Frequently asked Questions & Answers
Can my vehicle be converted?
Almost all of petrol engines vehicles can be converted to dual fuel (LPG
& Petrol) without problems, including turbo charged and super charged vehicles.
How long does it take?
Most standard conversions take around 3 working days. Sequential Vapour
Injection can take up to 4 working days
Will there be any loss of performance?
In most cases there is no noticeable loss of performance, this is due to the gas
delivery systems we install & the electronics that support it. The proof is
on the chart below. These rolling road tests were on completed on a XKR
supercharged Jaguar. (please click on the graph to make it bigger)
Will LPG damage my engine?
No! In fact LPG is a cleaner burning fuel, leaving very few deposits after
combustion, which is why your oil stays cleaner for longer and some say this
should increase the life of your engine.
What happens if I run out of gas before I get to a
LPG filling station?
Being a dual fuel vehicle you have the option to use petrol as well as LPG, the
older systems allowed you switch back to petrol at the
flick of a switch. the new systems change from LPG back to petrol automatically
and bleep to tell you that it has changed back. This is also very useful when driving long distances as your
vehicle has twice the range between fill ups.
What MPG can I expect from LPG?
Most people lose between 5% and 25% MPG compared to petrol but due to the cost
difference at the pump you are still making massive savings.
How much space does the new LPG system take up?
Very little space is lost in the engine bay as we install the equipment
sympathetically and in some cases hide most of it in nooks & crannies so that it
cannot be seen.
Where is the new LPG tank located?
Most tanks are fitted in the rear of the vehicle but in some 4x4 vehicles such
as the Jeep or Range Rovers etc, we can install them underneath the sills of the
vehicle. If you have a large saloon car we can fit a cylindrical tank in the
boot space between the wheel arches. If you have an estate car or hatchback you
might choose a toroidal tank also known as a doughnut tank which takes the space
occupied by the spare wheel.
What happens if I am hit from behind?
All LPG tanks are rigorously tested and are considerably stronger than a normal
petrol tank. In fact most petrol tanks made today are constructed of plastic and
are designed to collapse during impact squirting the petrol up through the
filler cap & out over the road where it will sit for some considerable time! An
LPG tank is designed to withstand a 30G impact (Aircraft seats are tested to
10G). After that the tank deforms rather than splits, causing the pressure
release valve to open releasing the gas through special vent pipe to the
atmosphere where it evaporates in seconds.
Isn’t having a pressurized tank in the car
dangerous?
No, in fact the pressure inside the tank is the same pressure as a gas filled
cigarette lighter or the pressure of a can of hair spray. The Tank is fitted
with a large number of safety devices that make it much safer than petrol.
Can I over-fill the tank?
No you can’t. The LPG tank is fitted with an automatic 80% shut off valve, which
shuts off the filling automatically leaving a 20% space for the normal thermal
expansion of the LPG.
Will it affect my insurance?
“If it is fitted by an approved / qualified fitter & has a LPGA certificate of
conformity there should be no rise in your insurance premium” NFU Insurance
- Tiverton”
Will the LPG conversion affect the resale value of
my vehicle?
It will possibly increase its value especially on larger vehicles.
Could I transfer the system to another car?
Yes, but the work needs to be carried out by an approved fitter as the new
vehicle needs a Certificate of Conformity.
Can i drive an LPG vehicle through the channel
tunnel?
Currently
No! LPG – AUTOGAS cars, Hydrogen cars, CNG cars, LNG cars, and Methane Cars,
are not permitted to go through the channel tunnel. We
have been told that this was all down to the permits and regulations that were
drawn up by bureaucrats in France when the channel tunnel was first proposed.
So until the permits and regulations say we can use the channel tunnel, this
form of transport is off limits to all alternative fuelled vehicles, because
none of these were listed on the permits and regulations laid down for the
usage of the channel tunnel.
We
have been told by the Uklpg that the bureaucrats in France have refused to
change the permits and regulations, as they feel that it will allow unsafe,
eastern European vehicles to use the channel tunnel, and with the fires from
diesel lorries from these countries happening in the tunnel, who can blame
them. It has also been said that it would be too difficult to filter out the
bad conversions or identify the good (British, Dutch, German, Italian)
conversions. All we can say is watch this space, more to follow soon.
Where is my nearest LPG Filling Station?
There are over a thousand UK sites to fill up at and this is growing by 1 or
more a day, if you would like a full UK list you can use our link to the LPGA
filling stations list by clicking on the petrol station picture on the right or
if you would like a local south west list pop into Gas Power UK Ltd for the
details. If you would like any other information on LPG the please visit
www.LPGA.co.uk or www.uklpg.org
UKLPG
