Gas on Alloytec Adventra

[mickeyVX350]

Gudday.

My trusty CX6 has been known to be a bit heavy on juice (more than the CV8): not that I am worried. I have so far done around 30,000K in a year. Obviously I like the car! I am looking at trying to make it a bit cheaper on the pocket without spending a bomb.

The subject in question is a 2005 Alloytec Adventra with (now) 201,500K and going like a dream. 2000K in the last week.

I am asking if I will break even on this conversion (is it worth the $) what is a good rate for the conversion (I know they can't have the 'cheap' conversion)

I also need to throw a rack in her apparently.

I would buy a new car, but they don't make these and she is my lugger of band gear, dogs, trailers as well as my bush hack. All in all too good to chuck out or trade cheap as I'd wreck a VE.

Any suggestions, installers etc?

Oh I also am self employed, so I think there are tax breaks too?

[redvxr8clubby]

How much is gas (relative to petrol) where you normally fill up? I think it's a no brainer when you run up decent Km's. The car will use more gas than it does petrol (I think probably 20%). If you can buy gas at about half petrol cost, then you should easily come out in front. However sometimes in country areas I see gas at about 70% the price of petrol, when you factor in your increased fuel usage, then the savings are getting a bit skinny. Also consider your car has 200,000 Km, I think maybe engine will be good until 300,000 so you probably need to get well in front before Km's get to high. No doubt you could put your gas conversion on another engine or your rebuilt engine, but adding to cost. See also comments in another thread on LPG doing the rounds at the moment regarding installing a flashlub kit on Alloytech VZ's, as you may do damage to heads in about 50,000 Km - If that happens any savings will be gone. I believe the old Ecotech in VY's and earlier don't have this problem. I had a work Falcon wagon - dedicated gas (factory Egas)and fuel cost was about half that of a petrol car (that is when buying gas at about 50 cents, when petrol is over a dollar.

[mickeyVX350]

Thanks Clubby. My old man got the 'el cheapo' gas kit on his BA, 200 smackers after the rebate. We see gas here at similar to Melb prices, so I am looking at 1/3 of the price. Dad recently did Portland - Ballarat - Geelong - Ballarat - Geelong and to Warrnambool on a tank... 27 dollars or something silly! I did Bairnsdale on about 40 litres... (51 dollars).

I may be going that way a bit soon, so I wanna minimise the dollars.

As for the Alloytec, I swear mine has the most K's that I know of, but no one knows how good these engines lives are yet. Mine is perfect!

I have been following the threads, but I was looking for clarification on the Gas systems too.

[PoweredByCNG]

If you want the answer to the 'is it worth it?' question, please download and use the following spreadsheet created by myself:

DOWNLOAD (http://home.iprimus.com.au/davidkhl/LPGcalc.xls)

The cost of an LPG system for an Adventra (external toroidal tank) is likely to cost between $4500 and $5500 depending on which system you opt for.

Regards,
Dave

[planetdavo]

You might want to have a read of this thread...
http://www.ls1.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=127883

[redvxr8clubby]

PoweredByCNG that's an impressive calculator. Another thing that I think difficult to predict is effect on resale - If your resale is better then you will recover some of that outlay as well. I think, though that resale of LPG car is probably better than petrol equivalent, but I don't think that's always been the case - of course LPG cars are often the higher mileage ones so resale obviously affected by Kms.

[mickeyVX350]

According to the SS, about 35000K to break even, so let's say 12 months...

Still not too sure!!!

Cmon.. more opinions to mix my head up would be great!!! hehe

[PoweredByCNG]

At the end of the day, do what your heart tells you to do.

There's nothing worse than doing something with the knowledge that you may regret it later down the track.

I think that if it's only going to take you 12 months to recoup the initial installation cost then it's definitely well worth doing, especially if you intend on keeping your car for a couple more years. Remember to use conservative figures for things such as fuel prices, after-conversion petrol consumption % and fuel consumption penalty if you're using my calculator.

Again, remember that the negativity on automotive discussion forums results from the fact that people tend to post messages only when they experience problems. You're less likely to see messages about people happy with their cars.

Regards,
Dave

[fatbob]

you know, I think this one is a no-brainer for sure
if you travelling such a huge amount of km, then unless your engine packs it in - you simply have to come out in front real quick
and then be making dollars each week you drive ....
have you worked out how much a week costs you in more dollars for petrol ?

[gondy]

given the high km's you do per year i would say it's worth it especially if your going to keep the car for a few more years.
was considering doing it to mine but i don't do enough km's per year to make it worth it (about 10,000 per year)

[planetdavo]

Again, remember that the negativity on automotive discussion forums results from the fact that people tend to post messages only when they experience problems. You're less likely to see messages about people happy with their cars.

Regards,
Dave

Sometimes better than sticking your head in the sand and pretending these motors don't come with a reputation for aftermarket lpg engine dramas. :teach:
Perhaps you can recommend he keep around $3000 under his bed for a possible top engine rebuild. That is where "the head" might be more useful than "the heart". People get burned when the heart controls the head my friend, especially when it involves cars... :)

[gondy]

i comes down to how big the risk is for head damage to occur, it may only be a few engines that are affected and these forums make it sound like a bigger percentage as most people with this kind of conversion would only seek out help if there is a problem and you may not hear the 100 other people who have converted with no issues

but you still need to be aware that there is a chance of damage to occur

[planetdavo]

i comes down to how big the risk is for head damage to occur, it may only be a few engines that are affected and these forums make it sound like a bigger percentage as most people with this kind of conversion would only seek out help if there is a problem and you may not hear the 100 other people who have converted with no issues

It's like anything on forums. Just about every topic is full of negativity, but only some of it has truth behind the crap.

[PoweredByCNG]

It's like anything on forums. Just about every topic is full of negativity, but only some of it has truth behind the crap.

Mate, the only negativity here is the negativity you've been vandalising this forum with.

Regards,
Dave

[planetdavo]

Mate, the only negativity here is the negativity you've been vandalising this forum with.

Regards,
Dave

Hmmm, I see this thread is going EXACTLY the same way the other alloytec lpg thread has gone. :spew:
If people like yourself don't want the world knowing these motors often have a dislike for aftermarket lpg conversions, well, perhaps you need to find a forum with a bit more fantasy and a bit less reality...

[Swordie]

I usually chat with Taxi drivers about LPG. One recent conversation with an owner driver of WM Statesman said it's important to fit the lube kit.

[lowlai]

do your research and if your happy with what you findout go for it

[mickeyVX350]

Well looks like I am going to go with an installer in Rowville. $3950 On my calcs it'll take 13 months (27000K) to repay. Using a Romano system and removing the manifold, replacing the manifold gaskets etc...