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Q. Can a reconditioned engine be converted satisfactorily?
A new or reconditioned engine should be "run in" on petrol for approximately 1,500km before it is converted to LPG operation. If the engine is to be used for LPG only operation, the reconditioning techniques can be adapted to suit an LPG "run in".
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Q. Does LP Gas have an effect on engine wear?
No, in fact an appreciable reduction in overall engine wear is the norm. This is particularly applicable during cold starting because LPG does not wash lubricating oil from the cylinder walls. Modern unleaded petrol engines are especially suitable for conversion to LPG.
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Q. How much can I expect to save if I convert to LPG?
Present pricing policies allow for more than 50% saving when one opts for converting to LPG. That means with in a period of One year the cost of Installation is recovered, for a vehicle which runs for around 20,000 klms or with the current government grant 3 to 6 months.
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Q. What are the advantages of LPG?
Because of its relatively fewer components, it is easy to achieve the correct fuel to air mix ratio that allows the complete combustion of the product. This gives LPG its clean burning characteristics.
- Both Propane and Butane are easily liquefied and stored in pressure containers. These properties make the fuel highly portable, and hence, can be easily transported in cylinders or tanks to end-users.
- LPG is a good substitute for petrol in spark ignition engines. Its clean burning properties, in a properly tuned engine, give reduced exhaust emissions, extended lubricant and spark plug life.
- As a replacement for aerosol propellants and refrigerants, LPG provides alternatives to fluorocarbons, which are known to cause deterioration of the earth's ozone layer.
LPG emits similar Carbon Dioxide to diesel and considerably less than petrol. LPG is also much cleaner than diesel in terms of other chemicals such as Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) and fine particulates which impact on our local air quality. A study recently completed, comparing the emissions from petrol, diesel and LPG vehicles found that:
1. Compared with petrol, vehicles running on LPG emit about 20% less CO2.
One diesel car is equivalent to 20 LPG cars with regard to NOx, and 120 LPG vehicles with regard to particulates.
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Q. What is LPG or LP Gas?
LPG or LP Gas is the abbreviation of Liquefied Petroleum Gas. This group of products includes saturated Hydrocarbons - Propane (C3H8) and Butane (C4H10), which can be stored/transported separately or as a mixture. They exist as gases at normal room temperature and atmospheric pressure. Why is it called Liquefied Petroleum Gas? This is because these gases liquefy under moderate pressure. They liquefy at moderate pressures, readily vaporizing upon release of pressure. It is this property that permits transportation of and storage of LP Gas in concentrated liquid form.
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Q. What is LPG?
Liquefied petroleum Gas (LPG) is a natural hydrocarbon fuel made up of propane and butane. It has the special property of becoming liquid when under pressure and reverting to gases at atmospheric pressure. This means it can be easily and conveniently stored as liquid. LPG is colourless, odourless and heavier than air. A sulphur based chemical (ethyl mercaptan) is added to give it smell like rotten cabbage, so that even a very small leak can easily be detected.
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Q. When a vehicle is converted is much of the manufacturer's equipment altered?
No – LPG systems are designed to ‘piggy-back and complement existing systems’. A vehicle converted to operate on LPG must conform to strict Australian Standards and Australian Design Rules. This means LPG components must be fitted to complement the original equipment fitted to the vehicle. Manufacturers such as Ford, Holden and Mazda have available a range of vehicles factory fitted with dual fuel capabilities. Ford has also recently begun production of a dedicated LPG Ford Falcon. Other manufacturers have released vehicles designed to accommodate LPG for conversion at a later stage.
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Q. Where does LPG come from?
LPG can be obtained from several sources. Most commonly it is extracted from naturally occurring oil and/or gas fields and is produced in the petroleum refining process
How is LPG seen & felt?
· It is colorless and cannot be seen
· It is odorless. Hence LPG is odorized by adding an odorant prior to supply to the user, to aid the detection of any leaks
· It is slightly heavier than air and hence if there is a leak it flows to lower lying areas
· In liquid form, its density is half that of water and hence it floats initially before it is vaporized. It is non-toxic but can cause asphyxiation in very high concentrations in air.
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Q. Will converting to LP Gas alter my insurance or registration costs?
- No. This is a further acknowledgment of the benefits of using LPG.
