Converting your car to run on gas

Yesterday saw the launch of Liquigas Malta's Auto Liquigas fuel, described by Liquigas's CEO as a cleaner and cheaper alternative to petrol and diesel.

The launch was held in the surroundings of the Malta International Airport in Luqa, where the first filling autogas station was installed. Other stations are to be installed in the near future in other areas across Malta and Gozo.

Autogas is the term used to describe Liquefied Petroleum Gas as an automotive fuel. LPG is primarily derived during the extraction of natural gas and oil, and is also produced in refineries.

There is however a one-time expense in order to be able to use this type of gas fuel.

Autogas vehicle conversion in a nutshell

The LPG conversion results in a duel-fuel car that can either run on LPG or petrol at the flick of a button, even whilst driving. The device will be fitted on the dashboard and the cost of the LPG conversion is estimated to be between 700 and 1,300 euros, depending on the vehicle being converted. The initial cost for the conversion will result in lower running costs though.

The initiative is safe and widely used in European countries such as Italy, Poland and Germany. Seven million cars run on LPG autogas in Europe, 2% of the total number of cars.

A number of automobile manufacturers - Citroën, Fiat, Ford, Hyundai, General Motors (including Daewoo, Holden, Opel/Vauxhall, Saab), Maruti Suzuki, Peugeot, Renault (including Dacia), Skoda, Tata Motors, Toyota, Volvo, and more recently Volkswagen -have OEM bi-fuel models that will run equally well on both LPG and petrol. Holden Special Vehicles (HSV) also offer bi-fuel models however the vehicles use a different system to that of their donor vehicles from Holden, with HSV using technology from Orbital Autogas Systems, which injects the autogas into the engine as a liquid instead of a gas for increased efficiency.

Petrol-engined cars which have not been fitted with LPG/autogas systems by the manufacturers can accept third party systems to enable them to use both LPG or petrol.

But according to Liquigas Malta, if a vehicle owner is interested in switching to autogas, one must use autogas authorised mechanics for a professionally made conversion. However vehicle owners opting to switch to autogas can still have the option of switching back to petrol by means of a switch installed in the dashboard.

Can my car be converted to LPG?

Over 95% of petrol engine based vehicles available can be converted to LPG, as long as it is fuel injection and in good condition then it should be suitable for LPG conversion. Note: Direct Injection engines cannot be converted to gas successfully. The engine of each vehicle is checked to determine if it's in good condition, and that has no problems. If the car has problems running on petrol, then it will also have problems running on LPG.

How much will it cost to convert my car?

Fully Sequential injection kits start from £700, but the total price depends on your car, the kit and optional items such as flashlube or a larger/extra tank. A few LPG installers still use old mixer systems - these systems cost something around the £800 mark. They are notorious for being unreliable, causing problems with the running of the car and in some cases even destroying the engine.

What will happen to my car?

A kit will be installed in your engine and an extra fuel tank will be added to your car. This is normally placed in the boot, however this can be changed. A switch will be installed near the dashboard - the position of the switch is up to you.

How long is the conversion process?

For the majority of vehicles, the minimum the conversion will take is one day.

Will my performance be affected?

Due to the quality of the latest sequential kits, there is virtually no performance loss in converting your vehicle to LPG. However, you may notice a quieter and smoother ride. There is on average between 10-15% loss in MPG when you run your vehicle on LPG. However, the savings you will make due to the price of LPG makes the loss in MPG insignificant.

Is there any warranty?

Most kits come with a two-year parts and labour warranty. Are there any safety issues?

The fuel tanks are extremely safe and come complete with safety valves and cut off switches in case of a fire or emergency situation. All tanks are meant to be of European standard and safety-tested.

Will LPG be commonly available in Malta, like most other European countries?

LPG (often advertised as autogas) is sold at many fuel stations internationally and new sites are being opened up all the time. In Malta's case, there's only one filling station at Malta International Airport in Luqa, however other station installations are being planned. One can switch back to petrol by means of the switch if the need arises.

When I change my car, can I use the same kit?

Yes, it's possible to remove the kit from your old vehicle and install it on a newer one.

How does an LPG conversion affect the resale value of my car?

Your vehicle will have a higher resale value for a number of reasons.

More people are finding out about LPG all the time. In a few years time, it should be common knowledge amongst the average consumer.

If you sell your vehicle with the kit then it will increase the sale value by quite a bit even if you decide to sell your vehicle without the kit it will still increase the value due to the fact that autogas is a cleaner fuel and causes less wear and tear then petrol or diesel.