General LPG powered Marea

[CheeseMaster]

Has anyone had their Marea LPG converted? What where the gotchas? How long did it take and how much ( roughly ) are we looking at to do this?

Thanks

 

[Hellcat]

What model are you thinking of converting?

 

[CheeseMaster]

What model are you thinking of converting?

2001 100 ELX

 

[mac andy]

Hi, i have a 1.8 w/end converted to lpg, but i bought it already done, so i cant help on conversion costs, it is important to use a place that gives you a proper certificate, as many insurers ask for it.
let me know if you have any questions, my fuel costs are about 5p per mile
regards
andy

 

[CheeseMaster]

Hi Andy

Thanks for answering questions so here goes:

1. Does the LPG tank weigh a lot when full ( does it hurt your fuel costs )

2. Can you choose between fuels when you drive?

3. The fuel consumption is supposed to be twice that than with normal petroleum. Is that right? If so, what is the LPG range?

I'm definately considering getting it done, if I can do it for under a grand.

 

[mac andy]

Hi cheesemaster,



1. Does the LPG tank weigh a lot when full ( does it hurt your fuel costs )

I have not weighed it but i presume it must weigh quite a lot, and as such has an effect on the mpg (similar to driving around with a loaded boot)

2. Can you choose between fuels when you drive?

Yes you can switch between the two fuels as you drive along at the press of a button

3. The fuel consumption is supposed to be twice that than with normal petroleum. Is that right? If so, what is the LPG range?

the fuel consumption is slightly worse than with petrol (about 10% at most)
but as the cost of the gas is approx 1/3rd that of petrol, the overall running costs are much cheaper. I get about 300 miles from 45litres of lpg
As a rough guide from when i first started driving on lpg the figures were
petrol 13p per mile
lpg <6p per mile
I have had no adverse effects from the lpg, when i took the head of 12 mths ago to change the cylinder head gasket (radiator burst) the pistons and valves were very clean with no signs of wear, my mileage is 148000,and i drive about 2000 miles a month, the only thing you have to watch is that as the petrol pump is in the petrol tank it relies on petrol to cool it, so you must remember to keep some petrol in the tank (apart from which you need petrol to start the car)
hope this helps
andy