Hi

I have a mk1 Octavia 1.8 20v and was thinking of trading it in for a Diesel as my fuel economy is only 32mpg. A friend planted a seed in my head when saying I'd be better off converting it to LPG and now I'm seriously considering it. I'm thinking of doing a DIY conversion rather than going down the garage converted route, mainly due to cost. Garage conversions are about £1500 - £2000, DIY kits are around £600 and I've worked out that it would pay for itself in around 9 months on my current 10,000 mile/year travel.

After doing some research it looks like a sequential kit is the way to go as it integrates well with the cars engine management system. I'd appreciate it if someone could point me in the right direction as to which manufacturers are best and any links as to where to purchase the parts.

If anyone has converted their car, how difficult a job did you find it and are there any quirks both in installation and generally running on LPG?

I was trying to find out where LPG stands with TAX and fuel duty. In the budget, up until 2007 fuel duty on LPG was set not to increase more than 1p per year. I know that i will definitely pay less road tax but i don't know the current status on fuel duty?

Any other thoughts or experiences would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks

Even garage conversion can go wrong and litterally block the engine up. LPG is basically a pressurised gas canister!

You'd have to be bonkers to attempt this DIY, having no formal training. Seriously, I wouldnt.

Don't you have to have a conversion certificate to get the benefits?

If so then DIYing it, means you won't get it, plus with a garage conversion atleast you'll get a warranty if it all goes wrong too!

Gadgetman

Sure LPG is a high pressure gas but its deemed to be safer than petrol under crash conditions. Of course i am wary about making sure the installation procedure is followed to a T but that does not put me off, i will take any necessary safety precautions and do my research. The kits are available for a reason, if it was too dangerous to self install they wouldn't be. If you read through this and other forums, there are many people who have self installed.

iCraig

The conversion certificate is available for a small fee if the work is checked over by a certified garage and installation has been carried out correctly.

I found some information on fuel duty at boostlpg.co.uk

The Government continued to demonstrate its long term commitment to LPG in the 2008 Budget when the Chancellor announced a continuation of the existing guarantee for low fuel duty for LPG through to 2011. The duty will rise by no more than 1p per litre per year more than petrol or diesel. The rates announced are:

* The fuel duty increases planned for the 1st April will now take place on 1st October 2008. At this time duty on LPG will increase only by .135p per litre more than petrol/diesel.

* As previously announced, on 1st April 2009 fuel duty on LPG will rise by .035p per litre more than petrol / diesel

* On 1st April 2010 all fuel duty rates will increase by .5p per litre plus inflation. As a result the specific duty rate will not be known until then.

* This means that the price of LPG at the pumps should continue at around half the price of petrol and diesel for the foreseeable future.

Personally I wouldnt attempt it and I dont believe ANYTHING this great government has to say about fuel tax.

Gadgetman

Sure LPG is a high pressure gas but its deemed to be safer than petrol under crash conditions. Of course i am wary about making sure the installation procedure is followed to a T but that does not put me off, i will take any necessary safety precautions and do my research. The kits are available for a reason, if it was too dangerous to self install they wouldn't be. If you read through this and other forums, there are many people who have self installed.

iCraig

The conversion certificate is available for a small fee if the work is checked over by a certified garage and installation has been carried out correctly.

If you were doing this to your caravan I'd tell you to bet a Corgi reg. fitter, I can't see a car is any different safety wise. If you kill yourself no-one will care but if you kill your kids or worse still someone elses people including judges will be quite upset. Leave it to pros, or do the training.

I am a qualified fitter, as you are dealing with pressurised gas you want to do things by the book. If the kit comes with full instructions fair enough. Things like the venting of the tank, the location, fiixing interval and mounting locations of the HP LPG pipe to the vaporiser are critical. Look up and read the LPGA COPII/III regulations, whatever are newere (I'm a bit out of touch).

You'll need a good unit with ignition advance and preferably liquid injection, if not sequential gas injection, plan on getting around a 90% mpg, look at LPG costs per litre and work out how much that will save you and the payback time.

I do Vegoil conversions now and moved from LPG, the diesels do easily 50% more mpg than the 1.8T stock without being converted, then there is the possibility of running it on oil...

Regards, Greg.

Hi

I have a mk1 Octavia 1.8 20v and was thinking of trading it in for a Diesel as my fuel economy is only 32mpg. A friend planted a seed in my head when saying I'd be better off converting it to LPG and now I'm seriously considering it. I'm thinking of doing a DIY conversion rather than going down the garage converted route, mainly due to cost. Garage conversions are about £1500 - £2000, DIY kits are around £600 and I've worked out that it would pay for itself in around 9 months on my current 10,000 mile/year travel.

After doing some research it looks like a sequential kit is the way to go as it integrates well with the cars engine management system. I'd appreciate it if someone could point me in the right direction as to which manufacturers are best and any links as to where to purchase the parts.

If anyone has converted their car, how difficult a job did you find it and are there any quirks both in installation and generally running on LPG?

I was trying to find out where LPG stands with TAX and fuel duty. In the budget, up until 2007 fuel duty on LPG was set not to increase more than 1p per year. I know that i will definitely pay less road tax but i don't know the current status on fuel duty?

Any other thoughts or experiences would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks