LPG for T4?

[4wdphil]

Hi all

Have just picked up a 1999 petrol 2.5 T4 Synchro, would have preferred a TDi but this one has everything else I want.

Although the price of ULP is dropping I'd still like to convert it to LPG. Questions:

1. Does anyone out there know how these motors go on LPG? Any power loss? Any mechanical issues?

2. Can anyone recommend an installer, preferably in Melbourne? All the ones I speak to here (Albury-Wodonga) don't seem to have any experience with Transporters.

3. I've heard of one options which goes underneath but it requires 3 x 20 litre tanks and all the local installers just say "No way." Anyone have any experience of this or know of an installer?

Thanks
Phil

[Golf Loon]

I have seen a couple of conversions to LPG and they are all pretty basic. They just disconect the injectors and use the throttle body like a flap or a carby.

I used to have a T4 2.5L LPG Ute and it went hard. Made a great noise with the pod filter too.

[Seano]

phil

The syncro option makes the underfloor tanks a bit more problematic. The rear diff takes up the spot for the spare wheel which is typically the spot for the gas tank...

A manifold style tank might be what you are after



So try having a yarn to these guys www.apamfg.com.au

[Silver Caravelle]

Give Volkspower in Melbourne a call (03) 9808 6777. Speak to Dean the owner or Brett.

I have heard from a number of people that LPG running on the 5 cylinder petrol engines is not ideal. But I really have nothing to validate this view.

Best Regards,
Scott

[4wdphil]

Thanks guys

Thanks for that info guys, I'll get in contact with these places and see what they say then try and summarise it on here.
Phil

[Deeceer]

I drove a 1998 T4 2.5 on LPG while shopping around for my van. The vehicle was single owner and had been on gas from just after its first year (substantiated by the upcoming expiry of the 10 year certification on the tank). That the engine was a little clattery might have been more a reflection of haphazard servicing and 240K mileage than anything else but it didn't seem to be lacking in power at all (certainly better than the gutless 2.0L petrol I'd driven an hour earlier).

The Synchro aspect makes for difficulties on the underfloor fitting though as others have adequately pointed out - no spare wheel area to put a doughnut tank in. I realise putting the tank in the inside load area has its disadvantages but at least it doesn't have to look too fugly if you position it right then box and carpet it. You could also consider asking about having a smaller tank fitted inside than the huge ones you often see, that way it might be less of an intrusion on space.

My own experience was the reverse of yours, Phil - I went looking for a petrol T4 already on LPG or one cheap enough to convert on my overall budget and came away with a diesel cos, as you put it, it had everything else I wanted.

[4wdphil]

Getting closer to a solution

Thanks for that info Deeceer. Good to hear that the 2.5 motor goes well on gas.

The underfloor tanks for these vans aren't the donut ones or the normal cylindrical tanks, they're like the manifold one from APAMFG pictured in an earlier post above. They just sit under the middle of the floor of a 2WD van, as a result they're no good for a Synchro. They're also only 60l I think.

Following the other leads, I've spoken with Volkspower, they had a Transporter on gas for 300 000km with no problems. He said that he made sure that he always started it and stopped it on petrol rather than gas. He also said that the main issue with LPG conversions wasn't the fact that it was running on LPG but how good the conversion was. He said to go straight to Progas in Huntingdale. I gave them a call, no worries they've done Transporters before, they can't do the underfloor (APA manifold style) tanks any more because they can't get some sort of fitting any more so it has to be inside. Only a 1 week waiting time (compared with months here in Albury Wodonga) and about $700 cheaper than any other quote I've got locally. So I'll book it in and have a holiday in Melbourne with the $$ I've saved.

After the hassle of speaking with workshops here and them not knowing how the conversion would go, or how long it would take or even how much it would cost it was great to speak with someone who had experience.

This is a great forum in tha regard.
Phil

[Silver Caravelle]

Phil,

I am glad Volkspower pointed you in the right direction - and you are able to same time and quid or two.

Regards,

Scott

[X_FISH]

Hello from Germany.

I am a little bit curious. My T4 VR6 is running with LPG since march '03 here in germany and the use of LPG got more and more popular over the last 6 years.

From 550 LPG stations up to over 4000 - for the "small" germany of course.

How much is the benefit from using LPG in Australia compared with diesel and gasoline?

Greetings, Martin

PS: A tiny picture of my ride (the green one):

[Ivo]

Hi Martin, hows winter treating you, I hear its been very cold in Berlin recently.

LPG is very common over here as well with more and more conversions taking place due to a government funded rebate on the installation cost.

Rough prices at the pump here right now in AUD and Euro are:
LPG $.65cents/l =.33Euro
Petrol $1.12/l =.56 Euro
Diesel $1.25/l= .62 Euro

Factor in a 25% increase in consumption of LPG over Petrol its still a good saving on LPG.

[X_FISH]

Hi Martin, hows winter treating you, I hear its been very cold in Berlin recently.

I got some luck living in the south of germany. So I benefit from the warmer climate due to the Lake of Constance. Despite the fact that it is very foggy here, too.

Rough prices at the pump here right now in AUD and Euro are:
LPG $.65cents/l =.33Euro
Petrol $1.12/l =.56 Euro
Diesel $1.25/l= .62 Euro

Thanks for the information .

Okay... That is what we not even think about to imagine... Some actual prices here in Germany:

LPG 0,59 € per l -> 1,17 AUD
Petrol 1,19 € per l -> 2,36 AUD
Diesel 1,14 € per l -> 2,26 AUD

There is just a tax benefit between petrol and LPG (per liter), the tax for the car (paid per year) is the same. Diesel cars have higher taxes (paid per year) than petrol ones.

CNG is much cheaper in germany, but there are very little stations (about 800). So it is just for smaller distances and you always should keep an eye at the fuel gauge...

Factor in a 25% increase in consumption of LPG over Petrol its still a good saving on LPG.

That's true. At least in Australia. I will have to move to Switzerland in a few days and I will be forced to use petrol again.

Why that? In Switzerland the liter petrol is cheaper than the liter LPG. Add 25 to 30% increase in consumption -> well, well... Not so great.

Kind of "funny" how different nations have different opinions (or interests) in LPG...

Greetings, Martin

[hoddy]

Hi 4wdphil, how's the conversiopn going?

I've got a '97 T4 Syncro 2.5 which has been on LPG since birth!
It's done 297,000 Ks and is going strong.
There's a good place in Geelong that gives good service / gas tuning / fitting etc - Jepson Auto

Power on gas is better than with petrol

I get about 400KM on tank of gas (80L)
450KM on tank of petrol (75L)

I've also heard that it's possible to "adjust" LPG tanks so that they fill to more than 80% - just don't fill up on a hot day!!

[fiox1]

What type of LPG system are you using? Is it Vapour or injected?

Hello from Germany.

I am a little bit curious. My T4 VR6 is running with LPG since march '03 here in germany and the use of LPG got more and more popular over the last 6 years.

From 550 LPG stations up to over 4000 - for the "small" germany of course.

How much is the benefit from using LPG in Australia compared with diesel and gasoline?

Greetings, Martin

PS: A tiny picture of my ride (the green one):

[X_FISH]

It's a system with a vaporizer. Some pictures along with some text:

www.gaskutsche.de - The LPG system in my T4 (google translator)

I hope the translator works well enough that everything can be understood - without laughing too often about some funny mistakes.

Greetings, Martin