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Subject Topic: Converting to LPG
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18/3/2008 at 11:55am
 Location: Lanarkshire
 Outfit: Elddis Avante 482
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If I convert my Mazda Tribute to LPG will I still be able to tow?  I don't think it should make a difference to the cars ability to do the job but want to be sure.

If anyone uses LPG can you smell it in the car?

Thanks in advance

Valerie



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Cats need forever homes too.


18/3/2008 at 12:15pm
 Location: Whitburn Scotland
 Outfit: 1976 Thomson T-Line Glendale
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Hi Valerie, I had a volvo244 converted to gas in 1979 when it was a fairly new thing on the market, ran it for several years and can't remember there being any problem in loss of power. I used to tow various things with it the biggest being a 30ft long trailer with a boat on it.

I am assuming that the modern converstion is as good if not even better, biggest annoyance back then was the size of the gas tank in the boot, thankfully the volvo had a very big boot so it did not cos me too many problems.

Hopefully a more up to date answer will be along soon.

BTW, it used to cost me 50p per gallon for gas and £2.75 for petrol, consumption was around the same but obviously with petrol it was a lot more expensive.



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Still alive and kicking!


18/3/2008 at 1:40pm
 Location: None Entered
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We had our Freelander converted to LPG and there was no change in performance when towing and no you couldn't smell it in the car. Make sure you go to an apporved fitter and even then try to get a word of mouth recomendation. The one we used initially fitted completley the wrong system to our car! This resulted in us breaking down in a very scary incident with very louds bangs coming from the engine. He also advertised on his website that we would be excempt from the congestion charge which was not true. Unfortunatly only 6 months after the conversion our car got written off by a lorry So we never did get to benefit from the conversion by saving money.


18/3/2008 at 4:45pm
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I tow on LPG in my 2 litre Mercedes 190E. I find it pulls better on LPG than petrol (Probably due to the fuel injection system being 12 years older than the LPG system)

You should not smell it in the car as it should all be sealed from the car. The pipes have a hose around them which is sealed from the car and vented so should anything leak it can only leak to the atmospere.

I question whether there is a saving to be made on LPG anymore though as the forecourt prices of LPG are going up quicker than those of petrol. 3 years ago, LPG was around 30p/litre and Petrol was around 90p. Petrol is now around 15 % dearer, LPG about 100% dearer. It might look like you can recover the conversion cost in X months at todays prices, but within 2 years I expect LPG to be the same price as petrol.

I for one will be going back to diesel when I change my car next.


18/3/2008 at 6:15pm
 Location: Tewkesbury Glos
 Outfit: LDV MAXUS camper
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I ran on LPG for four years but with the hassle off a small tank and getting certificates for the insurance, I replaced the sharan with An A6 Tdi - the running costs are pretty much equal.


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18/3/2008 at 7:27pm
 Location: Criccieth Gwynedd
 Outfit: Buccaneer Commodore
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Hi Klyasmum

We ran our Vauxhall Monterey (re-badged Isuzu Trooper) on LPG for about 8 years - part-exchanged it for a Diesel Kia Sorrento last week.

I had the conversion done by a local LPGA accredited company. I had the petrol tank replaced with a 70L gas tank and smaller (c20L) petrol tank. We towed large caravans all over the UK and continental Europe too. Although I had problems with other parts of the car the LPG system worked well. As I was doing a high mileage at the time I got the £1800 conversion charges back quickly.

I was very pleased with the performance and could not really notice any loss of power compared with petrol. As has already been said the price of LPG does seem to be rising quickly and this is why I decided against going for another conversion, I, also, do considerably lower mileage now too so longer to recoup the conversion costs. It is reasonably widely available in the UK (including some Morrisons Supermarkets and quite a lot of Motorway services) and VERY widely available in France and Italy.

No problems with smelling gas in the car and the system has lots of safety features. If you do go ahead make sure you choose an LPG accredited fitter as most insurance companies now demand to see the LPGA conversion certificate before they will ensure the vehicle. I had to get the system checked and a cert issued retrospectively a couple of years back - the certificates were not issued when we had our conversion done.

LPG was a good system for us and saved us LOT of money on fuel

Best wishes
Tim

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Tim and Cary


31/10/2013 at 11:39am
 Location: Anglesey
 Outfit: Dandy wanted Citroen Berlingo 1.6
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Was it the stag polish system you had fited


31/10/2013 at 1:31pm
 Location: Lincs
 Outfit: Coachman Wanderer 19
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The price of LPG has actually dropped a bit in the last 6 months, you can get it at around 70p a litre in some places!!

Had our Suzuki Vitara converted a few years ago and never looked back. Certainly no smell in the car, and our tank is in the back.

Very small loss of acceleration, but nothing to get in a stress about, runs perfectly.


31/10/2013 at 2:27pm
 Location: Anglesey
 Outfit: Dandy wanted Citroen Berlingo 1.6
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thanks AndyDW
wAS IT the Stag type you fitted


31/10/2013 at 3:07pm
 Location: Rushden Northants
 Outfit: Mercedes 614D Conversion
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Our Discovery 2 V8 is on LPG, we have twin 36litre tanks and have retained the full petrol tank.

We tow 3.5tonnes regularly, the main reason for going with the V8 rather than the TD5, and we have no issues with running on LPG at all.

All of our tanks and pipes are external so there's little chance of getting a smell inside, but for cars it is a bit different, but the installation has to vent any leaked gases out to the outside of the car.

While our original system was fitted in 2005, before we had the car, we have been able to get software updates from the original installer.

Availability of LPG is far better in Europe, especially Holland, but we can get around with no trouble, and we have the full petrol tank capacity as well.

Peter


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31/10/2013 at 3:09pm
 Location: Lincs
 Outfit: Coachman Wanderer 19
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Not sure what you mean by stag type, but ours was an Italian designed item.

It starts on petrol, then automatically switches onto gas after running a short while.

As it is quite an old Suzuki it was only single point injection, consequently needing a venturi body in the intake line between throttle body and air intake.

So, therefore not even the later and more efficient sequential system. Still and all, very very happy with it.

Cost was £1200 in 2009 (think) Wifey was doing a lot of miles so it paid for itself in the first year. Didnt notice any drop in mpg, and with one of the rear seats removed a 60ltr tank gives 330 miles between refills.

Probably done another 30k miles by now and no probs at all, heard all the scare stories about burnt valves and overheating, but no probs here, (think it might be a bit of a fairy tale, the usual urban myth).

Now looking for a small van to pull with the Vitara, fancy an Elddis Whirlwind, or a Coachman 350

Post last edited on 31/10/2013 15:28:52


31/10/2013 at 4:08pm
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Hi campeasytow. If you are in Anglesey there is gasure in Chester. Steve has a good reputation, has been in business doing conversions for many yrs & will ensure the most suitable system is fitted to your car. Worth a phone call anyway.

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Regards, Jack+Jon.


31/10/2013 at 4:13pm
 Location: Anglesey
 Outfit: Dandy wanted Citroen Berlingo 1.6
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thanks Andy again, the vans you are looking for are nice vans.


31/10/2013 at 4:17pm
 Location: Anglesey
 Outfit: Dandy wanted Citroen Berlingo 1.6
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Thanks Jack+jon for info have stored there website in lpg my folder.


31/10/2013 at 4:58pm
 Location: Essex
 Outfit: 1996 Bailey Senator 5000
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I've had many LPG vehicles and most have been converted by myself. Tens of thousands of trouble free miles clocked up and I'm a big fan of LPG. Went for turbo diesel when I changed though due to the awesome torque for pulling.

I do miss a sporty revvy LPG engine though. Oh and the cost savings. My 2.0L primera on LPG was cheaper to run than my Mondeo TDCI.


02/11/2013 at 10:09am
 Location: Anglesey
 Outfit: Dandy wanted Citroen Berlingo 1.6
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Thanks guys, another Q have any of you got the type that you switch from gas to petrol, not the Italian automatic swich over type.



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