Omega Owners Forum

Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: JamesV6CDX on 03 August 2008, 18:10:41

Title: LPG - (not a technical query)
Post by: JamesV6CDX on 03 August 2008, 18:10:41
I'm a bit stuck about whether or not to LPG the new estate. From a cost perspective it's a no brainer, but

My reasoning is this.

It's an Estate - I often carry 2 dogs and a car full of people and camping gear. So I can't have a tank up against the rear seats.

The only other option is a spare wheel tank - but this will only hold 40 litres, and on a 3.0 this isn't going to give me much of a range! (150 miles)..

Shall I go for it and just put up with regular refills, or - just forget it and run on the jungle juice?  ::)
Title: Re: LPG - (not a technical query)
Post by: Jay w on 03 August 2008, 18:29:25
personally i would shove a cylinder in there and build a box for it, that way you haven't lost the space above it.

If that wasn't feasable then i would go for the spare wheel tank
Title: Re: LPG - (not a technical query)
Post by: tunnie on 03 August 2008, 18:33:26
whole point of the estate is space with the seats down, and massive load capacity.

If i were to do mother tunnies, i would put one in the spare wheel tank. LPG station (although expensive) its just 1/2 mile away.
Title: Re: LPG - (not a technical query)
Post by: HolyCount on 03 August 2008, 18:36:13
With a spare wheel tank you can gas around on the shorter, thirstier, journeys and use the petroleum for the longer hauls -- get the best of both worlds
Title: Re: LPG - (not a technical query)
Post by: Lazydocker on 03 August 2008, 18:49:09
It's a no Brainer James.... Even if you have to fill up at the most expensive motorway services selling LPG you're still quids in  :y :y :y :y
Title: Re: LPG - (not a technical query)
Post by: Kevin Wood on 03 August 2008, 19:15:51
Having run one on LPG for 2 weeks I wouldn't entertain the thought of running a V6 on petrol again. However, it does depend how many miles you do.

Kevin
Title: Re: LPG - (not a technical query)
Post by: Danny on 03 August 2008, 19:40:10
i'd say definate LPG and tolerate the refills!
Title: Re: LPG - (not a technical query)
Post by: Dazzler on 03 August 2008, 19:48:27
Quote
i'd say definate LPG and tolerate the refills!
I agree ;)

I have heard you can raise the floor a little and put in a bigger tank, not sure how true it is :-/
Title: Re: LPG - (not a technical query)
Post by: JamesV6CDX on 03 August 2008, 19:56:07
Quote
Quote
i'd say definate LPG and tolerate the refills!
I agree ;)

I have heard you can raise the floor a little and put in a bigger tank, not sure how true it is :-/

Very true - seen it done on TD's ;)
Title: Re: LPG - (not a technical query)
Post by: Dazzler on 03 August 2008, 19:57:47
Well that sounds to be a good compromise then :)
Title: Re: LPG - (not a technical query)
Post by: JueV6 on 03 August 2008, 19:58:50
Quote
Having run one on LPG for 2 weeks I wouldn't entertain the thought of running a V6 on petrol again. However, it does depend how many miles you do.

Kevin


I agree with kevin, If mine wasn't on LPG i'd have to revert back to 2/3's of an engine :y

It's your choice James, but personally, It's a no brainer question.
Title: Re: LPG - (not a technical query)
Post by: Omegatoy on 03 August 2008, 21:08:42
how about this? remove the petrol tank and put the gas tank in the hole where the fuel tank was, for petrol get an old style mini injection tank which holds about 5 galons and mount it against the rear wing?
anyone who has had a mini will know just how small and unobtrusive they are??
Title: Re: LPG - (not a technical query)
Post by: HolyCount on 03 August 2008, 21:14:07
Quote
how about this? remove the petrol tank and put the gas tank in the hole where the fuel tank was, for petrol get an old style mini injection tank which holds about 5 galons and mount it against the rear wing?
anyone who has had a mini will know just how small and unobtrusive they are??

An interesting switch about  :y
Title: Re: LPG - (not a technical query)
Post by: Lazydocker on 03 August 2008, 21:45:24
Trouble is.... I don't think that's viable in the eyes of COP due to ground clearance... On top of that it would have to be twin tiny tanks to fit the gap and probably no bigger in reality than a full torroidal in the wheel well!!
Title: Re: LPG - (not a technical query)
Post by: HerefordElite on 03 August 2008, 21:45:36
Quote
how about this? remove the petrol tank and put the gas tank in the hole where the fuel tank was, for petrol get an old style mini injection tank which holds about 5 galons and mount it against the rear wing?
anyone who has had a mini will know just how small and unobtrusive they are??

now that sounds like a project for you James :y
Title: Re: LPG - (not a technical query)
Post by: Kevin Wood on 03 August 2008, 22:01:22
Quote
Trouble is.... I don't think that's viable in the eyes of COP due to ground clearance... On top of that it would have to be twin tiny tanks to fit the gap and probably no bigger in reality than a full torroidal in the wheel well!!

Hmm. :-/ I must admit I've wondered about doing similar things. Ground clearance may be an issue, as said. I guess with the petrol tank being 75 litres volume it would yield space for a 60 litre LPG doughnut tank or thereabouts. No better than a spare wheel tank.

However, IIRC, the estate petrol tank is a pretty irregular shape that fits around the spare wheel well, so, unlike the saloon one, its' removal  might not yield useable space.

The other option would be to remove the spare wheel well completely and weld in a flat panel, then remove the petrol tank and make what you can of the remaining space - or replace the wheel well with a much larger "sump" into which you could fit a larger LPG tank thus avoiding issues of ground clearance and exhaust proximity.

I would also want to be 100% sure that LPG is the fuel of choice in the long term and unlikely to be milked by the government before doing anything this permanent to a good car.

Kevin
Title: Re: LPG - (not a technical query)
Post by: Lazydocker on 03 August 2008, 22:05:17
IIRC ground clearance isn't so strict in the COP as long as adequate protection is provided :-/ :-/ :-/ :-/

Anywhoooo.... Sorry for the wandering thread!! Stick the largest full-torroidal in the wheel well and suffer the shorter range... It's not the end of the world, just a little annoying!!! My Rangie only did about 130 miles between fill ups when I first got it and I coped ok :y :y :y
Title: Re: LPG - (not a technical query)
Post by: Jimbob on 03 August 2008, 22:13:31
I am thinking about the same, with a wheel well tank, i know the range isnt great, but should still be a good saving, just have to fill up more often.
Title: Re: LPG - (not a technical query)
Post by: tunnie on 03 August 2008, 22:14:05
it all depends on your millage, 150 mile range for me would be ok, as that would last me almost a week.

But if you do a lot of motorway miles, and would be filling up daily, the larger tanks is the way to go.
Title: Re: LPG - (not a technical query)
Post by: Jimbob on 03 August 2008, 22:18:39
What capacity has Taxi driver got?

Thats a spare wheel, but with 2 inch boot raised iirc?
Title: Re: LPG - (not a technical query)
Post by: Snips on 03 August 2008, 23:45:49
i have the spare wheel tank which holds 41L of LPG. my floor is raised by about an inch...not a great loss of boot space! i get about 200 miles out of a tank. ide rather fill up once or twice on a long journey rather then pay 120p for unleaded
(http://i327.photobucket.com/albums/k444/sn1ps/DSC00255.jpg)