LPG DIY or pay the man with the power to certify to do it?
Discussion
In short, looking at a Suzuki Jimny for a bit of fun and frolics and would like to run it on LPG.
Who, what, where and how are the things in my head.
I had a look at Tinley tech site and they have a lot of kits available and tanks and everything a man needs, but I am thinking about whether or not I can actually be arced with doing it myself as I would still have to get it certified anyways.
Anyone got some half sensible advice?
Who, what, where and how are the things in my head.
I had a look at Tinley tech site and they have a lot of kits available and tanks and everything a man needs, but I am thinking about whether or not I can actually be arced with doing it myself as I would still have to get it certified anyways.
Anyone got some half sensible advice?
We run all of our vehicles on LPG. If you are competent by all means do it yourself. It's hardly rocket science.
Remember that the UKLPG organisation are a for profit LTD company and its not a legal requirement for your car to be on their register. They seem to like masquerading as some sort of legal Authority.
I'm sure any reasonable LPG installer would certify your installation. (I would just tell them you bought the car already converted but with no documents)
Remember that the UKLPG organisation are a for profit LTD company and its not a legal requirement for your car to be on their register. They seem to like masquerading as some sort of legal Authority.
I'm sure any reasonable LPG installer would certify your installation. (I would just tell them you bought the car already converted but with no documents)
The UKLPG certificate isn't worth the paper it's printed on. It's been a bit of a long running scam for the owners of the company. They seem to have drilled it into everyone that every LPG vehicle must be on their register. (No different from our company telling all doctors and nurses that they must be registered with our ltd company)
Any installation certificate or sign off from a professional installer will do. Bear in mind the system will need servicing once a year too. (Check for leaks and change of filters)
The "Reduktor (vaporiser in English I think) is a 2-3 year component as the diaphragm inside can fail. Injectors last around 80k Kms on average.
When we had ours done (it was UK registered at the time) it was a matter of sending the DVLA photocopies of the installation documentation. The installer provided this in English as per EU rules.
The tank homologation certificate is the most important as a tank is only valid for 10 years and then has to be replaced.
Regarding insurance the NFU just wanted it to be registered as dual fuel with the DVLA. No further documents needed.
As for it being worth it. A Jimny on off road tyres will be pretty thirsty for what it is but it might be worth calculating the payback period.
Our LS430 paid for itself in less than 6 months but at the time it was doing around 4000 miles a month between the the UK and PL. That was 3 years ago. £20 for 400 miles still makes me smile.
Our Volvo XC90 3.2 hasn't paid for its conversion yet but we are only 6 months in. Break even will be around Xmas.
When you factor in the extra servicing costs and the fact the LPG components have a fairly limited lifespan (avoid barracuda injectors like the plague) you may find that it's not worth the hassle. Both of our cars are on PL plates and as a result the yearly inspection (MOT) costs 50% more. Also the fact that you are effectively carrying around an extra 60-90 kilos of weight wherever you go.
A professional LPG installation on a 4 cylinder car here is around the £400 mark to give you a guide. LPG is very very popular in these parts with most petrol engines cars running the stuff.
If you need any advice etc feel free to drop me a PM. Happy to send you scans of the documents you need too
I would go for it. It's always reassuring having 2 tanks of fuel especially when you are in the middle of nowhere.
Any installation certificate or sign off from a professional installer will do. Bear in mind the system will need servicing once a year too. (Check for leaks and change of filters)
The "Reduktor (vaporiser in English I think) is a 2-3 year component as the diaphragm inside can fail. Injectors last around 80k Kms on average.
When we had ours done (it was UK registered at the time) it was a matter of sending the DVLA photocopies of the installation documentation. The installer provided this in English as per EU rules.
The tank homologation certificate is the most important as a tank is only valid for 10 years and then has to be replaced.
Regarding insurance the NFU just wanted it to be registered as dual fuel with the DVLA. No further documents needed.
As for it being worth it. A Jimny on off road tyres will be pretty thirsty for what it is but it might be worth calculating the payback period.
Our LS430 paid for itself in less than 6 months but at the time it was doing around 4000 miles a month between the the UK and PL. That was 3 years ago. £20 for 400 miles still makes me smile.
Our Volvo XC90 3.2 hasn't paid for its conversion yet but we are only 6 months in. Break even will be around Xmas.
When you factor in the extra servicing costs and the fact the LPG components have a fairly limited lifespan (avoid barracuda injectors like the plague) you may find that it's not worth the hassle. Both of our cars are on PL plates and as a result the yearly inspection (MOT) costs 50% more. Also the fact that you are effectively carrying around an extra 60-90 kilos of weight wherever you go.
A professional LPG installation on a 4 cylinder car here is around the £400 mark to give you a guide. LPG is very very popular in these parts with most petrol engines cars running the stuff.
If you need any advice etc feel free to drop me a PM. Happy to send you scans of the documents you need too
I would go for it. It's always reassuring having 2 tanks of fuel especially when you are in the middle of nowhere.
CDB1983 said:
The UKLPG certificate isn't worth the paper it's printed on. It's been a bit of a long running scam for the owners of the company. They seem to have drilled it into everyone that every LPG vehicle must be on their register. (No different from our company telling all doctors and nurses that they must be registered with our ltd company)
Any installation certificate or sign off from a professional installer will do. Bear in mind the system will need servicing once a year too. (Check for leaks and change of filters)
The "Reduktor (vaporiser in English I think) is a 2-3 year component as the diaphragm inside can fail. Injectors last around 80k Kms on average.
When we had ours done (it was UK registered at the time) it was a matter of sending the DVLA photocopies of the installation documentation. The installer provided this in English as per EU rules.
The tank homologation certificate is the most important as a tank is only valid for 10 years and then has to be replaced.
Regarding insurance the NFU just wanted it to be registered as dual fuel with the DVLA. No further documents needed.
As for it being worth it. A Jimny on off road tyres will be pretty thirsty for what it is but it might be worth calculating the payback period.
Our LS430 paid for itself in less than 6 months but at the time it was doing around 4000 miles a month between the the UK and PL. That was 3 years ago. £20 for 400 miles still makes me smile.
Our Volvo XC90 3.2 hasn't paid for its conversion yet but we are only 6 months in. Break even will be around Xmas.
When you factor in the extra servicing costs and the fact the LPG components have a fairly limited lifespan (avoid barracuda injectors like the plague) you may find that it's not worth the hassle. Both of our cars are on PL plates and as a result the yearly inspection (MOT) costs 50% more. Also the fact that you are effectively carrying around an extra 60-90 kilos of weight wherever you go.
A professional LPG installation on a 4 cylinder car here is around the £400 mark to give you a guide. LPG is very very popular in these parts with most petrol engines cars running the stuff.
If you need any advice etc feel free to drop me a PM. Happy to send you scans of the documents you need too
I would go for it. It's always reassuring having 2 tanks of fuel especially when you are in the middle of nowhere.
Thanks, I am looking to do a lot more weekends away camping and green laning, I know it probably sounds silly on a Jimny but considering I am looking at a lot more trips off the South coast to the lakes and peaks with a number of trips planned for Wales early next year I think it will be worth it and if it proves to be a penny saver then I may run it as a daily and bin off the little Pug 206 lolAny installation certificate or sign off from a professional installer will do. Bear in mind the system will need servicing once a year too. (Check for leaks and change of filters)
The "Reduktor (vaporiser in English I think) is a 2-3 year component as the diaphragm inside can fail. Injectors last around 80k Kms on average.
When we had ours done (it was UK registered at the time) it was a matter of sending the DVLA photocopies of the installation documentation. The installer provided this in English as per EU rules.
The tank homologation certificate is the most important as a tank is only valid for 10 years and then has to be replaced.
Regarding insurance the NFU just wanted it to be registered as dual fuel with the DVLA. No further documents needed.
As for it being worth it. A Jimny on off road tyres will be pretty thirsty for what it is but it might be worth calculating the payback period.
Our LS430 paid for itself in less than 6 months but at the time it was doing around 4000 miles a month between the the UK and PL. That was 3 years ago. £20 for 400 miles still makes me smile.
Our Volvo XC90 3.2 hasn't paid for its conversion yet but we are only 6 months in. Break even will be around Xmas.
When you factor in the extra servicing costs and the fact the LPG components have a fairly limited lifespan (avoid barracuda injectors like the plague) you may find that it's not worth the hassle. Both of our cars are on PL plates and as a result the yearly inspection (MOT) costs 50% more. Also the fact that you are effectively carrying around an extra 60-90 kilos of weight wherever you go.
A professional LPG installation on a 4 cylinder car here is around the £400 mark to give you a guide. LPG is very very popular in these parts with most petrol engines cars running the stuff.
If you need any advice etc feel free to drop me a PM. Happy to send you scans of the documents you need too
I would go for it. It's always reassuring having 2 tanks of fuel especially when you are in the middle of nowhere.
I might do it myself and document my experience.
PurpleTurtle said:
I thought LPG conversion was only really financially viable on large capacity petrol engines, and even then it could take a few years to break even. Not sure I see the point in doing it on a Suzuki Jimny.
I am planning on a lot of miles as I want to get out green laning in the peaks and lakes, I live on the South coast so the payback could be a bit more rapid than one might think lolPurpleTurtle said:
I thought LPG conversion was only really financially viable on large capacity petrol engines, and even then it could take a few years to break even. Not sure I see the point in doing it on a Suzuki Jimny.
Yes and then people still don't keep the car long enough to get the payback. A few Monaro owners needlessly chiselling up their rare muscle cars.Can you not find one that has already been done?
I've had my kit on a E36 328i, that car covered over 120K on LPG, I then got the installer to move and service the kit on to my E46 330i. The tank fits and the injectors are the same, so cost was very reasonable and all done in a day. Its certainly paid for itself over the years and can be transferred.
Exactly!
Rare? You can option LPG at any Holden dealer. It's the single point air box exploding type however it's an option.
We aren't talking expensive collectors stuff here. My ls430 is worth more to me as reliable transport that it ever would be as a car. (There are many worse ways of spending 120k a year)
The Volvo is just that. Transport, a caravan and toy hauler.
My mates 2011 Quattroporte runs LPG. He is really enjoying it. Not polishing it. More filling the thing with propane and hammering the living hell out of it all over Europe. That's what petrol heads do right?
I have no idea where this snobbery came from. LPG is a far more attractive proposition than Derv.
Rare? You can option LPG at any Holden dealer. It's the single point air box exploding type however it's an option.
We aren't talking expensive collectors stuff here. My ls430 is worth more to me as reliable transport that it ever would be as a car. (There are many worse ways of spending 120k a year)
The Volvo is just that. Transport, a caravan and toy hauler.
My mates 2011 Quattroporte runs LPG. He is really enjoying it. Not polishing it. More filling the thing with propane and hammering the living hell out of it all over Europe. That's what petrol heads do right?
I have no idea where this snobbery came from. LPG is a far more attractive proposition than Derv.
Gassing Station | EV and Alternative Fuels | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff