LPG Conversion

scoopy2scoops

Hi,

I'm looking at converting my 1.6L Renualt Megane to LPG

There are a couple of companies on ebay advertising conversions at around £1200 including VAT.

Warrington Autogas and Birmingham Autogas

I do about 15,000 miles a year so i would hope to save at least £600 - £700 in fuel cost.

Does anyone know of a place that will do it cheaper than £1200?

jago25_98

Sorry can't beat that.

But I did hear that the kit itself is about £300 or £400ish.

Self fit is dodgy but the conversion needs to be tested anyway.

scoopy2scoops

thanks.

I'm not to mechanical minded, i think i'll get the experts in.

mjr600

Although LPG is becoming common there are still risks associated with reliability, LPG fitted by the manufacturer I would suggest is the best bet, Volvo, Vauxhall are the most common.

Rather than risk an LPG conversion you may consider swapping the petrol Megane for a diesel. The 1.5Dci Megane at 86 or 106 horsepower is an excellent engine, also used in Nissans and very reliable.

I ran a 1.5dci Megane as a second car for a couple of years, I got 50mpg around town and 65mpg on motorways and A roads. On one trip around the flat Lincolnshire roads it averaged 72mpg over 150 miles !

Remember that before you can start saving by running an LPG car you have to spend upwards of £1000 for fitment. In order to make that money back you need to travel tens of thousands of miles, false economy for a money saver.

For £6000 you can pick a well spec'd, safe, four year old diesel with less than 40k miles and it has a 5 star safety rating.

I would suggest that money put into a used diesel is better spent than on an LPG conversion.

PM me with your postcode, I'll find you one. I'm not in the trade anymore but its hard to get buying cars out of the system !

jago25_98

A thanks from me mjr.

I've been contemplating LPG while I have a little 1.9 Feista diesel van myself. I think that's been enough to help my decision to put LPG aside.

I am on the look out for a bigger van. Vito or Primastar seem to have ok mpg but it's maximum 40mpg instead of 50+ in a smaller vehicle.

My goal is to have somewhere basic I can sleep and live in from here and there on travels, and kit it out as I go along.

Trying to factor in deprecation, increased fuel costs verses savings from bed and breakfasts is not so simple.

It's a tall order as I want something economical, yet not too expensive to cut depreciation and be less to worry about.

mjr600

I was never in the van market but my company runs Vito's and it was a huge mistake. They spend more time back at Derwent Merc being repaired than on the road, constant problems with the engine management system and a design fault with the sliding doors not closing properly. We've gone back to the good old transit, they might not have the three pointed star but they don't break.

vickyj

I can second the diesel thing. I do around 30-35000 miles a year and i have renauld laguna diesel tourer and i have to say it is spectacular. On the motorway i easily get 63 MPG and driving round town still gets me no less than 45mpg and this is with normal supermarket fuel so nothing fancy.