LPG Conversion and Engine Code

[skodab0y]

Hi all,

I'm in the market for a new car, replacing my nearly 7 years old VRS Mk1 with a nice new Mk2 version. However, with the price of petrol and derv at the moment, I'm seriously considering an LPG conversion. I've had a chat with a conversion specialist and they say the car could be converted without any loss in performance Before I buy the new motor I do need to know the engine code for the new VRS to confirm it can be converted. Can anyone help me with this ? search on forums has come up blank.

Cheers

[bengie]

first question is how many miles do you do in the car as unless you do quite a lot its not financially worthwhile.

LPG might be about half the price of petrol but it only returns about 3/4 of the mpg in my experience and it can be quite a costly conversion. if your conversion costs around £2000 thats a lot of miles before you break even.

[skodab0y]

I've had a quote of £1450 to convert so thats not too bad. Modern conversions also give you almost equal MPG to that of petrol, but say it did give 25mpg compared to 30mpg for petrol, i'd be saving aprox £800 a year in fuel if i did 10000 miles. So in 20000 miles time i'd have got the costs of the conversion back. I've put 75000 on my mk1 vrs in 6 years, so if I'd have converted that i'd have saved £3000 after taking the conversion into account, plus some small tax saving due to lower emmisions.

I'd prefer not to use LPG but 48p litre compared to 1.01 petrol and 1.06 derv (and rising) means I have to seriously consider it

[!]

I've had a quote of £1450 to convert so thats not too bad. Modern conversions also give you almost equal MPG to that of petrol, but say it did give 25mpg compared to 30mpg for petrol, i'd be saving aprox £800 a year in fuel if i did 10000 miles. So in 20000 miles time i'd have got the costs of the conversion back. I've put 75000 on my mk1 vrs in 6 years, so if I'd have converted that i'd have saved £3000 after taking the conversion into account, plus some small tax saving due to lower emmisions.

I'd prefer not to use LPG but 48p litre compared to 1.01 petrol and 1.06 derv (and rising) means I have to seriously consider it

What you should also consider is that abroad, LPG is much more difficult to obtain compared to petrol. Also parking garages more and more (at least over here) LPG powered cars. Next driving LPG means standing at the petrolpump around every 200 - 300 miles, where 200 is more realistic. (LPG tanks contain only 80% of their max contents, a 13 gallon tank fills up to only 10 gallons, which in your case would be 250 miles.

As dutch resident I have an Octavia II, 1.6 on LPG. my tank is 13 gallons, but around 225 miles(around 22.5 mpg), my tank is bordering on empty, and I need to switch to petrol. On petrol BTW, i use 33.6 mpg.

So for comparison i deem it better if you would use real numbers, instead of the estimates from the guy trying to sell you the installation.

My experience is also that the more power is asked from the motor (mountains, trailer) LPG use will rise more than petrol use. LPG burns hotter and will damage your engine more than petrol, however if you decide to sell it again at 75000 miles, you will not notice the difference on that terrain to much

Here the taxes for LPG are bigger, putting the switchpoint typically around 7500 miles per year. If you drive less LPG is more expensive over here.

I do not know about taxes in the UK, but if it makes a difference, you should also take it into account.

Just for information: Here in the Netherlands LPG can almost only be obtained outside the city. You should also take into account the extra mileage you will need for filling up your LPG installation if you cannot fill it up at your usual petrol filling station(s).

[bengie]

thats the same sort of mpg's as my girl freinds sister gets from her factory lpg vectra

my factory fitted lpg petrol transit van does about 13mpg on petrol and about 7 on lpg :eek:

[bengie]

and what do you mean by tax savings??

the RFL won't be adjusted due to you fitting an after market LPG kit.

with swmbo's sister on those mpg's she is no better off with a 1.8 lpg converted car than a decent diesel returning 45mpg on a run. othan you wouldn't need a £1500 conversion on the diesel.

[skodab0y]

Some good responses - thanks. I've test driven the petrol and derv Vrs today and I really like the derv with it's torque, although the petrol was nice and smooth. I must admit I'm now swaying more towards the derv to be honest.

with regards to tax, the RFL is based on emissions, so if you run LPG and have the co2 tested and it's lower than the standard cars co2, you can inform the DVLA and they will adjust your RFL if you can prove it's less. Same with the London congestion charge - if you run LPG i'm sure you can be exempt from paying it.

[bengie]

i didn't think you could get it lowered, i thought that once it was set it was set.

hmm, interesting.

and although as standard the diesel has 70nm more torque once remapped a petrol one has more

they go upto around 320lbft :P

[bengie]

Boost LPG - economic performance

looked up as i didn't know and once a car is registered its VED is fixed regardless of whether you improve the emissions or otherwise.

the answer is to get a polo blue motion and fit an RS6 engine

[bengie]

oh for gods sake, when i followed that link and searched it came up saying that a car cannot be changed yet when i clicked the link it took me ot a different section of the same text where it said that cars can be changed!!! whats the truth!?

[bengie]

looking at the DVLA website the difference in VED would be £15 a year WooHoo!!

[!]

I am curious where you got the information that a car on LPG has lower co2 emissions.

Lots of cars over here have trouble meeting the three-gas exhaust test ( CO, Co2, NOx) for technical periodical checkup (Kind of TUV in germany).

I absolutely do not believe LPG will get so much lower CO2 emissions, so you are exempted from London congestion charge, but I am open for proof otherwise. LPG is in holland allready about 30 years in use, and I never heard such statements.

[mannyo]

Another thing to consider with LPG conversions, especially if you go abroad from the UK with your car. Some of the ferry companies and the channel tunnel do not allow cars with LPG tanks to be carried on their ferries/trains. If you try to book a eurotunnel crossing, and select the LPG option, then the booking is declined.

[bengie]

I am curious where you got the information that a car on LPG has lower co2 emissions.

Lots of cars over here have trouble meeting the three-gas exhaust test ( CO, Co2, NOx) for technical periodical checkup (Kind of TUV in germany).

I absolutely do not believe LPG will get so much lower CO2 emissions, so you are exempted from London congestion charge, but I am open for proof otherwise. LPG is in holland allready about 30 years in use, and I never heard such statements.

Autogas - Environmental Benefits

[skodab0y]

I've checked the congestion charge issue and any vehice using an alternative fuel is except from the charge. The alternative is lpg, fuel cell and electric. Look here:

London Congestion Charge Exemption / Congestion Charge Zone Exempt - Ashwoods

Not much good to me though as I live in Durham

Now just need to decide on a petrol or derv :confused: