Petrol to gas converting in Northern Ireland

threedee

I'm thinking on getting a cheap petrol car as a runaround and converting it to run on gas. Any ideas where i should call to get that done (Northern Ireland, Armagh/Dungannon/Cookstown area preferably) ? What sort of equipment is there ? Any forums out there that deal with the subject ?

Thanks.

computershack

The maths doesn't always work out in favour of doing it and the usual advice is unless you have a gas guzzler and plan on keeping the car a couple of years or do high mileage, there's little to no saving. I'd certainly not bother doing it on a cheap runaround I planned on only keeping 12-18 months.

I'll illustrate over 10,000 miles for a car doing 40MPG on petrol and 37MPG on LPG (they do lower MPG on LPG), assuming £1/l for petrol and 60p/l for LPG and rounding values to the nearest £1

Petrol:
250 gallons or 1136.5 litres. Cost = £1137

LPG:
270 gallons or 1128.6 litres. Cost = £737 PLUS £1000 conversion = £1737 or £600 more than normal petrol.

So for the first 10,000 miles, LPG is £600 more expensive.
As the difference in the actual fuel is £399 saving over 10,000 miles then taking into account the initial installation cost:
For the first 20,000 miles, LPG is £201 more expensive.
For the first 30,000 miles, you make a saving of £198.
The break even point is 25,000 miles approximately.

So, for a car doing 40MPG on petrol and 37MPG on LPG with a conversion cost of £1000, it takes you 30,000 miles in order to save yourself £198 over not doing the conversion at all. For every £400 above £1000 it costs you to install it, that adds on another 10,000 miles before you break even. So unless you've a gas guzzler doing 20MPG (you'll reach break even in a year/12500 miles) or you plan to keep the car 5 years or more, there's basically no point doing it because doing average mileage, over the first three years you'll save yourself the equivalent of £1.26 a week, assuming you can get it installed for £1000.

Mcfi5dhc

computershack wrote: »

The maths doesn't always work out... assuming £1/l for petrol and 60p/l for LPG and rounding values to the nearest £1
LPG: 270 gallons or 1128.6 litres. Cost = £737

Too right, your maths doesn't work out!

1128.6 litres x 60p a litre is £677 to the nearest pound!

Also, your figures are a little bit, well how can I put it politely, skewed, in favour of petrol. Using a low price for petrol (£1.00) is fair enough if you used a low price for LPG, but you've used a ridicously high amount.

103.9p / 49.9p are todays prices by me (north wales). LPG has been 49.9 for ages round here - certainly no higher than 52.9.



In my experience (my MG was converted nearly two years ago), LPG is priced in four tiers:

• Motorway service stations - roughly 55-65p
• "Normal" petrol stations (including supermarkets) - roughly 42-52p
• Farmers, small independants, LPG convertors - roughly 35-45p (though it can be total crap - equally it can be fine)
• In the sticks stations (where petrol is about 120-130 already) - roughly 65-85p

These prices are todays prices, i.e. before the VAT increase, or any other dramatic changes.

Northern Ireland prices may be higher, but have a look around. A good rule of thumb is that LPG in a decent place is half the cost of petrol (or slightly less)


That said, I would only convert a car to LPG if i was keeping it for a while - a year or so to pay it back, then another year at least to start saving. Never ever convert a car that already has a mechanical problem too. Don't worry about performance - my MG is 0 to illegal in less than 10 seconds, which is fine for me. 320 miles on a full tank (anywhere between £22 and £25), and can still fit a large pushchair in the boot - I have the tank where the spare wheel used to be.

computershack

Mcfi5dhc wrote: »

Also, your figures are a little bit, well how can I put it politely, skewed, in favour of petrol. Using a low price for petrol (£1.00) is fair enough if you used a low price for LPG, but you've used a ridicously high amount.

No I haven't. I've used the average pump price for where I live over the last 12 months. LPG has remained static at 59.9p/l

Yes LPG is just over half the cost but only once you've recouperated the installation charge, dumbass. Until then, its more expensive.

threedee

No "dumbasses" please, be polite.

I'll be converting to LPG but not in this country due to its extortionate prices for doing it (Done some research).

What type size of (sane) engines benefit LPG more ? I'm thinking something 1.6-2.0. I dont think there is much need messing about with wheezy 1.1-1.3 l's... ???

Also i have to consider insurance. How do they look at all this LPG business ? Wont they class me as a gas canister on wheels ready for suicide ramming first obstacle on the road ??

Can i run a car on butane only ? (have acces to loads of this stuff)..

Mcfi5dhc

Threedee - my car is a 1.8. Basically, just choose a car your happy with on petrol - it'll drive the same with LPG. So, if you don't like a one litre now, you won't with LPG.

Insurance is easy peasy PROVIDED it is LPGA approved. I can't emphasise that enough. Even though they don't ask for a photocopy of the certificate, they do ask if it is LPGA fitted. If its not, well I wouldn't know, but I can imagine you could either forget about it, or pay through the roof. So, having it done in Eire, or another country may not pay in the long run. About 1/3 of all companies will not insure you though anyway, just because your car has been modified - theres nothing you can do about them.

I've had insurance with Swift and AA since converting, no issues, no extra premium.

The butane idea - I have no idea or opinion on this, maybe do some more research on it. The locals pumps I use all have "Danger - Propane" on them.

M

rev_henry

My dad's old car was LPG converted and he just rang up swiftcover and told them, and they were fine. Be aware that LPG cars are banned on the Channel Tunnel, for some reason.