P38A LPG conversion ( 4.6 HSE Model)

An advantage of Single point is you can start/run from cold with the fuel, which is handy, my Thor had Single point on it from 2003 and 32k upto 2013 when a multi point setup was fitted at 113k and now she has 130k and runs like a swiss watch.

The old beast used to backfire on single point and blow though the intake, according to PO

Also handy if the fuel pump packs up. Can still run around on LPG until you get the pump fixed.

greenslade said:

Also handy if the fuel pump packs up. Can still run around on LPG until you get the pump fixed.

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What are the chances of that happening on a Land Rover?!

kermit_rr said:

Just my thoughts, LPG doesn't cause slipped liners or cracked blocks, overheating does. LPG doesn't cause overheating, but does burn marginally hotter.Though it's not completely unheard of for engines to fail regardless of whether LPG was used or the engine overheated or not

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OK here's my own personal experience > Back in 2002 I had a 75k 3.9 that was, like all my vehicles, well maintained when I had it converted to single point LPG by an approved installer. 12k later a metallic 'tap' became audible when the engine reached running temperature & in it's early stages switching over to petrol whilst on the move would cause the sound to disappear only to resume after changing back to LPG. Eventually after a couple of week's use the fuel switch trick no longer worked & the engine 'tapped' as soon as it started to warm up. Several tests & a strip-down later #3 liner showed up as the culprit, a replacement 4.0L block (3.9's being in short supply due to high demand) had to be sourced & the power unit reassembled, all at considerable expense. Interestingly a friend with a 3.9 power unit (also LPG converted) experienced liner slip at a similar mileage following conversion.

The choice rests with the OP at the end of the day, but I just wanted to point out that this conversion may not always be the holy grail of cost saving. In my case any fuel cost savings over the year were wiped out (plus a lot besides) by the block's failure & my friend sold his RR for scrap as he couldn't afford the repair costs.

nb. back then any long journey left me searching for LPG outlets to refuel

the 3.9 and 4.0 are one the same

The Rover v8's castings are inherently flawed especially in the early years, it was luck of the draw in most cases. mine has had lPG since 2003.

It runs well.

If you look onlne there are a fair few 180k plus RV8's on LPG.

Youtube especially..

Henry_b said:

the 3.9 and 4.0 are one the same

The Rover v8's castings are inherently flawed especially in the early years, it was luck of the draw in most cases. mine has had lPG since 2003.

It runs well.

If you look onlne there are a fair few 180k plus RV8's on LPG.

Youtube especially..

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I suspect the LPG might tip a weak one over tge edge. However, most of these cars are old now and any weak ones will already have fallen.

Grrrrrr said:

I suspect the LPG might tip a weak one over tge edge. However, most of these cars are old now and any weak ones will already have fallen.

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If the Mixture for the LPG is adjusted and set accordingly the difference in heat is negligible

Mind you, most Rover v8's are ancient..

Henry_b said:

If the Mixture for the LPG is adjusted and set accordingly the difference in heat is negligible

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You (& Grrrrr) have a point of course, but I would never go the LPG route again, not even on my 3.5efi which should be bomb-proof.

On a similar note, an acquaintance of mine back in the late 'nineties worked for a main stealer in Essex & said that they spent a large proportion of their time replacing 4.6 blocks that had been brought in allegedly suffering from HG failure. Not a lot was known about liner slippage back then, even by the dealers & looking back he suspected that LR was trying to play down the problem.

I'd have loved to be a fly on LR's boardroom wall when somebody asked 'what bright spark decided boring the V8 to 94mm was a good idea?'

norseman said:

You (& Grrrrr) have a point of course, but I would never go the LPG route again, not even on my 3.5efi which should be bomb-proof.

On a similar note, an acquaintance of mine back in the late 'nineties worked for a main stealer in Essex & said that they spent a large proportion of their time replacing 4.6 blocks that had been brought in allegedly suffering from HG failure. Not a lot was known about liner slippage back then, even by the dealers & looking back he suspected that LR was trying to play down the problem.

I'd have loved to be a fly on LR's boardroom wall when somebody asked 'what bright spark decided boring the V8 to 94mm was a good idea?'

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The bore wasn't the issue exactly, more the tolerances in the old, unmaintained machinery, being larger than the metalwork in question

Grrrrrr said:

What are the chances of that happening on a Land Rover?!

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Yes exactly! Pity there isnt mitigation for all the other things that go wrong lol!

kermit_rr said:

The bore wasn't the issue exactly, more the tolerances in the old, unmaintained machinery, being larger than the metalwork in question

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Interesting, thank you for that Kermit.

kermit_rr said:

The bore wasn't the issue exactly, more the tolerances in the old, unmaintained machinery, being larger than the metalwork in question

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Plus some very poor quality casting.