HELP LPG and Autoelectrician

00scottie00 · Jun 7, 2013

Hello, I'm in West Sussex just outside Chichester.
I recently bought a series two ( I think) it's had an LPG fitted and need to get it checked out to see if it's working ok, I also need someone that can help me sort some of the electrics, it's been rewired but every wire is black!!
Any help would be great or a point in the direction of someone close by that knows about LPG and can service it, and an auto electrician would be awesome.
Scottie

Aidso · Jun 7, 2013

All black wires?? That person must have hated someone. If you want to do the wiring yourself get a multimeter and a long piece of wire.

samc88 · Jun 7, 2013

Yes, as said get a multimeter and a wiring diagram

MadCow · Jun 28, 2013

Hi,
A quick look at the driveLPG website provided the following: Hollyacre, Toddington Lane, Wick, BN17 7PP, Tel. 01903 715715.
My Series 3 (1984) is on LPG too, and as of last year I discovered that I had to get it on 'zee list' - that is the national lpg database. If yours isn't on this list, you'll have problems getting it insured. You need an approved installer to check it and do it for you - probably costing about an hour's labour?
Also make sure the system's properly earthed - not helped by your loom's state. But I only found that my lpg system's regulator wasn't earthed to the coil - which could have caused 'explosive' results.
Best to get it checked, especially if it's been there a while. Avoid pattern parts too - where gas is concerned you need to stick to genuine parts for obvious reasons.
Also, if yours has a rocker switch for gas to/from petrol - when changing to gas, hold the switch in the middle (ie. neither fuel selected) until it starts spluttering as this empties the carb first, before selecting LPG.
And no matter what you've heard, it is fine to start on lpg. No need to warm it up first.
Rose x

wrickm · Jun 28, 2013

I have always wanted and LPG truck, but it is apparently much less common in the U.S. and a Land Rover on LPG would be exceptionally rare. I ended up with a converted '78 109 200tdi diesel so a LPG conversion is not in my future.
How do you like the feel/upkeep/etc of the LPG?

MadCow · Jul 16, 2013

Hi,
Years ago (probably the 1980s) the UK government had a grant scheme whereby you could get money to convert your car to run on LPG as well as on petrol. The main problem was finding a fuel station to fill up at!
My Series 3 comes from this era which never took off as the bods in government had hoped. In a way I'm glad as they'd no doubt have raised the revenue on LPG since it costs about half the price of petrol.
When she's running okay (currently limping thanks to an urgent need for 2 halfshaft UJs!) she runs very well. She sounds a lot quieter on LPG and ticks over perfectly.
Mind you, I'm still reeling from the shock

of some number-crunching I did recently. She's only returning a maximum of 14.5 mpg, and on bad days this can fall to 8.5mpg! I console myself with the fact that it's half the price, but having ripped a hole in one of the regulator's diphragms recently, I've fitted a new regulator (it was either that or wait 3 months for a replacement diaphragm). Will have to wait and monitor the situation to see if the mpg improves... I've checked the obvious bits - nothing. I might weaken the mixture a quarter turn.
Or I might consider a 200tdi as well!
Rose

tbone portly · Jul 17, 2013

I didn't know about the register, all I have is a certificate of conversion - the insurance seem happy with that.

and I'd be well happy with 14.5mpg on gas - I reckon I get about 10mpg average on gas, 12-13 on petrol - I did work it out a while ago that with the cost of gas its roughly equivalent to 18mpg, it would never make back the cost of conversion, but then again I didn't convert it

going for a 200/300 di would be a lot better for economy...

wrickm · Jul 17, 2013

Wit hte 200tdi i run a heavily filtered mix of waste vegetable and motor oils with regular diesel to cut it. seems to work pretty well and keeps costs down.

nongrokal · Jul 17, 2013

MadCow said:
Hi,
Years ago (probably the 1980s) the UK government had a grant scheme whereby you could get money to convert your car to run on LPG as well as on petrol. The main problem was finding a fuel station to fill up at!
My Series 3 comes from this era which never took off as the bods in government had hoped. In a way I'm glad as they'd no doubt have raised the revenue on LPG since it costs about half the price of petrol.
When she's running okay (currently limping thanks to an urgent need for 2 halfshaft UJs!) she runs very well. She sounds a lot quieter on LPG and ticks over perfectly.
Mind you, I'm still reeling from the shock of some number-crunching I did recently. She's only returning a maximum of 14.5 mpg, and on bad days this can fall to 8.5mpg! I console myself with the fact that it's half the price, but having ripped a hole in one of the regulator's diphragms recently, I've fitted a new regulator (it was either that or wait 3 months for a replacement diaphragm). Will have to wait and monitor the situation to see if the mpg improves... I've checked the obvious bits - nothing. I might weaken the mixture a quarter turn.
Or I might consider a 200tdi as well!
Rose

Had a lot of taxis running on gas in the 70s, we found that if you advance the ignition a fair bit when on gas you will improve the mpg. Back in the day we would rig up a choke cable to turn the distributor to alter timing from the cab. also, remember that gas is unleaded, so if not converted use an additive in your petrol, and run on that now and then.

HELP LPG and Autoelectrician

00scottie00

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Aidso

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samc88

Drivels spiritual representative

MadCow

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wrickm

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MadCow

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tbone portly

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wrickm

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nongrokal

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