LPG Conversions

[bredsticz]

Can anyone point me in the right direction. A search didnt throw much up about it.
Is it possible to DIY a conversion or does it have to be a specialist? Whats invloved and is it worth it?

 

[Benny 1992]

when the conversion is done u then hav to but it throw some test so i say best leave it to pros and also not all cars can hav a conversion, also for most cars the conversion is £1k plus

but if u can find a car that has had the conversion then ur on to a winner

 

[Shadeyman]

This might help
https://www.fiatforum.com/stilo/136685-abarth-lpg-conversion.html

 

[bredsticz]

This might help
https://www.fiatforum.com/stilo/136685-abarth-lpg-conversion.html

Cheers. I do 30k miles a year so was considering but i start a new job in march so not sure if it'll be worth my while since car won't be used as much then.

Only way I'd do it is if I could DIY cheap enough

 

[dronenrs]

cheap is not a good idea with LPG.. its a volitile thing. and i think you actually need a liscense to do an LPG conversion.

 

[bredsticz]

cheap is not a good idea with LPG.. its a volitile thing. and i think you actually need a liscense to do an LPG conversion.

Well that spoils it!
Ahh well. Back to the drawing board to figure out how to run a punto on cheese

 

[Benny 1992]

Back to the drawing board to figure out how to run a punto on cheese

pmsl

 

[AppleSei]

Also need to pass a safety test, dont think they would take kindly to homemade bodge jobs

 

[dronenrs]

The law doesn’t actually have much to say, unlike gas installations in buildings there is no legal requirement to be a member of any body, nor to hold any form of certification. That is not to say that there are no laws covering a conversion, I’m fairly certain that some of the construction and use regulations could cover unsafe conversions.

my bad .... but there is still a lot of safety regulations to meet and it needs to be tested... i still think DIY is a bad idea in this case
http://www.diy-lpg.co.uk/

 

[Shadeyman]

Buy this and refit the kit to your car.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1997-VAUXHALL...7660295?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item3a61b9a807

 

[sludgeguts]

my bad .... but there is still a lot of safety regulations to meet and it needs to be tested... i still think DIY is a bad idea in this case
http://www.diy-lpg.co.uk/

I really cannot believe this isn't tightly regulated. I was under the impression that the car had to have a gas safety cert as well as MOT.
I read of one instance where the owner didn't bother with MOTs etc so the LPG hadn't been checked & the tubing was old & perished so the gas was leaking out into the car...not good if you smoke.

 

[dronenrs]

that kit will be specific to that car.. and the above still applies

 

[Benny 1992]

Also need to pass a safety test, dont think they would take kindly to homemade bodge jobs

wots wrong with the good old bodge job

 

[dronenrs]

I really cannot believe this isn't tightly regulated. I was under the impression that the car had to have a gas safety cert as well as MOT.
I read of one instance where the owner didn't bother with MOTs etc so the LPG hadn't been checked & the tubing was old & perished so the gas was leaking out into the car...not good if you smoke.

the quality of the build is very very strictly controlled. and you do need a safety cert. but the building it seems is unregulated

 

[dombooth]

Well that spoils it!
Ahh well. Back to the drawing board to figure out how to run a punto on cheese

LOL, let me know when you crack it!

Dom

 

[sludgeguts]

is it worth it?

I've only ever seen LPG conversions on the really juicy motors or where the owner has a few bob to spare but wants to keep the motor until he or the motor dies.
There is, of course, an alternative - along the lines of the hydrogen fuel cell additions. Instead of plumbing a fuel cell into the air intake, plumb in a tank of gas. Run the tube through the car via a small tap you control so you can 'dribble' in the gas as the engine is running.

 

[Mr Wild]

I fancy giving this a go myself, I don't think it's all that hard to do, although I think there may be some drilling of the throttle body involved, from what I've read the gas is fed via the TB. There are modifications to the electronics for dummy injectors and to switch fuels and deactivate the fuel pump.

But if it's 300£ for a DIY kit, it'd pay for itself in no time. I think you need some sort of separate certification for the LPG system once it's done, and this needs to be renewed like an MOT, been a while since I looked into it.

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

also not all cars can hav a conversion

The majority of petrol cars can be converted

and i think you actually need a liscense to do an LPG conversion.

Not to do the conversion, just to LPGA it

the quality of the build is very very strictly controlled. and you do need a safety cert. but the building it seems is unregulated

Correct.

I fancy giving this a go myself, I don't think it's all that hard to do, although I think there may be some drilling of the throttle body involved, from what I've read the gas is fed via the TB. There are modifications to the electronics for dummy injectors and to switch fuels and deactivate the fuel pump.

But if it's 300£ for a DIY kit, it'd pay for itself in no time. I think you need some sort of separate certification for the LPG system once it's done, and this needs to be renewed like an MOT, been a while since I looked into it.

There shouldn't be any drilling of the TB, depending on the car it should either be a mixer system installed (SPi and Carbed cars) or seqential injection. Fuel pump also is not deactivated iirc.

Kit will need to be LPGA'ed, but most places will only LPGA a car they've done the conversion on (understandable concidering whats at stake). LPGA is valid for life, although car should be checked every 12-20k, but this isn't regulated like and MOT is

 

[sludgeguts]

With the cost of fuel ever on the increase, I may be tempted to see how much it will cost to add an LPG tank to my diesel engine.
I expect, like most things, the cost would be too prohibitive.