Tell me about: LPG Conversions! :)

The_Dark_Side · 2 Oct 2009 at 22:25

James_N said:
No, but ferries are better anyway

If, by better, you mean slower and less pleasant all round, then I agree with you completely

loki101 · 2 Oct 2009 at 23:11

soo much cheaper tho.

Amoeba · 2 Oct 2009 at 23:40

How easy is it to fill up with LPG? As in, how common are LPG fuelling stations?

James_N · 2 Oct 2009 at 23:41

loki101 said:
soo much cheaper tho.

Very true. depending on times its £28 return dover to dunkirk.

I like ferries. You can chill out, have a coffee, watch the world go by on the deck, then watch as all the muppets crush each other in the rush to get back to their cars as you finish said coffee!

James_N · 2 Oct 2009 at 23:52

Amoeba said:
How easy is it to fill up with LPG? As in, how common are LPG fuelling stations?

It can be a bit fiddly. Where i go in Gailey just outside of cannock, they fill your car for you, but when I have been out and about and filled up at Shell stations, I have always needed the attendant to come and give me a hand, because the majority of LPG pumps just dont work when you press the button!

If you do go abroad, you will need an adapter in order to fill up (about £10)

.:MBK:. · 3 Oct 2009 at 00:11

LPG fuel is generally increasing in availability, big Shells in built up areas tend to have it and more and more motorway services (especially on the M1 atleast) also have it, albeit, depending where you usually fill up, at a higher price. The exception being me where i pay more at my local courtesy of Northern 'Rip-Off' Energy, still hunting for a decent wholesaler.

Dogbreath · 3 Oct 2009 at 11:11

The_Dark_Side said:
As long as the engine is running standard boost, and doesn't have any major design flaws, then I wouldn't see this as an issue. Those pistons give up when the boost is increased, but the higher calorific value of LPG doesn't increase the burn temps anywhere near as much as more turbo boost does.

The point you are missing is that unless you get a (very expensive and uncommon) liquid phase injection system, then the LPG is vaporised prior to injection so it offers almost no cooling to pistons compared to petrol. Many of the vapour injection systems fitted to turbocharged engines switch back to petrol on WOT partly for this reason (and because they often can not supply enough gas at WOT/High RPM to prevent lean out).

One chap had an LPG system fitted to his Fiat Coupe and was forever melting pistons, it's just not a very suitable system for stressed, turbocharged engines unless you go for liquid phase injection.

Also LPG has a lower energy content than petrol, i.e. lower calorific value.

Kitchster_uk · 3 Oct 2009 at 12:01

Ran a BmW 540i on gas, it did 22mpg on petrol and 18mpg on gas. I was happy enough with it and if I had a grand spare I would gas the 728i I am running. Getting economy akin to 40-50mpg just cn't be sniffed at.

Working on £1.5k for a top conversion:

20,000 miles @ 35mpg= 572 gallons, @ £4.60 a gallon = £2628 of fuel.

20,000 miles @ 30mpg= 333 gallons @ £2.25 a gallon = £1500 of fuel

So, you'll be lucking at paying for itself in about 15 months, 2 years I suppose if you get any servicing bills that were unexpected but move that to 25k miles you are paid in a year for a good system.

My experience is that they like to be run on gas a lot and in the winter you have to start on petrol, plus it is good for the car to run on petrol now and then, especially if you fancy a thrash.

.:MBK:. · 3 Oct 2009 at 12:13

aye winter/cold mornings its petrol till its warmed up, over summer though, gas start straight off the bat, hell over most of the summer gas ignition was quicker and smoother than petrol

good thrash i also do on petrol, but thats mostly as atm my LPG system lacks grunt at the top end, no fun going for a thrash if you dont have any power over 5k rpm. great motorway wafting fuel though

OpenToSuggestions · 3 Oct 2009 at 12:13

If LPG was GENUINELY as good as petrol, it would be taxed accordingly

Biohazard · 3 Oct 2009 at 12:38

mglover070588 said:
If LPG was GENUINELY as good as petrol, it would be taxed accordingly

give it time

.:MBK:. · 3 Oct 2009 at 12:40

its tax is steadily increasing, thankfully the simple fact that it requires conversions should hopefully stop it going the way diesel did

OpenToSuggestions · 3 Oct 2009 at 13:22

.:MBK:. said:
its tax is steadily increasing, thankfully the simple fact that it requires conversions should hopefully stop it going the way diesel did

True. A lad I know of has an 10 year old v8 landrover and it runs on that. Drives just like it would if it used petrol, except it has a mod under the bonnet for the LPG and a tank under the boot.

The_Dark_Side · 13 Oct 2009 at 18:52

mglover070588 said:
If LPG was GENUINELY as good as petrol, it would be taxed accordingly

No it wouldn't, nor will it ever be taxed to anywhere near the same degree as petrol for two very good reasons.

1. There's simply not enough of it. LPG is a byproduct, and will never be available in anything resembling the quantity of petrol/diesel.

2. Who would spend £1-£2k converting their car if it meant they were only going to save 10p per litre? Maybe if the Govt would foot the bill for the conversion, or if all manufacturers offered LPG capable cars at no extra cost.