LPG for me?

goldenwonder · 15-01-2014 06:05PM

yeah i think it would add about 4/5 km extra on the way to work.as finglas is kinda in between, and also theres coldwinters for 85c.
im used to getting 10l petrol everyday so the 1/2 fill ups a week would be less hassle too.
looking forward to the gimmick aspect too.

stimpson · 15-01-2014 06:12PM

goldenwonder wrote: »

yeah i think it would add about 4/5 km extra on the way to work.as finglas is kinda in between, and also theres coldwinters for 85c.
im used to getting 10l petrol everyday so the 1/2 fill ups a week would be less hassle too.
looking forward to the gimmick aspect too.

LPGain are easy enough to get to. If you come via Charlestown you miss out Finglas village. There is a Polish lad that comes out to do the fill, which is handy in this weather

No problems with the work either - turned it around in a day. Had my 1000km service on Monday - took 15 mins and no problems.

goldenwonder · 15-01-2014 06:43PM

oh you dont do it yourself?
quick service. just a filter change?
is that your only running costs for it?

stimpson · 15-01-2014 07:24PM

There is a 1000km service included in the price. Needs to be done for warranty to be valid. It's not a full service though. Proper LPG service is every 10000 miles. Not sure of the cost of that.

goldenwonder · 15-01-2014 07:36PM

usually with a commitment this big theres some downfalls and bad stories but im not hearing much bad,except for some people have to go out of the way for fill ups.
cant wait now

jca · 15-01-2014 08:22PM

stimpson wrote: »

There is a 1000km service included in the price. Needs to be done for warranty to be valid. It's not a full service though. Proper LPG service is every 10000 miles. Not sure of the cost of that.

What's involved in an lpg service?

stimpson · 15-01-2014 10:02PM

jca wrote: »

What's involved in an lpg service?

In order to keep the LPG system in top condition and to avoid invalidating a warranty, it is strongly recommended that the LPG system is serviced according to the following schedule:
LPG filter change;

Visual inspection of the LPG system;
Check LPG system tuning;
Check LPG reducer and drain if required;
Check condition of all valves and connections for corrosion, damage or leakage.

stimpson · 18-01-2014 05:17PM

On my way down to Limerick this morning and I got a misfire. Luckily I was only at Citywest. I rang Chris in LPGain and he said to bring it over. On the way over she threw a check engine light. I tried her on petrol and there was no difference.

When I got over there he threw it up on the LPG diagnostics and said she was missing on cylinder 2. They whipped out the sparkers and cleaned them up. Refitted them, but no change, so it was probably the coil. I nipped up to Tallaght Auto Parts and got a new coil - €75 with trade discount. Should come with some Vaseline at that price. Got back to LPGain and they had it fitted in 15 mins. Started the car and she was grand. He cleared the fault with the OBDC reader and I was good to go. I asked Chris what I owed him and he said I was grand - just to tell people he does a good job.

I gave the young fella a €20 for a couple of pints and went on my merry way. Limerick will have to wait until tomorrow. For all the stories you hear about dodgy mechanics, it's nice to see someone who's honest and dependable. Car is still under warranty, so I'll see on Monday if Cameron cars will cover the cost of the coil.

goldenwonder · 18-01-2014 05:44PM

You reckon the coil was going. Byway or had it something to do with your conversion?
I've only heard that seals need to be oiled more
Didn't think coil packs were affected by the fuel type

stimpson · 18-01-2014 06:03PM

Coil was going anyway. Nothing to do with the LPG.

wonski · 18-01-2014 06:29PM

stimpson wrote: »

On my way down to Limerick this morning and I got a misfire. Luckily I was only at Citywest. I rang Chris in LPGain and he said to bring it over. On the way over she threw a check engine light. I tried her on petrol and there was no difference.

When I got over there he threw it up on the LPG diagnostics and said she was missing on cylinder 2. They whipped out the sparkers and cleaned them up. Refitted them, but no change, so it was probably the coil. I nipped up to Tallaght Auto Parts and got a new coil - €75 with trade discount. Should come with some Vaseline at that price. Got back to LPGain and they had it fitted in 15 mins. Started the car and she was grand. He cleared the fault with the OBDC reader and I was good to go. I asked Chris what I owed him and he said I was grand - just to tell people he does a good job.

I gave the young fella a €20 got a couple of pints and went on my merry way. Limerick will have to wait until tomorrow. For all the stories you hear about dodgy mechanics, it's nice to see someone who's honest and dependable. Car is still under warranty, so I'll see on Monday if Cameron cars will cover the cost of the coil.

The coil is a consumable part, don't think warranty would cover this tbh. You can ask anyway, you might get lucky twice in one go and not to pay anything (except the 20 euro note and few pints).

blancha · 18-01-2014 07:17PM

stimpson wrote: »

I don't know the difference between the injectors. I have heard that the Hana ones are ones are decent. If you look here, you'll see the price difference between the different brands: http://www.lpgshop.co.uk/lpg-cng-autogas-injectors

And yes, LPGain have 5c off when you have your conversion was done there. I think VVTech on the Naas Road has the same deal for their customers.

Korean Hana injectors are GOOD copy of really best Japanese injectors Keihin, but still only copy. Italian injectors are cheap and when you lucky will work for a year. Same with Italian ECU. Good installer always recommends best one, not cheap one. When installer tell about price of conversion only, it usually means, he only wants money, not to do good job. Think before some " LPG specialist" with 20 years experience bungle his "job"

who_ru · 18-01-2014 07:26PM

stimpson wrote: »

There is a 1000km service included in the price. Needs to be done for warranty to be valid. It's not a full service though. Proper LPG service is every 10000 miles. Not sure of the cost of that.

every 10,000km.

got it done wednesday, 2 new filters, 30 euro, job done. chris and martin in tallaght are excellent.

stimpson · 18-01-2014 07:36PM

blancha wrote: »

Korean Hana injectors are GOOD copy of really best Japanese injectors Keihin, but still only copy. Italian injectors are cheap and when you lucky will work for a year. Same with Italian ECU. Good installer always recommends best one, not cheap one. When installer tell about price of conversion only, it usually means, he only wants money, not to do good job. Think before some " LPG specialist" with 20 years experience bungle his "job"

I was offered the Keihin injectors with the Prinz system. It was a good few quid more expensive, and I didn't expect to see savings above the Stag/Hana system.

I'm not sure why you think he would "bungle his job"

goldenwonder · 18-01-2014 07:37PM

Probably better in th NCT too since it burns cleaner
Probably lowers the emissions in that case

blancha · 18-01-2014 08:08PM

E

stimpson wrote: »

I was offered the Keihin injectors with the Prinz system. It was a good few quid more expensive, and I didn't expect to see savings above the Stag/Hana system.

I'm not sure why you think he would "bungle his job"

LPGain is good I think best in Ireland and people that work there also normal. I don't talk about them.

18-01-2014 09:04PM

I'm still thinking about it for the Prius but with 110k miles I'm not sure I want to invest in it, though it would pay me back in 6 months at 20-25 k miles a year.

I just don't know if it switches back to LPG once it's warmed up.

goldenwonder · 18-01-2014 09:19PM

[Deleted User] wrote: »

I'm still thinking about it for the Prius but with 110k miles I'm not sure I want to invest in it, though it would pay me back in 6 months at 20-25 k miles a year.

I just don't know if it switches back to LPG once it's warmed up.

If it makes you feel better mine has 254k and I'm planning to do mine

18-01-2014 09:31PM

goldenwonder wrote: »

If it makes you feel better mine has 254k and I'm planning to do mine

Cool, what are you driving ?

Tbh it's the hybrid system that I'm not so sure about, because the engine starts and stops a lot I need to be sure it starts on LPG if the engine is warm enough.

I can fill up in Kilcullen on the way home so it's ideal.

I'd get the equivalent of about 80 mpg.

stimpson · 18-01-2014 09:38PM

Deleted User wrote: »

Cool, what are you driving ?

Tbh it's the hybrid system that I'm not so sure about, because the engine starts and stops a lot I need to be sure it starts on LPG if the engine is warm enough.

I can fill up in Kilcullen on the way home so it's ideal.

I'd get the equivalent of about 80 mpg.

It doesn't have to be very warm. Mine switches to LPG before the temp needle even begins to move. I think the coolant needs to be 20 degrees.

18-01-2014 09:49PM

stimpson wrote: »

It doesn't have to be very warm. Mine switches to LPG before the temp needle even begins to move. I think the coolant needs to be 20 degrees.

The Prius warms up very quickly, what I mean by that is it it warms the cat up to the required temp, getting cabin heat is another matter.

I just would like to know if it would switch to LPG after each engine shut off. But I guess the installers would know that.

I might pop into the lads in kilcullen on the way home next week.

stimpson · 18-01-2014 10:09PM

Deleted User wrote: »

The Prius warms up very quickly, what I mean by that is it it warms the cat up to the required temp, getting cabin heat is another matter.

I just would like to know if it would switch to LPG after each engine shut off. But I guess the installers would know that.

I might pop into the lads in kilcullen on the way home next week.

It's not the cat, it's the coolant. I know the mk3 Prius keeps coolant in an insulated container so it can warm the engine quicker between restarts. Not sure about the mk2. But as long as the coolant is 20 degrees it should kick in without issue.

18-01-2014 10:53PM

stimpson wrote: »

It's not the cat, it's the coolant. I know the mk3 Prius keeps coolant in an insulated container so it can warm the engine quicker between restarts. Not sure about the mk2. But as long as the coolant is 20 degrees it should kick in without issue.

One of the reasons the the engine runs is to warm up the cat for emissions reasons.

I think the container or flask was on U.S prius only ? I know the MK II had it in the U.S.

unkel · 18-01-2014 11:05PM

Deleted User wrote: »

it would pay me back in 6 months at 20-25 k miles a year.

I doubt that. At 45MPG (vs 35MPG on LPG), you'll save about €1k per year in fuel.

If you currently use less than 45MPG, then your saving is even smaller...

18-01-2014 11:12PM

unkel wrote: »

I doubt that. At 45MPG (vs 35MPG on LPG), you'll save about €1k per year in fuel.

If you currently use less than 45MPG, then your saving is even smaller...

You won't loose 20% on modern conversions from what I've heard.

I get about 60 mpg not 45.

stimpson · 18-01-2014 11:14PM

Deleted User wrote: »

You won't loose 20% on modern conversions from what I've heard.

I get about 60 mpg not 45.

You don't lose much power, but gas has a lower calorific content, so you'll use 20% more than petrol.

unkel · 18-01-2014 11:26PM

Deleted User wrote: »

You won't loose 20% on modern conversions from what I've heard.

I get about 60 mpg not 45.

At 60MPG and 50MPG on LPG (that's being extremely optimistic on the LPG), you'll save about €900 in fuel per year. That's theoretical. Without ever driving on petrol. And it doesn't take into account LPG servicing, or detours to get LPG, or the extra weight of the LPG installation + fuel you are carrying around

Your case for converting is worse than mine

18-01-2014 11:54PM

stimpson wrote: »

You don't lose much power, but gas has a lower calorific content, so you'll use 20% more than petrol.

I thought it was more like 10% these days ?

18-01-2014 11:59PM

unkel wrote: »

At 60MPG and 50MPG on LPG (that's being extremely optimistic on the LPG), you'll save about €900 in fuel per year. That's theoretical. Without ever driving on petrol. And it doesn't take into account LPG servicing, or detours to get LPG, or the extra weight of the LPG installation + fuel you are carrying around

Your case for converting is worse than mine

I wouldn't have to detour. But a year pay back doesn't sound as good.

50 mpg on lpg works out nearly 80 mpg equivalent though ?

unkel · 19-01-2014 12:21AM

Deleted User wrote: »

50 mpg on lpg works out nearly 80 mpg equivalent though ?

Probably something like that, but perhaps it will benefit you in life to try look at the bigger picture rather than focus on some of the detail

LPG for me?

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