running a V8, LPG, or second car ? - Page 2

Roger1 · 21st June 2007, 23:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keith

Rossy I would have talked to Bernard here first he is a mine of info and offers good competitive prices for his installations and is obviously an enthusiastic fellow 75 owner

Rumour has it from Philby that post LPG the car actually develops a bit more power as well although he has not dyno tested it yet to verify.

You're dead right Keith. Converted cars often produce more power on LPG, and always more torque. That of course is if the conversion is done using a high quality injection system and is fitted by a fully qualified agent. The old 'closed loop' sytems did not always produce the same results and use more fuel.

Keith · 22nd June 2007, 09:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by rossy

Its the fully sequencial injection, and they rec they can take out the old injectors...fit an adaptor that both the petty and LPG one then fit in to. It means they have to raise the rail but say it actualy looks like an easy job.

That bit of your statement worries me a bit, the way it reads makes it sound like you car is going to be a guniea pig?

Not knowing much about LPG I think I would go to a company that has at least done one before if I could.
How much have they quoted is it a fixed price or just an estimate depending on what they end up having to do?

black olive · 26th June 2007, 09:47

there is currently an X power grey mark 1 with an LPG conversion for sale on pistonheads, in south Lancashire, near me.

Pity I dont have the funds at the moment

gazzab · 10th July 2007, 20:37

Do these engines like LPG conversions? A friend of mine runs a LandRover specialists that deal in servicing and repairing old to new Land Rovers/RRs etc.. He said that LPG ruins engines. Maybe this is just the LR/RR V8s though?

JohnDotCom · 10th July 2007, 21:32

GazzaB. You have to use the Correct mix of Petrol and Gas to stop things getting to Dry.
If run without Petrol then engine would be unlubricated so then yes the Engine would be Damaged.
Our LPG experts will tell you more when they see thread.

Roger1 · 19th July 2007, 01:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by gazzab

Do these engines like LPG conversions? A friend of mine runs a LandRover specialists that deal in servicing and repairing old to new Land Rovers/RRs etc.. He said that LPG ruins engines. Maybe this is just the LR/RR V8s though?

It's a huge overstatement to say that LPG ruins engines. There are many urban myths, mostly spread by people who have had a bad experience with poor installations, and who do not understand the fuel. Like any car, LPG fuelled ones can have problems. The only known major issues are valve seat recession caused by lack of upper cylinder lubrication, and issues connected to inadequate cooling, as LPG fuelled engines run hotter than petrol. An upper cylinder lube system (e.g. Moreys) will solve the lube problem, and so will running the car on petrol from time to time. Most cars don't have a problem with cooling, but if a car had a history of radiator/cooling problems I'd fix that first. There are millions of cars running on LPG worldwide, and increasing numbers on LPG ONLY! So, clearly it does not ruin engines. In some countries (Australia is a good example) most taxis run on LPG and there are many that have covered over 400,000 kilometres without major mechanical work. I personally know of a Toyota van locally that has travelled over a million kilometres and had the head off only twice. No too bad I think!

black olive · 7th August 2007, 21:28

current train of thought is to go for the 260, and see how it goes on petrol.
If Im finding the cost of fuel a pain, Ill go down the LPG route.

the cost, servicing, taxing, MOTing and fixing of a second car can go into the 260 fuel tank, plus it means Ive no excuse not to use the 260 every day.

Ive just got a few things to sort out, and can start looking

Keith · 7th August 2007, 21:51

I used my 260 purely for pleasure or expensed business trips never commuting as I don't think I could justify to myself the fuel costs to do the daily grind

Do consider the frequency of refuelling in daily use though 250 miles on the tank would be typical before needing a fill up, i.e half what the CDT typically does

Ti Rich · 13th August 2007, 17:08

why not tune your diesel?

I still get 43mpg of of my machine even with 171BHP/302lbft torque

Bernard LPG · 13th August 2007, 17:54

I missed this thread while I was on holiday.
The garage/service fraternity don't generally understand anything about LPG therefore they are frightened of it and so hate it and/or blame it for every fault that ever occurs, including tail lamp failure (I am not joking!).
Also there is something about the British psyche that is forever doom and gloom and resistant to change. (We see that more than 50% of the customers locally filling up at the tank are either Polish or Lithuanian)
I have run 190,000 miles on LPG on my old Sterling; the engine has never been touched apart from oil changes and spark plugs.
A commom misunderstanding is that LPG runs hotter than petrol - it cannot as it has a lower calorific value. However the spark plugs will appear to run hotter as LPG is a good insulator and the ignition system has to work harder.
It is true that LPG is dry and if the valves/seats are made of lard or chocolate such as used in the Ford Focus, some Honda and Subaru, then there will be valve seat recession a bit earlier than on petrol. With these engines we fit an Australian oiling system which seems to keep the owners happy.
I won't run on any other fuel until there is a viable alternative, I've saved many thousands of pounds over the years. But I am in a position to ensure that my conversion is good and that it s set up correctly.

13th August 2007, 17:08	#19
Ti Rich Gets stuck in Audi A6 TDi 175 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Dudley Posts: 572 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 2 Posts	why not tune your diesel? I still get 43mpg of of my machine even with 171BHP/302lbft torque __________________ CD(Ti Rich) Audi A6 C7 TDI - zzzzzzzzzzzzzz, so boring!! BMW 330d M-Sport - Gone and missed ZT CDTi, gone but not forgotten!

26th June 2007, 09:47	#13
black olive I really should get out more....... 260 SE vin 214 ( last mark 1 260 ) Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Lancashire Posts: 2,009 Thanks: 1 Thanked 8 Times in 4 Posts	there is currently an X power grey mark 1 with an LPG conversion for sale on pistonheads, in south Lancashire, near me. Pity I dont have the funds at the moment

10th July 2007, 20:37	#14
gazzab Newbie Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Do these engines like LPG conversions? A friend of mine runs a LandRover specialists that deal in servicing and repairing old to new Land Rovers/RRs etc.. He said that LPG ruins engines. Maybe this is just the LR/RR V8s though?

10th July 2007, 21:32	#15
JohnDotCom * Rover 75 FaceLift Tourer CDTi 170BHP Auto ConnSE 2005 Model Starlight Silver Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Abergele Posts: 28,735 Thanks: 0 Thanked 6 Times in 5 Posts	GazzaB. You have to use the Correct mix of Petrol and Gas to stop things getting to Dry. If run without Petrol then engine would be unlubricated so then yes the Engine would be Damaged. Our LPG experts will tell you more when they see thread.

7th August 2007, 21:28	#17
black olive I really should get out more....... 260 SE vin 214 ( last mark 1 260 ) Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Lancashire Posts: 2,009 Thanks: 1 Thanked 8 Times in 4 Posts	current train of thought is to go for the 260, and see how it goes on petrol. If Im finding the cost of fuel a pain, Ill go down the LPG route. the cost, servicing, taxing, MOTing and fixing of a second car can go into the 260 fuel tank, plus it means Ive no excuse not to use the 260 every day. Ive just got a few things to sort out, and can start looking

7th August 2007, 21:51	#18
Keith This is my second home ZT400 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Ellesmere Posts: 5,948 Thanks: 0 Thanked 43 Times in 29 Posts	I used my 260 purely for pleasure or expensed business trips never commuting as I don't think I could justify to myself the fuel costs to do the daily grind Do consider the frequency of refuelling in daily use though 250 miles on the tank would be typical before needing a fill up, i.e half what the CDT typically does

13th August 2007, 17:54	#20
Bernard LPG I really should get out more....... 75 V6 Saloon 2003 LPG MGZT V8 260 LPG Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Evesham Posts: 2,134 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	I missed this thread while I was on holiday. The garage/service fraternity don't generally understand anything about LPG therefore they are frightened of it and so hate it and/or blame it for every fault that ever occurs, including tail lamp failure (I am not joking!). Also there is something about the British psyche that is forever doom and gloom and resistant to change. (We see that more than 50% of the customers locally filling up at the tank are either Polish or Lithuanian) I have run 190,000 miles on LPG on my old Sterling; the engine has never been touched apart from oil changes and spark plugs. A commom misunderstanding is that LPG runs hotter than petrol - it cannot as it has a lower calorific value. However the spark plugs will appear to run hotter as LPG is a good insulator and the ignition system has to work harder. It is true that LPG is dry and if the valves/seats are made of lard or chocolate such as used in the Ford Focus, some Honda and Subaru, then there will be valve seat recession a bit earlier than on petrol. With these engines we fit an Australian oiling system which seems to keep the owners happy. I won't run on any other fuel until there is a viable alternative, I've saved many thousands of pounds over the years. But I am in a position to ensure that my conversion is good and that it s set up correctly.