LPG - anyone else here running on gas?

[cubicincubi]

out of interest?

My wagon had the conversion carried out at around 120K in 2002. Fuel consumption is about the same really - no difference there, obviously at 38p per litre (34p is the cheapest in my area but its 5 miles to get that price) it is like running a 1 litre in terms of economy.

The engine oil remains clean as new between drain intervals and with the new gearbox fitted last year by mercedes benz i'm expecting this engine to last well into 300K miles if not further.

 

[robertjary]

I had my Audi A6 estate converted to LPG in 2001. It's a 1995 model and had covered 105k miles when converted. With a 75l gas tank (filled to 60l), I can get 300 miles between refilling. I used the car to travel all over the UK, (including Northern Ireland), Eire, France, Belgium and Germany. The only place I couldn't find LPG was Denmark. My wife is now driving the A6, the current mileage is 202k. Until the recent rise in fuel prices, LPG cost 30ppl, although we're now paying 34ppl. I've never (other than in Denmark) had to run on petrol (excluding starting from cold).

I now have an E220CDI estate. It's an excellent car and gives very good mpg, but overall I think the best option is an LPG conversion. You get the performance, smoothness and (relative) silence of a petrol engine with the economy of a diesel.

 

[cubicincubi]

the only noticeable effect I can fathom is when in the economy setting on the auto box, while running on lpg it runs more like its on standard setting - i.e. shifts up later rather than sooner.

TBH is more responsive on gas.

 

[Stulc]

I was thinking of LPG for my 99' C280 auto est but after reading various dabates and problems on here I'm kind worried and sceptical. I am still very tempted but very wary, with all the electronics ect in the car and upsetting them.

 

[cubicincubi]

can't understand why a good installer wouldn't be able to sort you out.

new kits these days are very advanced.

you can get direct port sequential injection - you can get a system that only comes into function once optimum temps are reached and a vapouriser sensor for the tank to switch to petrol before the low gas in the tank causes poor running.

Problems regarding LPG installs often point to a bad installer who isnt using the right kit for the car and doesn't set it up properly.

My E200 has been running for 4 years this feb on LPG and has done nearly 90K miles on the stuff and hasnt had any problems whatsoever to the engine. I also believe the engine would use a lot more oil, have more blow by etc if it had been ran on petrol all its life. LPG is a much cleaner burn.

It did have to have both petrol fuel pumps replaced as they hadnt been used enough. Now I always run it on petrol for the first 10 miles of every journey and the last few miles too, I also run it on petrol under heavy load. The original auto box gave up eventualy which isnt surprising with the weight it's had to pull but engine wise - sweet as a nut. Just regular oil changes and plug changes every 6-8K.

I wish I had kept my E280 and LPG'd it, it was a cracking solid car but I needed the cash freed up at the time.

 

[dino]

good installer?

who was the installer that did you car? I've been making various enquiries but i'm in total confusion as to what i should get for my money - especially with regard to automatic switchover etc etc.

best, dino

1990 300ce-24
1994 e320 amg cabrio

 

[dogsbody]

LPG -anyone else running on gas?

Interesting that the E class W124 performs well...
Anyone using gas on the W210 E Class?

 

[johnnyj]

Gas

Hi all

I have a 96 c200 which I don't run on gas, but I also own a 1963 DAF army lorry which has had an LPG conversion. Obviously running on gas doesn't really help fuel consumption, but as it is cheaper to buy it makes a big difference to my wallett! It does about 6mpg! I run it on gas all the time, although periodically switch to petrol as in truth it runs slightly better on the latter. As the engine is a non-unleaded 4.5ltr Hercules lump, I am aware that I have to monitor the valve clearances however as LPG does burn much hotter than petrol at the point of ignition. That said, it is a big old side valve engine which would probably run on lard if necessary (!!) so I am not too concerned.

Best wishes

John

 

[cubicincubi]

Dino - the tartarni system was fitted by Autogas 2000 in Thirsk - N.Yorks. Obviously the kit I have is outdated in terms of what is now on the market but it doesnt have any gremlins. The auto switch over on my system takes effect as soon as 2K rpm is reached - newer kits wait until the correct temperature is reached, in addition they have a management system to switch back to petrol during any conditions that may cause poor running.

Prins VSI is regarded as the most advanced on the market whereas Landi Renzo supplies complete system components to Daimler Chrysler.

I've been using the following forum http://www.lpgforum.co.uk/ for a while to help better my understanding of the differing systems and such like. There seems to be about half a dozen manufacturers of kits that appear very popular - however the kit you choose is only as good as the installer who fits it and sets it up properly! Stay away IMHO from any installer with less than 5 years trading independantly. They have a forum on that site with reports of good and bad installers.

Johnny - That DAF sounds like fun!

 

[diy_dan]

Hello all. I have a 190e 2.0 1990. which I convertered in 2001. the car isnt as quick as running on petrol but before the latest gas increase I was paying 2/3 petrol price, now I'm paying nearly 1/2. return trip from Bham to london is between £15-£20 depends how fast I go. Only problem I have is remembering to change the engine oil since it stays clean at all times. consumtion wise I get about 4-5 miles per litre.

 

[996jimbo]

I had a 4.6 Range Rover which I had converted to LPG.

The switching was fully automatic - started on petrol, switched to gas when the vapouriser was warm enough and switched back to petrol when the gas pressure dropped (ie ran out). The only issue I had was having to replace the HT leads - they were worn and whilst the weak spark was OK for petrol it lead to lumpy running on gas.

My only complaint was the range on LPG - was 200 miles max at 13mpg - could have done with a bigger tank.

 

[Keith D]

Lpg

Hi, Yes LPG is for me the only reason I drive such a Large CC car, 230E 1991, Converted when I bought the car 12 months ago, running on LPG Was 29.9p but now 39.9p at best. I travel up and down the country quite a bit and would not consider going in my Wife's CRV, £80 fill up or £22 for LPG to cover the same distance, and the comfort of a Merc. Plus the Green issue.

Would have the CRV converted, but my Wife only travels 6 miles a day, so would take an age to recoup the cost.

The only slight problem is the 70L tank in the boot, glad I am not a Golfer.

Cheers

Keith.

 

[tinytim]

Hello one and all,

I recently purchased a 2001 E280 and installed a Prins VSI LPG conversion from a very reputable Midlands company at a cost of £2300. I had a nightmare on day one with the engine management going into 'get you home mode' after all the fiddling about during the installation. Fortunately MB sent out a mobile engineer to reset the computers with the Star software. Still had nightmares with the system switching back and forth between petrol and LPG on any journey. Engineers from the fitting company came to visit and tinker from time to time - still not good. I eventually got fed up with talking to the engineers and spoke to the general manager. One courteous phone call later and the car was picked up - a courtesy car being left with me whilst they tuned it properly. It was away for three days whilst they (a) diagnosed the problem - cooling liquid flow being the issue, (b) sorted it, and (c) road tested it.

Everything is now working very well and I'm pleased with the conversion. The car is generally poor on fuel though 27mpg on petrol and 22/23 on gas is all I'm getting on motorways.

I hope that this is helpful.

 

[cubicincubi]

The car is generally poor on fuel though 27mpg on petrol and 22/23 on gas is all I'm getting on motorways.

I hope that this is helpful.

Hi

My motorway MPG is around 22-23mpg at 4 krpm aswell and between 25-30 on petrol. Although gas has a higher octane rating it has less calorific value so you need to burn more of it to get the same performance as petrol.

I've come to the conclusion that when using gas just take it easy - harder said than done though, lol, lead shoes and all.

running 15-20% more gas is still a saving - we just gotta watch the pump prices i guess. My best price locally was 36.9 last week and it went up to 38.9 after stations storage tank was refilled.

 

[tinytim]

Hi

My best price locally was 36.9 last week and it went up to 38.9 after stations storage tank was refilled.

Hi,

I don't know where you get the gas from, but I have to use the M1 / A43 BP station - 46.9 - gulp!

 

[G3maw]

Hi Tiny Tim,
33.8p/litre up here in Northwich - next to the old Salt Works ( no connection ). This price is obtained not at a filling station but at a bottled gas outlet where they have a tank to dispense LPG for vehicles. By setting up an account and purchasing in 'units' of £100 at a time ( this usually lasts me about 5/6 fill ups ) you can obtain a decent discount. This facility is well used by the local taxi firms, needless to say...I've been on LPG ( 1989 190E ) now for nearly 5 years, with no ill effects whatsoever - Thanks Gordon !

 

[robparker]

I have a 230ce running on LPG, bought the car with 140k now has 162k and its saved me a fortune. I also bought an s-class and had it converted with a multipoint system which was great, but i sold it now. Thinking of buying a 190e 2.0 on LPG for my brother

 

[citroennut]

hi, running a w210 e240 which i had converted not long after finding out how poor fuel economy was (22mpg) after having 230te's. been running on gas now for 2.5 yrs and only problem was a poorly designed vapouriser which eventually pressurised cooling system - took the dealer 27hrs to find problem!. it is a prins multipoint system which is superb. gas up here in ayrshire is 39.9 from morrisons - you get the points as well! 90l tank last 300-350 miles depending upon pedal pressure.
cheers
simon

 

[diy_dan]

hi, running a w210 e240 which i had converted not long after finding out how poor fuel economy was (22mpg) after having 230te's. been running on gas now for 2.5 yrs and only problem was a poorly designed vapouriser which eventually pressurised cooling system - took the dealer 27hrs to find problem!. it is a prins multipoint system which is superb. gas up here in ayrshire is 39.9 from morrisons - you get the points as well! 90l tank last 300-350 miles depending upon pedal pressure.
cheers
simon

I just acquired a 300ce a couple of months ago and converted straightaway to lpg, around town getting 16 mpg, was hoping for 18 to 20 but did my convertion and found that I'm getting 38 miles for the same money as a gallon of petrol which would get me 22 mpg aroung town, If you look at mpg of lpg you might not be inpressed but converting to miles per pound and any car is worth converting

 

[Laughing Gas]

I'm running 2 converted Mercs at the moment: a W210 E230 for me and a W203 C320 for my wife.
I bought the E230 2½ years ago with 24K on the clock and had it converted by Arun Autogas (BRC system) 2 months later. I got a 70l (53l gas) doughnut tank in the spare wheel well. This is good for 300-320 miles and just fits under the boot floor without having to raise it. Apart from a couple of return visits to get the auto-switchover set up to my liking and a recent minor problem with a leaking injector (£60 to replace), it has been faultless and paid back the £1700 investment last summer. I get 28 mpg on gas and about 31 on petrol on mixed-speed driving.
The C320 was bought on eBay last autumn. It had been converted (Tartarini system) by the previous owner at 60K miles and was at 98K miles when I bought it. It also has a 70l doughnut tank in the spare wheel well, but the well is shallower and the boot floor doesn't quite sit properly. Its an absolute joy to drive, and achieves about 24 mpg on gas.
Last year I briefly owned a ML320 with a Landi Renzo conversion. This had a cylinder tank slung between the two girders under the boot. Despite being a cylinder, I think it was only about 70l, so the range wasn't too good - about 200 miles on a fill of gas. Apart from the awful build quality, it was also a barge to drive and made the kids car-sick with its wallowing motion so I sold it on.
The lesson? Don't choose a car because it has LPG, choose a car you want and then search for one with a quality LPG conversion. There are too many cars out there with duff conversions done on the cheap, but if you can find a good one they are often only marginally more expensive than a non-converted petrol-guzzler.