Converting The Cef To Gas

[funkymonkey]

Looking at converting the cef to gas in keeping with it being a taxi...

hehe

seriously, there's a gov't rebate on changing to a gas system... and I know they were used as taxi's in NZ... and all our taxi's run on gas in australia, so maaaaaybe some cef's in NZ run on gas too?

The car's only used for daily driving, and its 99% used by my old man, so performance is not an issue, only reliability and economy.

In any case, can an RB20DET be converted to run on natural gas? will a varying air intake rate (due to turbo) and variable fuel injection (due to EFI) be compatible with a gas system?

Of course once that's done... then the next step would be to convince my old man to run som NAWWWS mixed in with the natural gas for some added wooshka.

[SteveL]

No reason why not, but suggest you look at the more sophisticated end of the market which is Gas Research out Hallam way. More expensive, but worth it.

I assume you mean LPG not CNG (natural gas). It's possible to use CNG, but the tank pressures are far higher and it's not common in Oz. Besides the Govt rebate is only for LPG AFAIC.

[funkymonkey]

oops! yup, LPG, not natural gas.

[DJ984]

There's a VL Turbo (in Melb i think) running 10's on straight LPG man... if they can do it then there's no reason you can't.

i think their plates are LPG 747 or something like that, check out commodore forums and someone will point you in the right direction.

**Now: let's never speak of me pointing anyone towards a commmodore again!!**

[someonestolecc]

I would think that converting a cef to LPG wouldn't be economical, even with the rebate.

If you've done the figures I don't doubt it.. but still......hmm

[funkymonkey]

ahh yes, gas research, that's where Danny (autotrust) on the forums, used to work.

Didn't know they did a VL (it is GAS747 accrding to google). Will call in some favours n see what they can hook me up with.

CC... the conversion is about $3500 for a total system, and the rebate is just under $2000 or so. $1500 is the savings I'd make over petrol if I refilled every week for a year. After that its money in the pocket. Plus once its converted to gas I can drive back n forth between melb n syd too for almost the cost of flying

[Beer Baron]

next time you're in sydney I'm going to bitch slap you so hard you will forget all about this LPG (or natural gas..lol) plan.

[funkymonkey]

I hope your pimp hand is strong Cislowski! Nothing short of amnesia will make me change my mind... well, unless its way too financially unfeasible.

Besides... first RB engine outside of a Commonwhore to run on gas (altho if u squint teh cef looks like a fully sik calais).

[Beer Baron]

yeah, mah pimp hand be strong biznitch.

[DJ984]

Didn't know they did a VL (it is GAS747 accrding to google). Will call in some favours n see what they can hook me up with.

That's the one! absolute machine!

once again, let's erase my commodore references from all our memories before i get bitch slapped lol!

aside from that, I don't see what makes it a bad idea beer baron? gov't rebate + cheaper fuel...

mind you, i don't have a car at the moment so I have no standings on this topic what-so-ever lol!

[Beer Baron]

yes cheaper fuel, but worse economy. smelly car. poor starting. loss of interior space. more weight. lower re-sale (maybe). loss of power.

[Traditimeour]

A mate of mine put LPG into his Patrol, He then towed his Rock Hopper down to Sydney from Ipswich, cost him $300 in Gas, usually around the 600 mark.

He also said there was no lose of power.

[C_DawG]

Gas is for barbeques

[Mr Eps]

funky, i'm sure you will have many a person giving you their two cents,

however, read my thoughts

every man and his dog now wants their car converted to LPG with the gov't rebate, supply and demand concept ensues that fitters of LPG tanks will (and already have in WA) raised their prices to compensate for the gov't rebate and to counter demand with limited supply to the tune of about a $1500 add on to the previous cost,

all fitters in WA are fully booked to do the conversion until may next year, and are refusing to answer any calls,

LPG tanks can only be fitted to a certain types of car, in order for a car that hasn't got a plan for LPG, i believe they have to do a crash test with one in the car, (may not be right there, just what i read in the paper)

realistically, the estimate to actually save money after the conversion is expected to take around 5 yrs with the inflated prices, also, PLG prices are expected to rise somewhat as demand increases, (i doubt that one)

this however is (to me) common sense:

turbo + LPG conversion = turbo eats up LPG and you have to refill much more often,

LPG puts more strain on all engines bescause the ignition isn't as resonsive as petrol, this is the case with NA engine, imagine how much strain a turbo would put on it?

now here's food for thought...

LPG conversion = ~$4000

turbo + LPG increased consumption = more fuel purchases

engine problems to ensue as time goes by = billions and billions of money

long run savings = nothing worth mentioning

IF you want to save on efficiency, and don't give a crap about power,

RB20DE engine = ...$800 i would think?

fuel consumption = good

conversion costs, = $2

savings in long run = billions of moneys + save your dignity of not having a LPG powered car.

[funkymonkey]

to be honest an RB20DET is probably not the most fuel economic engine to start with. Being a turbo engine it chews up ANY fuel, LPG or otherwise.

I could probably get a prius for like 14-15k and fark the ceffy off for 10k.

I've already owned an RB20DE GTS, which did 10k per litre, but it was gutless... so having owned one, I wouldn't wanna go back to one. Theoretically gas systems should be no less efficient than petrol systems. I've driven dual fuel systems, my gf had a dual fuel magna and that was such a pain to use... but I'm told gas only systems these days are sophisticated enough to work properly with no issues.

This is more an exercise in being different, and slightly thinking financially. After having spoken to Gas Research their waiting list is till May next year... but a little bird tells me they might do mine a lil sooner if I go with em