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[Arpy]

Hi everyone  
I am a virgin Omega owner so please be gentle with me.
I did want a volvo and at first thought I would regret this mad impulse but even though I have only had olga a week I am starting to fall in love with her.
I drive for a living and this car is the best I have driven.
I will be having a tow bar fitted thurs because I have a caravan and this is the only thing that is a concern will she be up to the job.
Olga is a 2002 2.2 cdx estate and has to carry me the wife 3kids and a dog plus caravan.
hope someone out there can reassure me she wont let me down.
On another subject due to me driving all over the place I want to have her converted to LPG and hopefully local (preston Lancs) but there seem to be so many differant types of system and each guy I talk to says theres is best I thought I would ask you chaps as some of you may have had theres done.
hope to hear from you soon
regards
Arpy

[TheBoy]

Many have towed with 2.0/2.2 engines without problems.  I guess if its a very heavy van, big inclines may be a problem.

Ensure cooling system is tip top, and if an auto, change the gearbox fluid regular.


I'll leave it to others to guide you through LPG....   ....Martin Imber springs to mind as someone who may be able to help, as I know he has looked into it, and DIY'd installed his own...

[Darth Loo-knee]

Many have towed with 2.0/2.2 engines without problems.  I guess if its a very heavy van, big inclines may be a problem.

Ensure cooling system is tip top, and if an auto, change the gearbox fluid regular.


I'll leave it to others to guide you through LPG....   ....Martin Imber springs to mind as someone who may be able to help, as I know he has looked into it, and DIY'd installed his own...

And he's a fellow Caravaner

[tunnie]

Welcome  

We have many owners who have caravans here and tow, sure they will be along soon.

2.2 should be fine to tow, you will prob have to keep it in 'sport' mode most of the time to keep the revs up. A member here used to tow a fairly large van with a 2.0 Auto Omega, no probs  

All Omega Auto's have built in coolers in the autobox, although it is recommended you change the oil in the box more regularly as the box is under greater stress.

As for LPG, we have that covered too, with many members here running LPG on Omega's from 2.0's 2.2's 2.6 and 3.0's. I am no expert but generally go for the SGI systems, these inject the gas individually into each cylinder, rather than a 'mixer' system, which does it one 'go'

Someone more experienced in LPG will explain that further, the mixer systems will be cheaper than SGI. For a professional install of LPG, your looking around £1,500 - £2,000, maybe less. The 2.2 has a lot of space, so might get it cheaper. Looking at around £800 if you DIY, a member here done it himself!

Good luck, and welcome again  

[Arpy]

thanks for that advise I will be test driving outfit at weekend i will try sports mode
is it easy to change the auto box oil and can you recommend oil to put in.
I was tempted to diy lpg but thought i would leave it to experts but some say prins system is best

[bigall]

tow with 2.2 auto  van weighs 1400kg loaded and it keeps to legal max easily- yes it does slow on inclines but then so does a 30 ton artic.
If youve got an auto as well as checking/replacing ATF and filter make sure that the autobox ecu has the latest program upgrade - designed for towing - available from vaux dealers as it needs tech2 to upgrade it or a good independant who has tech2 - not many about. excellent one in Widnes asautocare.co.uk will find him.

on a personal note I had an external autobox oil cooler put in

[TheBoy]

The later gearbox software apparently is useful when towing....   ....not sure myself as I don't tow.  If you are near me, I have the facilities to update it.

[Arpy]

went on long trip today and found auto box changing at different times etc but after what you have said re towing upgrade am i right in thinking there is a clever box adapting to my driving

[Eliteman Steve]

With reguard to the LPG conversion try Warrington Autogas , you can find them on E-bay under LPG items or giv em a Google! Don't know what they're like but they seem good on price and will lend you a coutesy car while your's is in the shop . They quote £1050 for a four cylinder conversion  , would be tempted myself but they're too far away

[Danny]

not far from me, might give them a ring myself!!

[Eliteman Steve]

If you do Will-floyd let me know what you think , I might be able to make it up there when I vist my Mom in Liverpool and get the car done at the same time .

[bigall]

went on long trip today and found auto box changing at different times etc but after what you have said re towing upgrade am i right in thinking there is a clever box adapting to my driving

As far as towing is concerned the upgrade stops the box hunting for gears when doing about 50mph .
The upgrade will also make your gear  changes noticeably smoother   - well worth getting

[Martin_1962]

OK Lets start - I used to tow with a 2.0 and here are the rules. Change gearbox oil, make sure engine is good, do not risk with cam belt ect, use sports mode, do not be afraid of red lining.

Gas - you need SGI - Sequential Gas Injection, Prinz is good, so is Romano, OMVL did have an issue with injectors - not sure if they still do - but you can use different injectors. There are quite a few good makes.

DIY kits, if you have support this is perfectly practical but if you can get it installed for not much over £1000 might as well get it done professionally, I had a recovered system and I was not very happy with the install it was taken from (ECU was put in air box ). The original installer would have refitted for quite a lot, was originally not prepared at all to aid any DIY (not even to do setup or certification - for money) and TBH got a bit rude (by the time he offered I had finished the DIY install)!

It is cheaper to buy kit in Poland than the UK.

[Arpy]

thanks for tips I will see main dealer up road re software upgrade
back to oil change in auto box can you reccomend one oh and when I went to halfords they didnt have a haynes for my year it only goes up to 1999 is it worth getting it because it would be handy to know where to put oil and do other jobs

[MickAP]

Hi there, don't know much about the mechanics of a auto Omega 2.2 estate, mines a 2.5 diesel manual. It tows my 1460kg caravan great no issues there, although yes it does slowdown on uphill gradients but all my other towcars did. Mines got plenty of pulling power and can quite easily keep up with the rest of the traffic, some say we slow others down, nonsense!
I would go for that LPG conversion if I had a petrol Omega, it's not going to be very economical without.
Good luck hope you find it ok towing whatever van you get, but keep your vans weight within 85% of the Omega's weight they say and you'll be fine.
What is the weight of your van?

Mick