to tell you why

Andy

 

[guydewdney]

but on the other hand, the early lpg systems are apalling - yes. the newer systems are much much better. I have spoken to a bloke (old chap) who has a CL 420 - like me - and he said that you cannot tell the difference.....

 

[Shude]

Personally I'd not bother getting LPG unless your car is young enough to qualify for a Government grant. The Gov't intend to push LPG tax up to meet normal petrol in the not-too-distant future, if you have to pay for the conversion yourself you'd be upset if the fuel costs the same in a few months time!

 

[GrahamC230K]

If it's the car you mentioned yesterday, run it on proper juice for the full affect!

 

[greg123]

I have spent a long time on the LPG group and I am a trained LPG fitter. LPG is in many respects a far better fuel. It does not contaminate oil, after 20,000 miles your oil will be as clean as it was and because of the lack of contaminants it will not have broken down. One guy has his analysed after 50k and it was still not needing changing. Also it doesn't wash the oil off the bores, the combination of the two virtually eliminates engine wear. Not many people know this. Also it mixes easier and has a higher octane rating, bit like racing fuel. That means more turbo boost or advance/compression can be used. If with the new generation you can use liquid injection you will also get a bit 'charge cooling' effect and increase the power of the engine beyond what it would make on petrol. The old 'carb' systems typically run around 90% the petrol power, but smoother. The downsides are old 'carb' systems not well set up, some tank issues depending on where you intend to put it and also if the government puts the tax up. All in all I'd say LPG is a better fuel, but at the end of the day it's all down to tax. Which is why I'm looking for an E300TD TE to run it on vegetable oil which has a tax reduction. Mail me if you need any more LPG info, don't be put off by uninformed. However prices are way over the top, if you can't get a good price bear in mind how long it will take you to get your money back - the budget might start eroding the savings from now on.

 

[silverarrow]

do not go lpg i had so many problems with mine and it was not cheap no boot space and 23 mpg on gas and 32 on petrol but had problems getting insurance so many companies will not cover it and mechanics were not to keen to work on /service the car yes oil is not contaminated but my cylinder head gasket blew and i was told that lpgs run a lot hotter and this was the cause go diesel cdi 45 mpg as good as gas the government will stop the tax benefit
oh before i forget my fuel pump seized due to lack of use and the fuel was stale and this caused the seals to rot away you must do at least 20 miles on petrol a day i was told .......... we all know 600,000 miles is possible on diesel engines

 

[Simon]

I don't think you can take an LPG vehicle into the Eurotunnel. Could be a problem if you need to go and get some brown bottles.

 

[sym]

I don't think you can take an LPG vehicle into the Eurotunnel. Could be a problem if you need to go and get some brown bottles.

Correct . . and they DO ask just before you are about to drive on.

Think of all the valuable boot space it would take up as well, even if you used an alternative means of crossing the channel

S.

 

[greg123]

All of the above points, bar the tunnel, can be addressed. If you are getting 30% less fuel economy, it means your system is not working! Not that LPG is a bad idea. I had a Fiesta diesel that did 30mpg once. But that doesn't mean Fiesta's are a bad idea. I know several people who achieved better mpg on LPG than petrol, and several who have local stations with LPG at 28ppl or a home tank they fill once a year. Starting on petrol and therefore using the pump etc is also automatic on any good system, many leave the petrol pump running anyhow though I don't really see it's needed. Boot space - ever heard of a full toriodal tank? Underfloor (this is the one I have) goes up to a 96 litre tank. Anyhow if you want a diesel go buy one, bear in mind it's rising in price above petrol which knocks a bit of the economy back and the government has also been talking about 'loading' diesel with a premium. Head gasket blowing is not a side effect of LPG, if it's very badly tuned perhaps. It runs a little hotter, but then can have a charge cool effect if using liquid injection. Certainly a petrol engine will last longer on LPG than anything else ;-) Diesel is a fine way to go though, I'm not knocking it! Or plain petrol if you have the money!

 

[Ian B Walker]

IMHO if it was designed to run on petrol, run it on petrol. Yes I can understand the thinking behind the concept. Cheaper fuel, cleaner air etc but I still prefer the feel of acceleration from a petrol fueled car .

now goes and hides head in corner waiting to be chastised.

 

[Kinky]

Plus remember, as I understand, the government has halved (or more) the rebate for fitting LPG.

Plus there's (alledgedly) a strategy to target LPG pricing in the next few years - as it's not been frozen (the price, not the gas).

I might be wrong - but that's what I was told.

Plus - I think there was a posting similiar to this on PH somewhere. I'll see if I can dig it out.

K

 

[silverarrow]

i know 3 people who had a lpg conversion on a volvo factory fit and they all had problems not sure what but i was told it once something to do with the fuel switch over 2 of them changed to volvo diesel. my dad had lpg in the 1980s with no prolems but on a carb not injection then the government put up the tax typical. you are all correct you can not go on euro star with lpg.rapeseed bio diesel seems the way forward to me many german cars will run on this with no problems not sure about cdi merc engines any body else have an answer to this

 

[jaymanek]

Most of it depends on the fitter aswell, but i would still steer clear. Its not going to be the bargain that everyone thinks it is. Esp when the fitters start charging more.