LPG for me?

Seweryn · 01-07-2014 09:29PM

jca wrote: »

Is there a list of compatible cars anywhere?

Any petrol engined car is compatible. Some are more, some less suitable for the LPG.
I would avoid any car with mechanically controlled fuel injection system (older cars).

jca · 01-07-2014 09:45PM

Seweryn wrote: »

Any petrol engined car is compatible. Some are more, some less suitable for the LPG.
I would avoid any car with mechanically controlled fuel injection system (older cars).

Would my 1.4 TSI be happy on LPG?

Seweryn · 01-07-2014 09:52PM

jca wrote: »

Would my 1.4 TSI be happy on LPG?

It is not the best engine for LPG, a bit more complicated, but can be done with right installation and expertise. This engine would need to work on LPG and petrol at the same time (petrol usage would be 20 to 50% of the "mixture").

There are also cars sold in other countries with that engine and with factory LPG systems from new.

toyotaavensis · 02-07-2014 12:12AM

Seweryn wrote: »

Any petrol engined car is compatible. Some are more, some less suitable for the LPG.
I would avoid any car with mechanically controlled fuel injection system (older cars).

Any petrol car is not really compatible.
This link details cars with issues reported when running on lpg. Some cars have a tendancy to burn valves or valve seats for example. http://www.amrautos.co.uk/database_problem_cars.pdf

You say any car is compatible but then older cars arent. In fact older cars with carburetors are the easiest and cheapest to convert. Some newer cars with direct injection are a bit complicated alright but this just means it is more expensive not impossible by any means.

jca wrote: »

Would my 1.4 TSI be happy on LPG?

Seweryn wrote: »

It is not the best engine for LPG, a bit more complicated, but can be done with right installation and expertise. This engine would need to work on LPG and petrol at the same time (petrol usage would be 20 to 50% of the "mixture").

There are also cars sold in other countries with that engine and with factory LPG systems from new.

I would suggest contacting a good lpg installer as I have my doubts about what is said here. A lot of lads on here have good experience dealing with lpgain in tallaght. Give them a ring and they will give you more details on this.

mundogas · 23-08-2014 01:30PM

+1 for LPGain in Tallaght, got my car done there 2 weeks ago. I went with the Stag 300 Premium and opted to get the valve saver installed also. Installation was all very neat. Its been great, changes from petrol to gas probably within a few hundred meters after startup when cold and more or less straight away when warm.

Ran the first tank to empty which happened while on a motorway, switch back to petrol was not even noticeable apart from the 3 beeps from the dash switch to notify me I had run out.

Range is a bit shorter with the smaller tank and slightly higher mpg figure, but the benefits of what is paid at the pump more than makes up for it.

Insurance company was AXA, no issues at all, just sent in the report issued by LPGain and that was it. So far all been very positive and only sorry didn't do it sooner.....

Beaver1 · 23-08-2014 02:14PM

is there any station on the n7/m7 that sells lpg

mundogas · 23-08-2014 02:29PM

I have been using the map for Ireland on mylpg. Seems to be fairly good for finding stations

jca · 23-08-2014 03:19PM

mundogas wrote: »

+1 for LPGain in Tallaght, got my car done there 2 weeks ago. I went with the Stag 300 Premium and opted to get the valve saver installed also. Installation was all very neat. Its been great, changes from petrol to gas probably within a few hundred meters after startup when cold and more or less straight away when warm.

Ran the first tank to empty which happened while on a motorway, switch back to petrol was not even noticeable apart from the 3 beeps from the dash switch to notify me I had run out.

Range is a bit shorter with the smaller tank and slightly higher mpg figure, but the benefits of what is paid at the pump more than makes up for it.

Insurance company was AXA, no issues at all, just sent in the report issued by LPGain and that was it. So far all been very positive and only sorry didn't do it sooner.....

Could you give figures? How many km to a tank of lpg and how much it cost?

stimpson · 23-08-2014 03:31PM

jca wrote: »

Could you give figures? How many km to a tank of lpg and how much it cost?

This is my fuel consumption for each fill since I got the conversion done. Averages 23mpg (or approx 46mpg petrol equivalent)

I get 200 miles until the red light comes on, so I'd say 250 miles to a full tank.
I'm very close to break even - another €300 to go:

jca · 23-08-2014 04:08PM

stimpson wrote: »

This is my fuel consumption for each fill since I got the conversion done. Averages 23mpg (or approx 46mpg petrol equivalent)

I get 200 miles until the red light comes on, so I'd say 250 miles to a full tank.
I'm very close to break even - another €300 to go:

How miles to the euro?

stimpson · 23-08-2014 04:37PM

15.1c per mile is around 7 miles per euro.

mullingar · 23-08-2014 09:06PM

stimpson wrote: »

This is my fuel consumption for each fill since I got the conversion done. Averages 23mpg (or approx 46mpg petrol equivalent)

Not unless you are buying LPG @ 65c/litre your not getting 46mpg petrol equivalent.

LPG has 15% less energy per litre than petrol, Assuming you do 23mpg on LPG (23mpg * petrol@ €1.50 / LPG @ 0.80/ BTU correction @ 1.15) = 37.5mpg petrol equiv.

When petrol was €1.70, this would give the financial equivalent of 42.5mpg

wonski · 23-08-2014 09:12PM

mullingar wrote: »

Not unless you are buying LPG @ 65c/litre your not getting 46mpg petrol equivalent.

LPG has 15% less energy per litre than petrol, Assuming you do 23mpg on LPG (23mpg * petrol@ €1.50 / LPG @ 0.80/ BTU correction @ 1.15) = 37.5mpg petrol equiv.

When petrol was €1.70, this would give the financial equivalent of 42.5mpg

I assume the 15% correction is already included in his usage as his consumption is 23 mpg of LPG. Or am I missing something?

stimpson · 23-08-2014 09:30PM

wonski wrote: »

I assume the 15% correction is already included in his usage as his consumption is 23 mpg of LPG. Or am I missing something?

Correct. It will do 28-30 on petrol. I'm getting 23 mpg at 77c/l which is approx half the cost of petrol.

mundogas · 23-08-2014 10:50PM

My car is thirsty anyway its a 2.5L turbo, so I've gone from 23mpg on petrol to about 21mpg with LPG on what would be mostly urban driving. Trip tells me that I'm doing 27 on petrol but I never see it when I work it out.

LPG is still new to me but I still reckon I'm saving about 40% on each fill. I'm not including cost of conversion in that obviously. I hope with my mileage that payback will be less than 12 months.

stimpson · 23-08-2014 11:07PM

mundogas wrote: »

My car is thirsty anyway its a 2.5L turbo, so I've gone from 23mpg on petrol to about 21mpg with LPG on what would be mostly urban driving. Trip tells me that I'm doing 27 on petrol but I never see it when I work it out.

LPG is still new to me but I still reckon I'm saving about 40% on each fill. I'm not including cost of conversion in that obviously. I hope with my mileage that payback will be less than 12 months.

40% is a good rule of thumb. You'll make more savings on a thirsty car!

What are you driving mundogas?

mundogas · 23-08-2014 11:12PM

stimpson wrote: »

40% is a good rule of thumb. You'll make more savings on a thirsty car!

What are you driving mundogas?

It's the Volvo s40 t5, your a Volvo also no?

stimpson · 23-08-2014 11:21PM

mundogas wrote: »

It's the Volvo s40 t5, your a Volvo also no?

Indeed it is. The 5 banger is a lovely engine. 2.4t must have plenty of shove even on gas.

mundogas · 23-08-2014 11:32PM

stimpson wrote: »

Indeed it is. The 5 banger is a lovely engine. 2.4t must have plenty of shove even on gas.

I've got the 2.5t, they had changed it from the other volvo models and stuck the same as my one in a couple of fords such as the focus st also. I love it, the 5 banger does have a lovely grumble. But I do kinda think the s60 2.3 and 2,4 t5's versions are possibly a better bet.

jprboy · 26-08-2014 10:29PM

I'm considering converting my 2004 Volvo S40 1.8 Petrol to LPG and have been looking at the various systems available. I do about 20,000 miles per annum.

Does the Prins system have any particular advantages over STAG? The Prins costs more to install.

Do certain injectors have noticeable advantages over others?

Thanks

toyotaavensis · 26-08-2014 10:32PM

With the prins system you will have to go for something like Hana or Klein injectors.
When I was looking at it it seemed that Prins was the best system available. However the stag system is quite good and if the car is suited to the stag system then i think it would be hard to justify the cost. Note not all cars can take the stag system mercedes cant for example.

I suggest you have a chat with LPGain in Tallaght. They have converted a few lads on heres car and all reviews seem good.

Hachiko · 26-08-2014 11:52PM

IMO you need 3+ litres to bother going the LPG route, and in any event in Ireland LPG is probably about as freely available as I

Garth Brooks Tee Shirts.

unkel · 26-08-2014 11:55PM

Perhaps you should read this thread again, Hachiko. This time from the start and a bit more carefully

toyotaavensis · 26-08-2014 11:57PM

Hachiko wrote: »

IMO you need 3+ litres to bother going the LPG route, and in any event in Ireland LPG is probably about as freely available as I Garth Brooks Tee Shirts.

Tell us more about your experience

Hachiko · 27-08-2014 12:19AM

I got a 2.5 litre lexus and see no need to get lpg, if you are really really tight about costs of fuel just get a diesel in the first place. 2 litres or less is a waste of time doing a lpg convert, on a big luxobarge 3+ litres it does make sense but not on anything like a 2litre.

toyotaavensis · 27-08-2014 12:23AM

So you have no experience whatsoever but have appointed yourself an expert. For your information these are the LPG stations in Ireland:
https://maps.google.ie/maps/ms?msid=207499818899985307870.0004cd6cb0fb10d528a6b&msa=0&dg=feature
and many people make significant savings on engines smaller than a three liter. I suggest you learn something about the topic before you come here to tell people of your opinions on the subject. Clearly you dont know your arse from your elbow in LPG terms.

quadrifoglio verde · 27-08-2014 01:20AM

Hachiko wrote: »

I got a 2.5 litre lexus and see no need to get lpg, if you are really really tight about costs of fuel just get a diesel in the first place. 2 litres or less is a waste of time doing a lpg convert, on a big luxobarge 3+ litres it does make sense but not on anything like a 2litre.

It depends more so on your milage. Also some engines are thirstier than others.

Hachiko · 27-08-2014 09:12AM

what is the 'payback' on a lpg install vs the value of the car?

seems a bit ott to me.

Hachiko · 27-08-2014 09:13AM

from that map there seems a few dozen lpg stations in Ireland, good luck with it!

slimjimmc · 27-08-2014 10:41AM

Hachiko wrote: »

from that map there seems a few dozen lpg stations in Ireland, good luck with it!

And that's just fine for a great many of people who live/travel in the vicinity of any one of those stations. According to that map there are 4 stations on or near my frequently travelled routes that I could use if I decided to convert.

LPG for me?

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