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LPG for Dubs
CafeRacer - May 18th, 2005 at 06:50 AM

Anyone out there had their VW converted to run on LPG? Any information gratefully received, e.g. conversion costs, effects on engine, running costs comparison with other fuels? Cheers now.


Bizarre - May 18th, 2005 at 06:56 AM

Possible but VERY difficult

use to chat to a bloke in Italy that has done it

something about the stable hot water and gas


KruizinKombi - May 18th, 2005 at 10:56 AM

There was some discussion about this 1-2 years ago. You could possibly find it by doing a search, or it might have been culled due to inactivity.


PurpleT3 - May 18th, 2005 at 11:31 AM

I would imagine that even with the cost of petrol these days, considering the generally low fuel consumption of most VW, that it would take a long time to recover the ~$2000 it costs to have LPG installed. The other issue is that the gas tank takes alot of space in a fairly small vehicle (unless it's a kombi).

Not sure about technical issues of running an ac motor on LPG.


Bizarre - May 18th, 2005 at 12:13 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by PurpleT3
considering the generally low fuel consumption of most VW,



humpfh!!

you obviously dont drive a 2L air cooled auto fat chick T3 kombi!!

I would love to do it but there are tech reasons. I cant find this guys name but will look on Shop Talk. He was talking there.
Think there is a legal side with the way he did it as well


Bizarre - May 18th, 2005 at 12:19 PM

ok

here are some links

http://web.archive.org/web/19980124000909/www.type2.com/sermons/liturgy/lpg_c...

http://www.shoptalkforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=67525&highlight=lpg 

http://www.shoptalkforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=9169&highlight=lpg 


ahhh!
this is the guy - Peppe

http://www.peppemotori.cjb.net/  (can you read Italian??)

may be email him and ask him
He was pretty friendly


phantom - May 18th, 2005 at 01:03 PM

I looked into it in the late 80's for my 76 Kombi that I had at the time. Was going to cost me in the vicinity of $2k AFTER I fitted a radiator to the car. It all got very technical but the radiator is needed to apparently heat the LPG up for processing, etc.

I gave it up as a bad joke, dunno what it would be like these days, ie maybe cheaper systems.


toplessbug - May 18th, 2005 at 07:42 PM

nope will still cost a min of 2k u need water as a heating source for the convertor which changes liquid lpg to a gas ..if you dont heat the convertor it will freeze and the system will shut down . i imagine there is another way of heating but all convertors are set up for water thru the jacket to stop freezing ,u cant just blow a bit of warm air thru it ..wont work ,,,other than that and the space the tank or tanks uses there is no reason our engines wont run well on it and indeed lpg would allow an increase in comp ratio for a bit more grunt for free


type2nut - May 18th, 2005 at 10:02 PM

It is NOT difficult.
Do not believe what you are told (in Australia) re converting an air cooled vehicle. The gas can be heated via 2 methods:
a) tapping in to the oil lines and using the oil, or
b) inserting a rod in to the exhaust to heat up the gas as it passes over the end of the rod. In the UK this is an "off the shelf item"!
The latter is the preferred method. This is very, repeat VERY common in the UK amongst Kombi enthusiasts. Yes it is more difficult in the confines of a Beetle but not in a Kombi.
Check out the LPG conversion forum on this page:
http://p067.ezboard.com/bclub8090chat 
A lot of the info relates to converting the watercooled T£ (or T25 as its called there) but there is plenty of info on air cooled conversions too.
There are plenty of other sources of info that the folk on 80-90 can direct you toward.
Don't be put off by the nay sayers. It is a conversion that works very well.
Good luck and contact me if you need any help. I converted my Syncro to run on LPG myself when I lived in the UK.
Cheers,
Andy.

[Edited on 18/5/2005 by type2nut]


IronVan - December 16th, 2006 at 09:46 AM

Thanks for all the tips.
Andy, I knew it was possible as I met a guy with a splitty double cab a couple of years ago at Volksworld show in Sandown Park, UK, and he was running LPG no problem. The question is where can I find a company that has experience of conversions in Oz?
Can't find the forum you mentioned.
Cheers mate


MickH - December 16th, 2006 at 11:53 AM

Dont forget the government will PAY up to $2000 (I think it's still $2k)?? towards the conversion.....that makes it very viable.Purchase a system from the UK and get it fitted properly!!