The problem with car LPG / Propane systems

A lot of people don't consider the maintenance and setup cost of an LPG/Propane car system. If you have owned a car with LPG/ Propane and have found it to be cost affective over a long term ( 300,000 KMs ) with set up costs and maintenance considered let me know.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• fossil fuel
• LPG system
• car LPG system
• car propane system
• run car on LPG
• run car on propane
• gas LPG Propane system
• propane system
• car propane
• car LPG
• alternative fossil fuels

[prancingdog]

I have a 1991 Suburban and run it on pure LPG. I went 47k miles before needing any work done to the LPG system components. $95 in used parts and a couple trips to my mechanic to fine tune it for towing purposes. This change has saved me thousands, and the only thing I sacrificed was a little cargo room because I wanted the tank better protected.

I THINK YOU NEED TO FIND A BETTER MECHANIC.

[austpom333]

@prancingdog Ive been there done that with LPG - over the long term ( 350,000 km ) i don't think LPG would be worth it after down time and money spent. My LPG system blew up one morning under the hood. I don't get why we in Australia will soon be paying to pollute but there is no alternative - i don't pass any electric cars on the road and very little hybrids ( there is no real alternative ).

[Ryankerry95]

@austpom333 thats because electric cars dont properly exsist to speek, because 1. the technology isent rely there! they are only running on whats practically laptop battery's, and not only that but, where (this is mainly focusing in the uk, cus thats where im from) dose the power come from to charge the battery's? .... power stations!!! and that do they do to generate power?....burn fossil fuels!! like i sed the technology just is not there and even if it was its too exspencive.

[austpom333]

@Ryankerry95 Battery development is the key, from what i know it doesn't take much energy to charge a battery - Youtube Life initial fusion energy system, there are other projects like it - believe me we will eventually move on from fossil fuels. Don't forget the fossil fuel industry thumps these new technologies down. God save the queen.

[divisioneight]

I used to ride school buses powered by LPG. They had V8 large displacement engines which ran smoothly. There was little valve tap and the motors revved pretty high (could've been the driver's habits more than the fuel it burned). The exhaust had a distinctive odor to it and there was a slight hiss to the engine. The exhaust would let out a white puff of vapor when shifts in gears.

[austpom333]

@divisioneigh I have an engine with a rattling piston ( worn bore or piston ) when the LPG was working there was no knocking or rattling of the piston.

[lathamcabinets]

@Ryankerry95 I have been building and driving electric vehicles for 5 years. Yes, the technology is there. I use the poor mans lead acid batteries, and my first truck costed $900 including the truck to convert. Every day I travel 40-50 miles with out fuel, our electricity comes from a hydroelectric dam. My family owns a Propane company and has 4 trucks using it as primary fuel. They have been running this way since the 70's. Haters are who are keeping this from taking off.

[rockethead555]

I don't agree with your claims. A propane system, as any other should be maintained regularly. If you just use it forever without any maintenance, of course it will break down. The evaporator needs to be cleaned and overhauled once the membrane is old and everything else should be regularly observed : solenoids, hoses, tubings, valves, etc.

[arthurowenlindsey]

1978 chevy flatbed, 100,000 miles, still starts up and goes perfect. My dad has a 1994 chevy 4x4, had propane its whole life, still runs perfect, not to mention his entire business fleet, most about 20 years old or more, ran exclusively on propane, with nothing more than normal maintanance.

[unhippy1]

i have a subaru ute that i personally converted to dedicated LPG under the (very) rough guidance of a certed lpg installer ( i got given a list of how thing needed to be done and things NOT to do and off i went and did it)....that was 210,000km ago.

your complaint seem to come down to lack of basic vehicle maintenance...the LPG blowing up under the hood is always due to a weak or mistimed ignition system causing a backfire up through the intake manifold...NOT an LPG caused issue.

[eddie100]

From what I saw of your vehicle, you had some of the best Automotive LP gas equipment. Cars running on "petrol only" can have problems. Regular service of a vehicle, (like getting your teeth checked every 6 months) will postpone if not prevent major and costly work. To be honest, I agree that they saw you coming.

[pinusx]

@austpom333 2000 dollars for repair old lpg system, its insane . In poland for mounting simple brand new lpg system you will pay about 430 dollars.