LPG / petrol engines (1 Viewer)

nahnotme

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After living full time in a converted coach, with a 3.6l diesel engine I have decided to upgrade and have found a coachman catalina with a 6 litre petrol engine that has been converted to LPG. the seller states that the petrol system can no longer be used and it runs fine on the gas.
I have been advised by a mechanic not to even bother going to have a look at it as it will be very unreliable.
Apart from having to keep an eye on the gauge and keeping it topped up I cant see what the problem is ? He also states that financially it will cost the same to feed as the one Ive got.
It is perfect for what I need and it looks to me a REAL bargain.
Your thoughts would be appreciated....quick
thanks
 

lugnutt

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hi...for what reason is the petrol system not working? if it runs on lpg surely it can run on petrol or has the tank been removed to make room for lpg tank?

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nahnotme

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Sep 23, 2007
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He just says that he thinks that there may be rust in the petrol tank and it just needs some time spending on it ?
Could my mechanic be putting me off as an LPG engine is a specialist garage thing ?
I have spend 3 grand getting the coach conversion I have repaired and am back there now, maybe I'll be missed if I get something less trouble ?
I thought an LPG system had to be started with petrol then switched over ?
 

lugnutt

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best start with petrol first if it is winter or starting from cold but can be started from lpg in summer or heated engine
 
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nahnotme

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best start with petrol first if it is winter or starting from cold but can be started from lpg in summer or heated engine

what do you mean by a heated engine ?

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Road Runner

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I have a fuelling issue with my RV at present (lazy pump in the petrol tank we think) but it starts on petrol then chops over to gas very quickly so no problem although my get the petrol sided fixed.

If you went to LPG maybe you would need another mechanic and your guy would loose his golden goose?
 

lugnutt

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John on my rv starting on petrol i must not touch the accelerator at all ,but on lpg i have to pump it does yours have this trait?

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Road Runner

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Mine is the new sequential system. I do have a petrol problem. Can start my bus from cold with LPG this system but runs lumpy for a bit.
 
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lugnutt

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mine can start from could but prone to backfire as it is useing lpg liquid untill the regulator is warmed up by warm water from the engine to mix it to gas
 

Terry

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Hi I can only speak as a car owner but my system starts on petrol and switches to gas after about 1 min.Be aware that using gas burns hotter and burns the heads/valve gear after prolonged use killing the engine.Must say that with the mileage done in most m/h it will not be a problem for a long time say 80,000-100,000 miles :ROFLMAO:All the car owners(mechanics)I speak to are aware of it but all choose to bury there heads in the sand :ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO:
terry
EDIT not a problem on a petrol engined 4 x 4 where engines are 10 a penny , but on a RV ???????????

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American Dream

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Be aware that using gas burns hotter and burns the heads/valve gear after prolonged use killing the engine.
I ordered a Flashlube kit to replace the missing additives that can cause valve recession on long running lpg engines.

I use octane booster anyway on the petrol side which also has these additives.

Just playing it safe.
 
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Terry

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I ordered a Flashlube kit to replace the missing additives that can cause valve recession on long running lpg engines.

I use octane booster anyway on the petrol side which also has these additives.

Just playing it safe.

Hi Steve if these all work why have Volvo etc, stopped making lpg cars :ROFLMAO:
terry
 

American Dream

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Hiya Terry,

I was speaking to a colleague this morning who used to work at a volvo franchise.

Do they use these additives?He seemed to think not.

The problem is the cost of these somewhat negates the advantage of cheaper fuel cost.:Sad:

I would have thought in this day and age with metallurgy advances, they could develop valve seats that would withstand the temperatures.

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Terry

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Hi Steve :ROFLMAO: me too but apparently not :ROFLMAO: cheaper to stop making them :ROFLMAO:BTW my mate says look at the head after only a few thousand, says it looks like it has had a blowtorch on it,dry as a bone :ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO:
terry
 

American Dream

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Just out of interest, do you know of any rotary engines (Mazda etc) that have been converted to lpg?

Remember the rotor tips used to wear badly on early ones.
 
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Road Runner

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Well both my Jeep and Bus run on LPG through sequential system from Romano and if my valves go I will be straight onto them as they say its a myth.

Why are the car manufacturer masking LPG car like Vauxhall and now Proton have just added an LPG car to their range?

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Terry

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Just out of interest, do you know of any rotary engines (Mazda etc) that have been converted to lpg?

Remember the rotor tips used to wear badly on early ones.
Hi Steve, the tips still do :ROFLMAO: engine rebuild at 80k
terry
 

PeteH

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Hi

I done some calculations and based on current Fuel Prices plus the cost of conversion I estimate the Break-even to be ALMOST 23.000 MILES?.

My 15 Year Old R-V has only done 62K? So at that rate it will be more than 5years. before you see some Money back?.

Its only going to be "profitable" if a previous owner does the conversion, and then you will probably pay a premium over a Straight "gas" coach anyway?

Pete
 

scotjimland

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Hi

I done some calculations and based on current Fuel Prices plus the cost of conversion I estimate the Break-even to be ALMOST 23.000 MILES?.

And how long before the gov. whack up the duty on LPG they way they did on derv after we all bought diesel engined cars .. :RollEyes:

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Road Runner

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Hi

I done some calculations and based on current Fuel Prices plus the cost of conversion I estimate the Break-even to be ALMOST 23.000 MILES?.

Pete

I had mine done 12 month ago and well on the way to seeing my money back.

I pay 33p a litre plus VAT::bigsmile:

Also if I was filling the tank hundreds of pounds a time on petrol would feel sick and stop using the bus, this way the big expense is done and psychologically don't feel so bad about using it.

Plus at 7mpg best the ratio become much greater for having it done::bigsmile:
 

PeteH

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Hi John

If your coach does 7 MPG then you are looking a around 17.5K, I understand that SOME of the newer coaches Allegedly get 13 to 15 MPG? if so they are looking a 35K miles

pete
 

American Dream

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And how long before the gov. whack up the duty on LPG they way they did on derv after we all bought diesel engined cars .. :RollEyes:

Exactly Jim.:Doh:

It tends to be the fuel suppliers too.

All about "supply and demand".

1 Create the demand and get the "punter" hooked on it.
2. Decrease the supply.
3.Increase the cost and hence the profit.

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Douglas

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My only comment would be that if it won't run on petrol then there are one or two countrys that are out of bounds to as the "gas stations" are few and far between. and if you do get the petrol side to work its awfull expencive use.

Doug
 

PeteH

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Hi

R-V`s are expensive to run at the best of times, Olley once described them as "blackholes down which you throw money" and he`s not far wrong! but its the price we pay for the "pleasure"? of ownership.!!!

There is a new generation of diesels coming forwrd which could help in the long term but thats the operating factor-- "LONG TERM"!!! and also at a price I would recon.


pete
 

Forestboy

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There is a new generation of diesels coming forwrd which could help in the long term but thats the operating factor-- "LONG TERM"!!! and also at a price I would recon.

Exactly look at the price they're asking for the new Damon Avanti diesel. For less than half that you can buy a well made RV, which the Avanti is not, and have enough left to run it for donkeys years or buy a park home as well.

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Road Runner

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Hi John

If your coach does 7 MPG then you are looking a around 17.5K, I understand that SOME of the newer coaches Allegedly get 13 to 15 MPG? if so they are looking a 35K miles

pete


I am well pleased I had both my RV and Jeep 5.7 litre done.

If i bought again and it was petrol would definitely have it LPG'd

I also think the loss between LPG and petrol is well under 10% on the sequential system

Reckon on my mileage it will pay for itself in 16 months and the lost stress at the petrol pump in priceless especially on my weekly income now.

Again bare in mind how much I am paying for LPG.
 
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