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[Sixstring]

Ever since my mate bought a massive jag on LPG, he has been waffling on about how cheap it is to run, etc.
Now, i don't find my 3.0V6 elite estate too dear to run, but i'm constantly aware of local garages prices on LPG, and its got me thinking about LPG.
1) because of the large installation cost, is it really worth fitting to an old 99 (T) reg with 140k?
2)what benefits will it really give me?
3)can you get "good" s/h kits, and who fits them?
4)do you always lose the spare wheel?
5)does it affect insurance/mot?
and lastly.........does anybody have one for sale!!

thanks all.

mike.

[tunnie]

worth doing a search, as there are extensive posts on this, but to answer your questions:

1) Yes if you DIY (its around £500-700) No if you go 'proffesional' route and 1.5k bill, often 'proffesional' installs are far from it.

2) Saving money! Reduce your fuel bills 30-40%

3) Stag Kit is used here on V6, works well. Fitting? One of the very few fitters which have done a good job is Entwoods install, drop him a PM.

4) No, either have a 80/90/100L torpedo tank and loose 40% of your boot, and ability to put things through into the cabin. Spare wheel tank saves space, keeps practicality but range becomes an issue as only 55L (200 miles)

5) Not really, often no change in premium

6) Check forsale section, there is 3.2 Ex-police one going at moment

[Kevin Wood]

1) because of the large installation cost, is it really worth fitting to an old 99 (T) reg with 140k?

Depends how many miles you are doing and how much the conversion will cost as opposed to how long you'll be keeping the car. A DIY conversion will turn a profit within 10k miles or so. After that you're saving money. It'll probably be 20-25k with a decent professional install.

2)what benefits will it really give me?

Lower running costs. My 3.2 MV6 fuel costs are about 13-14p per mile. On petrol that'd be 25p/mile.
There are theories about longer engine life and reduced emissions. Not really tangible benefits IMHO.

3)can you get "good" s/h kits, and who fits them?

I wouldn't recommend a second hand kit but it has been done. You'd need a good understanding of the kit concerned and exactly how it goes together. Obviously no warranty and I doubt a professional installer would touch it.

4)do you always lose the spare wheel?

Tank options vary. Typically a cylinder tank in the boot or a spare wheel tank on an Omega.

5)does it affect insurance/mot?

You will need to notify insurance but most companies won't increase the premium. At MOT time it doesn't make a lot of difference. I assume it's inspected in the same way the original fuel system is, in other words, if anything is leaking, damaged or insecure it's a fail.

and lastly.........does anybody have one for sale!!

PM Lazydocker for the supplier of the kit that many of us have fitted DIY. About £700 for a V6.

Kevin

[Entwood]

My professionaly done conversion (BRC Sequent 56) cost just over 2 grand (£1850 + VAT) in May 2008 (nearly 2 years ago).

Now, when I bought the car I had factored in that cost as part of what I considered to be the "total" purchase price, but that is just my way of looking at it. So I consider it to be saving me around £100 a month in cash outlay on fuel. My monthly mileage has dropped considerably in that time .. when I first had the install done it was £200 a month savings.

Others look differently and go on "how long to pay for it" considerations. Well my conversion will, according to my calculations, have paid for itself in 3000 more miles... total of 24000 miles..

I bought the car with the intention of converting it and keeping it for as long as possible, with luck in excess of another 10 years.

That was the reason for the "professional" install .... as well as my very limited DIY skills  I did a LOT of research and projections before making the decision ... but I have not a single regret that I went for it ..

DIY is obviously a far cheaper option, and with the accumlated skills of the forum, if I was to be converting one now, that is the way I'd go.. 

[Sixstring]

Thankyou for your kind opinions.
It appears that for me its a good idea, s/h is a probability, toroidal tank in the spare wheel well is a definate, and I do enough miles a week to warrant it, at 400 a week minimum.
Need to find a scrapper with LPG and remove EVERYTHING, replace it all in my estate, and have it connected/checked by my local LPG installer and certificated (at a cost.....)
Just got to find a kit now!

Thanks again.

Mike.

[tunnie]

i would echo KevinW's comments, and urge you not to go second hand route, especially for front end kit.

[Entwood]

Regarding the 2nd hand points ...  if memory serves, tanks are are only "valid" for 10 years before requiring a pressure test. The fuel lines/filler pipes have to be replaced anyhow as they don't "come off" well. Older systems may well only be single hole (4 hole are better) and may not have been serviced properly.

Add it all up and a £700 new kit, with warranties, is probably a better bet TBH ..

[Lazydocker]

Right... I wouldn't think twice about converting it, as long as it is in tip top condition (engine wise) and the ignition system is in good nick!

As for going 2nd hand... I would advise against it. The warranty from the supplier I/we use has proven itself. The kit is generally very reliable but any slight problems have been resolved rapidly and without question

On top of that, as said, you'll need to check the date on the tank as they are only certified for 10 years at a time. You'll need new pipework and filters, software and connection lead (for a lot of kits, this is not available to the general public!) and you will be restricted in the locating of components by the previous fitting location. Tunnie will confirm that all the pipework and fittings soon mount up in price

I'll dig out the supplier details tomorrow and PM them if you like.