LPG - Worth it?

James_N · 18 Jun 2008 at 16:34

Hi

Debating having my volvo 740 converted to LPG. I can buy a kit for around £550 and I have a good work colleague who can fit it for me for a few quid and a few beers.

The cost of the conversion would be the same as filling up 10 times with petrol. I get 220 odd miles to a tank, and do about 12k miles a year.

Theres quite a few LPG stations in the area that sell LPG for around 55p a litre, thats less than half price of petrol.

James_N · 18 Jun 2008 at 16:38

Janesy B said:
I'd get it fitted properly by a garage who do conversions IMO. You can get grants to have conversions done and insurance companies often like to see the little certificate you get when its done properly.

I'd get it fitted then just get it tested by a garage once its been fitted. This costs about £80-£90 i think.

James_N · 18 Jun 2008 at 16:45

[TW]Fox;11915561 said:
It would surely be better to do it to a newer car, not a car which is a writeoff if it fails its MOT for a broken headlight glass, then you'll get more use out of it?

I have my reasons for wanting to keep it, those being:

- Its always flown through its MOT with no problems
- parts and servicing are seriously cheap, so if something does break, it costs peanuts to repair. Ive got a garage full of spares like lights etc.
- Nothing electric in the engine bay to go wrong, not even an ECU!
- If it does terminally break, my work mate will take the LPG kit out and fit it to another car if i do buy one, but i'll be keeping this volvo for the forseeable future.

/edit - What im trying to say, is that your right fox, but for the money i paid for the car in the first place, and the fact that its been amazingly reliable, and so cheap to fix, id rather keep it. Better the devil you know and all that

James_N · 18 Jun 2008 at 17:01

Clarkey said:
half the price of petrol but is the consumption not much considerably worse?

From what ive read, consumption on LPG is a little worse, but its half price.

As for not being allowed on the channel tunnel, I dont care as i always take the ferry anyway

James_N · 18 Jun 2008 at 17:03

taske said:
I assume for £550 the kit is a single point closed loop (no lambda sensor and only 1 entry either under the carp or on the air intake)?

You also have the added bonus of knowing you'll never fail an MOT on emissions assuming you present the car running on LPG.

I guess so. Id be buying the kit from here: http://www.lpg-kits.com/volvo.htm

James_N · 18 Jun 2008 at 17:12

taske said:
Which engine do you have?

2.3i K-jetronic ---- non lambda engine

James_N · 18 Jun 2008 at 19:01

[TW]Fox;11915915 said:
I dont understand why you still drive the Volvo if you've got a Honda Civic. And if you prefer the Volvo why did you spend £11k on a Honda Civic to just park it on the drive?

Im selling it. Yes i know im an arse. I wanted a quick speed fix, but this time, once its sold, its staying that way! I dont need any lecturers on what an idiot ive been

I guess i just get bored quickly.

James_N · 18 Jun 2008 at 19:29

david.n.c said:
no its not worth it

Why?

James_N · 18 Jun 2008 at 20:02

BigglesPiP said:
Depends on the quality of the conversion and car you start with.

It could well be tuned to have more power, but the good ones aim for no noticeable difference.

From what ive read on various forums and web pages, normally there is no noticeable difference, but my car isnt a rocket ship to start with, so i doubt id notice any difference.