Pros and Cons of an LPG Conversion?

Lizbetty

Hi everyone

We have two cars - a Seat Alhambra and a Berlingo. I currently hate them both.

My Alhambra has an intermittent fault which makes it judder and bump underneath like hell (more often than not) after around 15 minutes at over 45mph (since Halfords put a nice expensive new clutch and flywheel in, but hey ho...) I've lost all confidence in it, and the garage isn't sure what's causing it. It needs a new CV joint but they've said that won't cause the judder, just the knocking when steering. Oh the joys.

My husband's Berlingo is always in the garage. I'm waiting for it to become terminal, I have a feeling it won't be long.

I'm anticipating on our next move when one/both cars go.

My husband does lots of miles - he's self employed and travels the country doing training. I had wondered about whether an LPG conversion might be an idea for him. I hate the idea of him being in a tiny car, with him doing a lot of motorway driving I'd prefer him to be in a higher, sturdy car (he once got taken out by a lorry who didn't see him in his old Fiesta, so I'm a little over cautious about such stuff).

But then we're on a budget and I'm thinking about saving on fuel..

Has anyone any experience of LPG conversions and would you be willing to share notes? I had been mulling the idea of a Dacia over...as they're cheaper to buy and seem quite sturdy vehicles.

Thanks for any advice you can offer, we'd really appreciate it

Lucy

Tobster86

LPG conversions in this country seem to be employed mostly to help justify poorer economy of larger engines. I've known people with them and the results have been very mixed; some absolutely useless and cutting out at every set of traffic lights, others no problems at all.

On the continent (noticed this a lot in Poland) they're quite into LPG conversions on smaller engines which is probably the way to go if economy is the major factor, otherwise I'd just suggest a diesel.

I'm presuming, given your relationship with your current vehicles, you wouldn't be interested in running an even older vehicle on vegetable oil? My 1998 306 returns 45mpg on supermarket vegetable oil (usually ~£1/litre) blended with 10% diesel. Aside from rougher cold starts, it runs exactly the same. The first non-commercial 2500l per year are legally tax free.

forgotmyname

Buying a diesel makes more sense.

If you need a large engined petrol vehicle or want one. And dont want another vehicle for some reason then LPG is an option.
I bought a range rover to play with. MPG didnt matter when i bought it. But then i wanted it for towing duties so the mileage increased. I converted it to LPG.
Gave me saloon car running costs. But V8 pulling power and go anywhere.
100L tank in the boot may not be ideal though.

Why would you spend £1000 - £2000 converting a vehicle when you can but a whole car for that.

£2000 2006 or 2007 diesel mondeo will do 60mpg on a run.

patman99

Lucyeff wrote: »

Hi everyone

We have two cars - a Seat Alhambra and a Berlingo. I currently hate them both.

My Alhambra has an, but hey ho...) I've lost all confidence in it, and the garage isn't sure what's causing it. It needs a new CV joint but they've said that won't cause the judder, just the knocking when steering. Oh the joys.
intermittent fault which makes it judder and bump underneath like hell (more often than not) after around 15 minutes at over 45mph (since Halfords put a nice expensive new clutch and flywheel in
My husband's Berlingo is always in the garage. I'm waiting for it to become terminal, I have a feeling it won't be long.

I have a feeling Halfords need to redo the clutch/flywheel at their expense as they seam to have not done it correctly. Get an independent report and use it to get them to fit it properly, then the problem will disappear.

As for LPG. I bought an old LDV Convoy Hi-Top LWB with a Rover 3.5 V8 engine and LPG conversion. Once it had been properly set up, it ran like a rocket. It was even exempt from the London Congestion Charge (once the mechanic who set the carbs up to run properly on LPG changed the fuel type on the DVLA database).

I was gassing it up at a filling station, when a guy came up and asked me about my thoughts on LPG. He was looking to get his car converted. When I looked, he had a 12 year old motor and when I pointed-out the cost of converting to LPG in this country, he replied 'I will get it done in Holland. As LPG conversions are common over there, the garage simply phones-up their supplier with the make/model of the vehicle and the supplier simply ships them out a ready-made off-the-shelf kit specifically for that car. This keeps the cost down to about 50% of what you would pay over here'.

Since then, with the exception of one car, all of my vehicles have been diesels. I would, however, be more than happy to drive an LPG vehicle again. The only thing to consider is the location of filling stations with LPG re-gassing facilities.

rugbyleague

Had 2 LPG cars Toyota Avensis and a Lexus GS300 both covered 70000 miles on LPG.

Advantages

Cheap......! 50% saving on petrol fuel bill. Payback for the conversion was within months of converting the cars. No noticeable change in performance or increased running costs.

Small disadvantages

Large tank in boot reducing space (I actually had 2 in the Lexus to reduce number of fuel stops).
Time taken to fill up! (twice as long as petrol).

LPG cars are not popular in the UK and I don't know why... My mileage has now reduced so now back on 'normal' fuel.

http://www.boostlpg.co.uk/

This website gives a lot of advice.

Ian

anotherbaldrick

rugbyleague wrote: »

LPG cars are not popular in the UK and I don't know why... My mileage has now reduced so now back on 'normal' fue

Ian

Did it have anything to do with that bloke who got blown out through the windscreen ?
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/3329109/LPG-car-explodes-as-driver-lights-cigarette.html

GolfBravo

Lucyeff wrote: »

Has anyone any experience of LPG conversions and would you be willing to share notes? I had been mulling the idea of a Dacia over...as they're cheaper to buy and seem quite sturdy vehicles.

Dacia? Sturdy? I was just reading the latest issue of AutoBild magazine - Dacia Logan is officially the most unreliable car in Germany, with Dacia Sandero in 9th place. And only 3-star NCAP rating. Dacia is a de-specced cheap and nasty version of Renault cars (same company). Need I say more?

Re: LPG conversion. I think you need to find a particular car that you want first and then find out whether it is LPG "compatible" - there are some particular engines that quickly self destruct with LPG due to higher temperatures (eg. major valve problems), or are unsuitable (direct injection, turbo), while others are trouble free.

Prins Autogas UK have a list of LPG-incompatible engines (Dacia cars are on that list).

HHarry

I happen to have a Berlingo which has factory fitted LPG. I've been very happy with it and, even though I don't do many miles, it has saved me some money.

My thoughts are;

It may be better to buy an already converted car, to avoid the conversion costs. But you run the risk of not knowing how well the conversion was done / system has been serviced.

Conversions are pricey, so be sure you're going to re-coup the cost before splashing out. Don't forget to include servicing & repair costs - a £100 bill will eat up a chunk of the savings made. And really research potential installers.

LPG availability is a bit hit and miss.

HH.

gord115

Tell him to buy an Octavia diesel,if timing belt is changed every 4 years and oil changed every year,they will run forever,ask any minicab driver.

Arfa__

I'm running an LPG Zafira, which I picked up 2nd hand a few years back. This was factory converted from new (Vauxhall employed Milbrook to do the job). As such, I knew would be a decent conversion. Maybe not as good as some of the new (PRINS) kits, but still good.

Pros:
Half price fuel ~70p/ltr at the moment.
Tax discount (about £35/yr).
Congestion charge exception, but this is about to expire (new registrations ceased over a year ago, and existing registrations loose exception end of 2012).

Cons:
Two services. Ideally you need an LPG and normal service each year.
Difficult hunting down LPG garages in rural areas and they're often more expensive (10-20p more per ltr).
Slightly less power when on LPG, but hardly noticeable.
The LPG side is more fussy, so any sensors, plugs or coil pack on the way out will flip the engine back on to petrol.
LPG tank is in place of spare tyre. So a blow out needs a recovery truck.
You do still use a spot of petrol on first start up, so need to fill up with petrol now and again. I find usually once every year or two! :-)

Overall, it's been a good car. It's an older engine, so only does 30mpg, but with half price fuel you're back on par with a more modern car doing 60mpg. So it really boils down to whether you can get a more modern car with decent economy or an older LPG car cheaper, factoring in the maintenance of an older car...

The factory fit Milbrook conversions were done on many Astra G and Zafira A's, some later Astra H's and also on some Ford Focus's. Worth a gander if you spot one. However many second hand LPG cars have done galactic miles, as they were brought for munching miles, to recoup the LPG cost.

TrickyWicky

forgotmyname wrote: »

I bought a range rover to play with. MPG didnt matter when i bought it. But then i wanted it for towing duties so the mileage increased. I converted it to LPG.

I'm just curious, what you say you converted it, do you mean you physically did the work yourself or got a garage to do it?

Reason I ask is that I looked into this a while back and while it's legal to DIY not many places would insure it without it being done by a pro. I'm just curious about yours due the way you worded it.

Cheers