LPG - Details of conversion of a V8 from petrol (ULP) to LPG
1. My vehicle
I have a 2001 AU11 Ford LTD V8 sedan which I had converted to liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) in August 2006.
2. Cost of conversion
Installation took 2 days and cost $2,600. After deducting the government grant of $2,000, the net cost was $600.
3. Background
I prefer a big car due to my height and I like to drive a V8. Soaring petrol prices presented a dilemma – downsize to a smaller car to cut fuel costs or keep paying increasing petrol prices which for me, was very hard to justify, given that I am retired and travel mainly locally in the Sydney area. Converting to LPG offered a possible solution as I could cut fuel costs and keep my V8 LTD and as a bonus, at the same time contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gases.
4. The result
I am extremely happy with the result. I have substantially cut fuel costs with no discernible loss in engine performance. Fortunately the LTD has a large boot, so the 68 litre LPG tank fitted neatly under the back seat sill area without protruding into the open boot area, so I still have a quite adequate boot available. The 68 litre petrol tank is retained which, when coupled with the LPG tank, substantially increases the vehicle’s range.
5. Conversion kit used
A MED vapour LPG kit (Airod) was installed together with a 68 litre Manchester LPG tank. See www.medauto.com.au
6. How it works
I can start the car on LPG or petrol selecting either by the press of a switch – red LED for petrol and yellow LED for LPG. In my case if starting on LPG I have to rev the motor for the LPG to cut in. When the LPG tank is full, 1 yellow and 5 green LEDs glow. As gas is used the number of LEDs diminishes until there is only the yellow LED glowing. When this happens, it’s time to either refill the LPG tank or switch over to petrol.
7. Myths (from my experience and understanding)
i. There are no engine backfires
ii. There is no smell of gas
iii. LPG tanks are quite safe being double skinned steel. Petrol tanks are plastic.
iv. There is no discernible loss of engine performance
v. Filling up is easy and similar to petrol except that you screw the nozzle from the LPG bowser onto the LPG filler, which is located inside the fuel flap beside the existing petrol cap.
vi. I checked with Ford Melbourne and was advised that the extended warranty was not voided (which the dealer told me it would be). The LPG kit or damaged due to LPG naturally is not covered. It is claimed that LPG is actually beneficial for the engine resulting in less engine wear and longer life for spark plugs.
vii. LPG is manufactured during refining of crude oil, or extracted from oil or gas streams as they emerge from the ground; in past years it was wasted.
Contrary to popular belief, diesel produces more greenhouse gas than LPG, it is also more expensive.
8. Downside
Very minor when you get used to it, but …..
i. When starting the car, I have to rev the motor for the LPG to take over from petrol (not a big deal)
ii. It is difficult to know when the LPG is about to run out as there is no accurate fuel gauge visible to the driver (there is one on the tank). If the LPG cuts out while you are driving, the engine “hesitates” momentarily, before automatically switching to petrol. This is a bit of a safety issue, particularly if it happens at a crucial time, such as turning in front of oncoming traffic. A couple of times the car has stalled completely and this is obviously unacceptable. The answer at this point in time is to fill up the LPG tank or switch to petrol when the LPG indicator shows only the yellow LED.
9. Comparison of running costs between LPG and petrol
For interest sake, I have kept accurate records of the cost of LPG and what the cost would have been for unleaded petrol (ULP) based on litres per 100 kilometres travelled both for city and highway driving. I have used the price per litre for ULP at our local servo on the same day as I fill up with LPG. Being a Budget outlet, on average ULP is probably a bit cheaper here than most servos.
Based on my records (remembering my car is a V8), I ascertained that for city running, LPG was approximately 77% as efficient as ULP. Surprisingly, for highway driving, there was virtually no difference between ULP and LPG. For city driving LPG consumption was 22 to 25 litres per 100 kilometres and for highway driving, 13 to 16 litres per 100 kilometres.
In straight dollar terms, 68 litres of LPG at say 50c per litre costs $34.00. For 68 litres of ULP at say $1.20 per litre, the cost is $81.60, resulting in a saving per tank of about $47.60 for highway driving. For city driving at 77% efficiency, the cost difference reduces to $28.83 – still a considerable saving per tank of LPG.
Over about 8,000 kilometres of predominately city plus some highway driving, the saving has been –
i. Straight dollars - $1,250
ii. LPG 77% efficiency - $845
Given the cost of installation was a net $600, the LPG saving has already paid for itself.
(Don’t try and check these calculation as you haven’t got all the figures)
10. Finally
BP issues a card for use at some of its outlets, where 2c per litre discount on LPG can be claimed. Woolworths (Caltex) and Coles (Shell) both offer 4c per litre discount on fuel purchased at participating service stations for minimum spends of $30 at their stores. Coles can be up to 6cper litre. IGA offers 4c per litre discount on groceries on production of a fuel docket irrespective of where the fuel was purchased.
The government grant can be claimed by completing a form and submitting it with proof of payment and a certificate from an accredited LPG installer to any Medicare or Centrelink office or by posting to the LPG Claim Processing Unit GPO Box 1536 Adelaide SA 5001.
The vehicle’s registration papers have to be endorsed by the RTA to say that LPG has been installed. There is no charge for this and no increase in rego fees.
The Insurer of the vehicle should be advised of the installation so the policy can be endorsed - again no cost is involved.
The LPG installer will attach a small red “LPG” sticker to the number plates; probably to alert emergency services should the vehicle be involved in an accident.
11. In retrospect, would I do the same thing again?
Definitely.
I have a 2001 AU11 Ford LTD V8 sedan which I had converted to liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) in August 2006.
2. Cost of conversion
Installation took 2 days and cost $2,600. After deducting the government grant of $2,000, the net cost was $600.
3. Background
I prefer a big car due to my height and I like to drive a V8. Soaring petrol prices presented a dilemma – downsize to a smaller car to cut fuel costs or keep paying increasing petrol prices which for me, was very hard to justify, given that I am retired and travel mainly locally in the Sydney area. Converting to LPG offered a possible solution as I could cut fuel costs and keep my V8 LTD and as a bonus, at the same time contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gases.
4. The result
I am extremely happy with the result. I have substantially cut fuel costs with no discernible loss in engine performance. Fortunately the LTD has a large boot, so the 68 litre LPG tank fitted neatly under the back seat sill area without protruding into the open boot area, so I still have a quite adequate boot available. The 68 litre petrol tank is retained which, when coupled with the LPG tank, substantially increases the vehicle’s range.
5. Conversion kit used
A MED vapour LPG kit (Airod) was installed together with a 68 litre Manchester LPG tank. See www.medauto.com.au
6. How it works
I can start the car on LPG or petrol selecting either by the press of a switch – red LED for petrol and yellow LED for LPG. In my case if starting on LPG I have to rev the motor for the LPG to cut in. When the LPG tank is full, 1 yellow and 5 green LEDs glow. As gas is used the number of LEDs diminishes until there is only the yellow LED glowing. When this happens, it’s time to either refill the LPG tank or switch over to petrol.
7. Myths (from my experience and understanding)
i. There are no engine backfires
ii. There is no smell of gas
iii. LPG tanks are quite safe being double skinned steel. Petrol tanks are plastic.
iv. There is no discernible loss of engine performance
v. Filling up is easy and similar to petrol except that you screw the nozzle from the LPG bowser onto the LPG filler, which is located inside the fuel flap beside the existing petrol cap.
vi. I checked with Ford Melbourne and was advised that the extended warranty was not voided (which the dealer told me it would be). The LPG kit or damaged due to LPG naturally is not covered. It is claimed that LPG is actually beneficial for the engine resulting in less engine wear and longer life for spark plugs.
vii. LPG is manufactured during refining of crude oil, or extracted from oil or gas streams as they emerge from the ground; in past years it was wasted.
Contrary to popular belief, diesel produces more greenhouse gas than LPG, it is also more expensive.
8. Downside
Very minor when you get used to it, but …..
i. When starting the car, I have to rev the motor for the LPG to take over from petrol (not a big deal)
ii. It is difficult to know when the LPG is about to run out as there is no accurate fuel gauge visible to the driver (there is one on the tank). If the LPG cuts out while you are driving, the engine “hesitates” momentarily, before automatically switching to petrol. This is a bit of a safety issue, particularly if it happens at a crucial time, such as turning in front of oncoming traffic. A couple of times the car has stalled completely and this is obviously unacceptable. The answer at this point in time is to fill up the LPG tank or switch to petrol when the LPG indicator shows only the yellow LED.
9. Comparison of running costs between LPG and petrol
For interest sake, I have kept accurate records of the cost of LPG and what the cost would have been for unleaded petrol (ULP) based on litres per 100 kilometres travelled both for city and highway driving. I have used the price per litre for ULP at our local servo on the same day as I fill up with LPG. Being a Budget outlet, on average ULP is probably a bit cheaper here than most servos.
Based on my records (remembering my car is a V8), I ascertained that for city running, LPG was approximately 77% as efficient as ULP. Surprisingly, for highway driving, there was virtually no difference between ULP and LPG. For city driving LPG consumption was 22 to 25 litres per 100 kilometres and for highway driving, 13 to 16 litres per 100 kilometres.
In straight dollar terms, 68 litres of LPG at say 50c per litre costs $34.00. For 68 litres of ULP at say $1.20 per litre, the cost is $81.60, resulting in a saving per tank of about $47.60 for highway driving. For city driving at 77% efficiency, the cost difference reduces to $28.83 – still a considerable saving per tank of LPG.
Over about 8,000 kilometres of predominately city plus some highway driving, the saving has been –
i. Straight dollars - $1,250
ii. LPG 77% efficiency - $845
Given the cost of installation was a net $600, the LPG saving has already paid for itself.
(Don’t try and check these calculation as you haven’t got all the figures)
10. Finally
BP issues a card for use at some of its outlets, where 2c per litre discount on LPG can be claimed. Woolworths (Caltex) and Coles (Shell) both offer 4c per litre discount on fuel purchased at participating service stations for minimum spends of $30 at their stores. Coles can be up to 6cper litre. IGA offers 4c per litre discount on groceries on production of a fuel docket irrespective of where the fuel was purchased.
The government grant can be claimed by completing a form and submitting it with proof of payment and a certificate from an accredited LPG installer to any Medicare or Centrelink office or by posting to the LPG Claim Processing Unit GPO Box 1536 Adelaide SA 5001.
The vehicle’s registration papers have to be endorsed by the RTA to say that LPG has been installed. There is no charge for this and no increase in rego fees.
The Insurer of the vehicle should be advised of the installation so the policy can be endorsed - again no cost is involved.
The LPG installer will attach a small red “LPG” sticker to the number plates; probably to alert emergency services should the vehicle be involved in an accident.
11. In retrospect, would I do the same thing again?
Definitely.
posted by mandrake at 7:27 PM
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The 68 litre petrol tank is retained which, when coupled with the LPG tank.
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