Gas conversion

[1peter]

I have found a 4.5 Patrol that i am very interested in buying and then converting it to gas but, i have recently been told that gas puts more pressure on an older engine than petrol. My questions are - at 159,000 Km's is the conversion likely to cause any issues ? Has anyone had problems with their engine after getting a conversion ? If so, how many Km's did the engine have on it and what caused the problem ?? Any replies appreciated.

[Bigrig]

My 4.2 got done at about 150,000 klms and no problem - the 4.2's and 4.5's convert to gas well ...

Who's doing the conversion? I know a guy (now a sponsor of the forum) who is a licensed conversion specialist - great bloke, done wonders to my rig and others on here who I have sent to him ... PM me if you would like his details.

[Sir Roofy]

my 4.5 was done in 2000 on gas drves ok cant see a problem with it
except gas keeps getting dearer

[Bob]

I have a 98 GU 4.5L on Gas and runs extremely well. Has been on Gas since new

[katwoman]

Same as two posts above.. But one small thing, I've got 80litre tank ( in my 4.5) The main fuel tank was replaced with gas. 80 litres gas, and 35 litres petrol. Not enough fuel !!
Go bigger gas tank if you can.

[1peter]

thanks for the replies.

[Warnie]

You can get a much bigger sub tank than 35L, I have a 70L sub tank. I agree with the bigger gas tank also, I have 90L usable.

[Bigrig]

You can get a much bigger sub tank than 35L, I have a 70L sub tank. I agree with the bigger gas tank also, I have 90L usable.

My fuel tank is 72 litres and the LPG is 90 litres ... definitely need the bigger LPG tank as you'll get a lot less mileage around town and be getting the sh!ts with having to fill it all the time ....

[Bob]

I am lucky as my gas tank is 105 litres useable. Petrol sub tank is only 35 litres which is a bit of a bummer

[Bigrig]

Where are you based Peter??? I'm getting mine converted back to full petrol only, and the LPG tank is less than 5 years old - if you can wait about 4 weeks, you can have it (you pick up or pay for freight and it's yours).

[1peter]

Hey Bigrig thats great thanks, I live in Caboolture so picking it up isn't a problem. I asked Hycraft about fitting it and he said no worries and said to ask you if you have the bash plates and filler for it ? I'm only new to this forum and i'm already being offered gifts, awesome. I was hoping to fit the gas before the 1st of July because the rebate is less after then but the tank would save me more money than losing a bit on the rebate i think ?? I just have to make a decision about buying the GU now. Thanks a bunch for the offer BigRig, i will probably take you up on it mate. This forum is Brilliant.

[Bigrig]

Hey Bigrig thats great thanks, I live in Caboolture so picking it up isn't a problem. I asked Hycraft about fitting it and he said no worries and said to ask you if you have the bash plates and filler for it ? I'm only new to this forum and i'm already being offered gifts, awesome. I was hoping to fit the gas before the 1st of July because the rebate is less after then but the tank would save me more money than losing a bit on the rebate i think ?? I just have to make a decision about buying the GU now. Thanks a bunch for the offer BigRig, i will probably take you up on it mate. This forum is Brilliant.

No worries. You can have the tank, bash plate, filler and pipe, condensor if he can use it, mixer, gauge etc ... all yours!!

[1peter]

Thanks a million mate, I will let you know if i buy the GU. What size tank is it ?

[Bigrig]

90 litres ...

[1peter]

Hey BigRig, i bought the Patrol and i am very happy with it so i will take you up on the offer. Could you give me the measurements of the tank when you get the chance, just approx length and width. I will probably bring my EL ford to pick it up and am wondering if it will fit in the boot or back seat ?? Thanks again.

[Bigrig]

Hey BigRig, i bought the Patrol and i am very happy with it so i will take you up on the offer. Could you give me the measurements of the tank when you get the chance, just approx length and width. I will probably bring my EL ford to pick it up and am wondering if it will fit in the boot or back seat ?? Thanks again.

Will do - PM me your mobile and I'll call when I get it done.

[1peter]

How many Km's are you guys getting from a tank (please include size of tank) on gas ? What is the difference in mileage with injected versus throttle body. I am getting differing stories from so called specialists, some are saying not to go injected because my vehicle is not sequential injected and others say injected will go on my model (1998 4.5) and yet others say if i go with injected i can expect to have problems with the electrics in my truck because it is getting a bit old ?? I am confused, who's telling the truth ??

[Bigrig]

How many Km's are you guys getting from a tank (please include size of tank) on gas ? What is the difference in mileage with injected versus throttle body. I am getting differing stories from so called specialists, some are saying not to go injected because my vehicle is not sequential injected and others say injected will go on my model (1998 4.5) and yet others say if i go with injected i can expect to have problems with the electrics in my truck because it is getting a bit old ?? I am confused, who's telling the truth ??

Mine is 90 litres with throttle body and manifold, and I get about 450klms open road driving unladen. Hard to measure gas as it gets so hammered as soon as you load up. A 98 model should accommodate injectors no worries I would have thought - I looked into getting it on my 92 way back before I decided to get rid of it. Who did you speak to? What was Derek's thoughts on it??

[Bigrig]

Mine is 90 litres with throttle body and manifold, and I get about 450klms open road driving unladen. Hard to measure gas as it gets so hammered as soon as you load up. A 98 model should accommodate injectors no worries I would have thought - I looked into getting it on my 92 way back before I decided to get rid of it. Who did you speak to? What was Derek's thoughts on it??

Just spoke with him, and he can't see why there'd be any issue with injectors - that said, I don't know the full story on your truck, but he said if you give him a call, he'll suss out any concerns/known issues before suggesting which way to go. Not obligated to use him of course mate, but he hasn't missed a beat on multiple vehicles from the forum thus far and is a licensed gas conversion specialist (doing another 4.8 patrol this week as it turns out).

Good luck with it either way!!

[1peter]

Sorry Scotty, i didn't realize you had sent me the PM. I just rang Derek and had a chack and he is getting back to me with some info. The biggest problem for me is getting the car to and from Capalaba, i told him that and he is still willing to ring me back. Good bloke.

[Bigrig]

Sorry Scotty, i didn't realize you had sent me the PM. I just rang Derek and had a chack and he is getting back to me with some info. The biggest problem for me is getting the car to and from Capalaba, i told him that and he is still willing to ring me back. Good bloke.

Yep - good guy mate. No doubt he'll loan you the falcon whilst yours is in if you book ahead ... option is always yours though mate - no skin off my nose if it proves to be too far.

[1peter]

Thanks for the info. I was told to ask you (from a local fitter) if your tank is a six bolt/lug tank ?? I assume if yours is comming out of a GU it will fit mine but i said I'd let him know. There is a lot of debate about whether to change to gas or stay with fuel when you start talking to people. Some hate it & some love it, probably depends on who fits it to the vehicle.

[Bigrig]

Thanks for the info. I was told to ask you (from a local fitter) if your tank is a six bolt/lug tank ?? I assume if yours is comming out of a GU it will fit mine but i said I'd let him know. There is a lot of debate about whether to change to gas or stay with fuel when you start talking to people. Some hate it & some love it, probably depends on who fits it to the vehicle.

I'll check what mine is mate [I'll take some happy snaps tomorrow] - hear you on the debate - I'm one who is getting rid of LPG to go back to straight fuel ...

[1peter]

Thanks BigRig, it's a difficult decision because it looks like gas is going up in price + it can introduce problems that you wouldn't otherwise have ?? I can't decide between barbecue and chicken flavoured chips so this is driving me nuts, lol. What made you go back to fuel ??

[1peter]

I have a 98 GU 4.5L on Gas and runs extremely well. Has been on Gas since new

Bob, is yours injected or throttle body and what sort of Km's do you get from your main tank

[katwoman]

I think there is a thread here about gas mileage ?! I've got the '98 GU, 80 litre tank, gets about 300-350 kms from a tank. If you go gas, bigger than 80 litre is a must !!

[YNOT]

How many Km's are you guys getting from a tank (please include size of tank) on gas ? What is the difference in mileage with injected versus throttle body. I am getting differing stories from so called specialists, some are saying not to go injected because my vehicle is not sequential injected and others say injected will go on my model (1998 4.5) and yet others say if i go with injected i can expect to have problems with the electrics in my truck because it is getting a bit old ?? I am confused, who's telling the truth ??

GU 4.5 IS sequentially injected so there is no problem fitting gas injction if you decide to go that way.

My previous Patrol was a '94 GQ 4.2 EFI (250,000km on the clock) which I (I'm a former automotive gas fitter) fitted with Parnell vapour sequential injection to without any problems...............apart from wiring up one injector incorrectly which resulted in 5 cylinders running on gas and 1 on petrol!

As long as a quality VSI kit is used and installed properly you will not have any on going electrical problems.
You could if you wanted to fit Scott's gas system as is for now then later on replace the under bonnet components with VSI components later.
Tony

[Bigrig]

Thanks BigRig, it's a difficult decision because it looks like gas is going up in price + it can introduce problems that you wouldn't otherwise have ?? I can't decide between barbecue and chicken flavoured chips so this is driving me nuts, lol. What made you go back to fuel ??

The way I drive, where I go, LPG prices, distance with LPG versus long ranger fuel tank, the way I drive ... ummm ... lol... And I'm getting a super charger which won't work with my system apparently so I'd be up for a new one - would rather go straight petrol. As an example, I'm doing Strzelecki, Oodnadatta, and Birdsville tracks next year, and LPG is somewhat unattainable, not to mention how fast it burns when you load up the engine - whilst petrol may skyrocket to 25 lph under load, I'd be lucky to get 30-32 lph from LPG meaning I have less than 300klms available to me out of a tank that I can't refill on the tracks and more than likely in most towns.

Personal choice mate, and went through the same pain you're experiencing now - don't know how to help with that one I'm afraid!

Best of luck and just holler if we can help any further!

[Bob]

Bob, is yours injected or throttle body and what sort of Km's do you get from your main tank

My main Tank of Gas is 105 Litres useable and Highway Cruising I use 18 Litres per Hundred K's which gives me approx 580 k's. Towing a Jayco Dove I achieve 22/23 Litres per 100 k's

Mine is Throttle Body

Gas is about 65c a Litre in Bendigo and most of Victoria and sometimes you can get it for 55c a Litre.

My Troll is tuned regularly and tuned more for Gas than Petrol

[1peter]

Thanks YNOT, i think i will just go with the injection rather than fit one system then change later, good idea though. You said fit a quality VSI kit, how do iknow which one is aquality kit ?? I have been told by a local guy here that he uses a Landi Renzo system, another uses a King system ?? Which is better ??

[1peter]

Bob , thanks for the info. BigRig, i will figure it out, lol, i can't remember if i mentioned that i am getting 400km's to a 90 litre tank (as far as i can tell so far) on fuel, i will do some more searching to find out if this is normal.

[Bigrig]

Bob , thanks for the info. BigRig, i will figure it out, lol, i can't remember if i mentioned that i am getting 400km's to a 90 litre tank (as far as i can tell so far) on fuel, i will do some more searching to find out if this is normal.

400 to a 90 litre tank sounds a little high - I would have thought the 4.5's were thirsty, but still under 20 lph on the open road - best result from my 4.2 (and 6 years older) is 15.2 lph and that was with me, an adult passenger, and the toolbox (25kgs - it all adds up) on board.

[YNOT]

Thanks YNOT, i think i will just go with the injection rather than fit one system then change later, good idea though. You said fit a quality VSI kit, how do iknow which one is aquality kit ?? I have been told by a local guy here that he uses a Landi Renzo system, another uses a King system ?? Which is better ??

Try talking to taxi mechanics about which systems and installers they prefer. My experience is limited to Ford (Falcon) factory systems and Parnell/Prins.

Tony

[Bob]

Bob , thanks for the info. BigRig, i will figure it out, lol, i can't remember if i mentioned that i am getting 400km's to a 90 litre tank (as far as i can tell so far) on fuel, i will do some more searching to find out if this is normal.

Fuel consumption is hard to compare between vehicles as there are so many variables (Tyre Pressure,Weight,Roof Rack and Driver etc ).
I find that keeping your vehicle well tuned helps.
You need to take into account where you will be driving the Vehicle and is Gas available and at a reasonable Cost. Gas in W.A apparently is very expensive.

[1peter]

The driving i did for 22.5 lph was a mix of city, open road and a small bit of off road. I also got 100km's out of the first quarter tank and that was mostly around town, it doesn't seem to matter where i drive ?? Tyre pressure is 38 and the car has no roof rack on it at the moment, just a bit of camping gear and camping drawers.

[Bigrig]

The driving i did for 22.5 lph was a mix of city, open road and a small bit of off road. I also got 100km's out of the first quarter tank and that was mostly around town, it doesn't seem to matter where i drive ?? Tyre pressure is 38 and the car has no roof rack on it at the moment, just a bit of camping gear and camping drawers.

That's not bad for that sort of driving - I towed the camper (bloody heavy) up on the weekend on LPG and drove around on it thinking I'd have plenty in reserve - not so. Doing 180klms up there, I burned 3/4 of the tank and ended up running on petrol and having to top up on the way back (my petrol tank is only 72 litres) - just another reason I'm getting rid of LPG - as said, under load it burns quick.