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MG ZR ZS ZT Technical - LPG - MG ZS180

I am looking at a Mulit point gas (LPG) injection system for my zs I cover a lot of miles and I only seem to get about 33 ish mpg from it. ( has anyone been sad enough to check theirs?) So gas looks good. Has anyone herd anything bad about the gas conversion on the 75's V6 I gather they have been around for a while.
David

When I had my "75" I looked at LPG amd was answered with knowledge from Simon Stirley. I have some links on this page for LPG:

http://www.xpower-mg.com/MG-Rover%20Links.htm

Jerry Flint

I did 250 motorway miles yesterday, (M11,M25,M23) and a quick calculation reveals the MPG at 32.6, which just about matches your figures David!

Kelvin.
Kelvin

FYI:

There's an interesting 4 page illustrated LPG item in the latest issue of CAR Mechanics (January 2001).

Always a good informative read for anyone interested in what goes on underneath the bonnet of their cars and how to fix it without spending a fortune. The "Your letters", "Tips from the trade", "Used car focus" and particularly their " Diagnostics Doctor" sections are real eye-openers and provide a wide overview of the problems owners can face with just about any car you can think of.

I have no connection with the publication except as an appreciative reader.
John McFeely

My advice? Just be careful who you select to do the conversion. I personally know of three 75's that have been converted and are suffering all sorts of problems ranging from coolant leaks from LPG system parts to the EOBD warning light staying on. A nightmare from start to finish. Also, fuel consumption isn't that great, either.

Also, the 3yr/60K warranty would be invalidated - is it really worth it?

:-)
.

Dad ?
.

As a matter of interest my condsumption is something I have monitored for years and provides a fast and immediate indicator to potential problems.

For the ZS I am returning an average of 29.07mpg for the first 3030 miles use. By comparison the MGF returns an average of 38mpg over the same basic usage. I would note that seasonal variation is in the order of 8%, when the colder weather reduces fuel efficiency.

Fuel and power levels both suffer with LPG simply because the fuel is not one which carries the same calorific value. This means that you will always be shy of the returns gained from petrol, however it is the fuel costs per mile where actual savings come from as the fuel cost per litre is so much lower than petrol/diesel.

Rog
Roger Parker

I think its the worry that you could damage your engine more than anything Rog. I still hang on to see if MGR will sort my concerns refence seats/driving polistion. I think there to busy fighting with Lola!
Mega

<< . I think there to busy fighting with Lola! >>

No they're not - but their legal people maybe. So, knowing what we do about the legal processes and the time involved, dont go holding your breath pending a quick result on that Lola dispute. Be great to be proved wrong though. Said it before and it's worth repeating, we Brits excel at beating ourselves. The MG-R/Lola thing is just another example and you can bet your last pound that a quick settlement will be extremely unlikely because then there would be less money for the legal vultures ....... DOH
John McFeely


If LPG was a good way to go, would manufacturers not be making their own LPG options?

Kelvin
Kelvin

LPG is only good because of the taxation system that doesn't penalise it as much as other fossil fuels. If wider use was seen to apply then the taxation levels would rise and, 'bang', we have the same fuel costs per mile as petrol. The exhaust gas make up is quite interesting though and makes passing a 'cat' test quite simple.

In terms of engine reliability then this clearly is a matter where the degree of development in the specific conversion makes all the difference. Adding to a multi point injected engine is nothing new, assuming that the engine operates on a single throttle. Creating a multi point gas injection system needs finer control, thoughts on adequate mixing with air, and here I have no idea whether any such system is available and how effective it is.

The reliability of existing single point gas feeds to engines like the injected V8's in Range Rovers is well proven, with perhaps the only issue being the collection of the 'smell agent' that is added to the gas, collecting and needing periodic cleaning out.

I don't see LPG as a really attractive route for an alternative fuel. The fuel cell would appear to be the way forward at the moment as this uses Hydrogen, of which there is a greater long term supply than fossil fuels.

Rog

Rog
Roger Parker

Forget LPG. What about steam power? If all the known technological advances were applied to a "state of the art" modern steam power unit, the days of fossil fuel ICEs would be less numbered than they already are. Yes, it's already a reality, from every aspect including environment, economy and reliabilty. But, guess who don't want it to come about .... just yet? Clever you! Got it in one!

Happy MotorinG for the New Year.

JMcF.
John McFeely

I'll throw my hat in the ring here. I'm looking seriously at LPG for my car (Rover 600) BUT, I did find a very interesting thing as regards fuel cells on the net some time ago. I can't remember the web address, but put 'Stanley Meyer' in your search engine and look for Water Fuel Cell and have a good read...if it works, its very interesting and the oil companies would proabaly crap themselves.......
Yorkie

Thanks for all your comments, Still not too sure if LPG conversion is likley to damage the KV6 or not, It may be just down to the quality of the conversion. with petrol about £1.50 a gallon more than LPG and the fact that I have now done 6500miles since OCT when the car was new I think I will have to give it a go.
David

David

If you DO give it a go - would you mind detailing the comapnies used and any other information you think others would find useful for the site listed against my name?

Regards

Jerry Flint
Jerry Flint

Jerry,

A good starting point for helpful LPG info is my earlier contribution to this thread; see >Posted 28 December 2001 at 19:33:28 UK time<

During the past year CAR Mechanics converted a large Volvo Estate to LPG with a series of progress reports with much information on the subject. Anyone contemplating an LPG conversion would benefit by reading this stuff.
John McFeely

Here in Holland LPG is due to its price a very common thing. In general you can say that everybody who drive more then 20.000km per year gets a LPG fueled car. At petrol stations outside town lets say you find 6 petrol/diesel pumps against 2 LPG pumps. As far as i know, every car can be converted to LPG. This was not always the case. About 10 years ago, on some cars the valve seats and valves had to be replaced when driving with LPG. These days with unleaded petrol its no longer necesarry.
We used to have a LPG powered Volvo 440 and ran this car untill 220.000km before we sold it and the engine never caused problems. I think the temperature in the cilinder head is a little higher compared to petrol.
Regards
Peter
Peter

The LPG Association is a good search start point for information and convertors. http://www.lpga.co.uk/LPGA.htm
follow th link to Autogas, conumer information, then to approved companies.

Rog
Roger Parker

I have been looking all over the web and found lots of info on mulit point injection gas systems, has anyone found either a review or func. description of all the systems together so I could work out which one to go for. there seems not to be any 'group tests' for LPG systems

david
David

Hi all, The conversion is now finished. It took a week as the converters said it wood. a very neat job just the addition of a gas regulator and flow steper motors are visiable. 68ltr tank in the space for spare. We are adjusting the fuel map in the gas ecu to get the best performance / mpg at the moment i will post soon with the results soon.
David

I had an LPG Powered 400 back along with a 50L toroidal tank in place of the spare wheel. I found that I could only return about 230 miles to a tankful [about 27MPG].

Altogether, quite disappointing, but I later learnt that I should be looking at the overall cost of doing that 230 miles (about £11?) and not to dwell on the MPG figures.

It just got to me that I had to refill the tank every other day!

Let us know how you get on David..
Dave

This thread was discussed between 28/12/2001 and 02/02/2002

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