Auto-LPG Conversion Thread

[trooperlpg]

ghosthunter,
Sir thanks a lot for the enlightening analysis ...

[Mile2]

So far I'm nearing my 2 year of using SGI LPG kit. My impression on stalling and engine hesitation was only due to dirty LPG or oily LPG from some other refilling stations. My last visit with GreenFuel was over a year and half now.

My vote for clean LPG stations goes to Total - Fairview and Manila Auto Gas- Makati. If I refill at other stations aside from the two I have mentioned, I do get engine hesitation and knocking.

[ghosthunter]

ghosthunter,
Sir thanks a lot for the enlightening analysis ...

There is a few positive things about the venturi kit too...

-it is much cheaper
-simpler to install and remove
-tuning is simple a turning a few screws
-tuning can be done by anyone anywhere. (you can also screw it up just as easy though).
-fuel selector switch can double as car immobilizer (as a fuel cut-off device).
-immune to problems of oily LPG supply.

[velocityboy]

does anybody know if there are lpg station in tarlac, pampanga la unio or ilocos? i know there is one in baguio...

[aamd]

I think i found one in pangasinan near manaoag. As you are driving to baguio along McArthur Highway, the LPG station is on the right. It is an entry/exit road for alternate route (manila-baguio). Maybe around 300 to 800 meters away from McArthur Highway. I did not remember any signs on the right but i am sure that it is an intersection that is on the left going to manaoag then on the right is the way to the LPG station.

[red888]

mga sir, do you need to use another kind of motor oil,when using LPG in your engine ?

[Mile2]

mga sir, do you need to use another kind of motor oil,when using LPG in your engine ?

Normal oil (mineral) and spark plugs (copper) is sufficient.

[ghosthunter]

mga sir, do you need to use another kind of motor oil,when using LPG in your engine ?

The usual motor oil would do just fine.

As for spark plugs, it depends. Some users are fine with their regular sparkplugs. Others use one step "colder" sparkplugs. And there are other people who use platinum sparkplugs for their longer lasting tips.

[scorpion255]

hope the guru's here could help me, i had my avanza converted to sgi kit at greenfuel 2 yrs ago,it went there last monday for its calibration and will return to greenfuel, waiting for the chief mechanic because the mechanic on duty cannot fix the "kumakadyot" while using lpg. it also happens that my avanza is experiencing overheating problems. I have replaced the radiator cap, took out the thermostat, cleaned the radiator, and check the other one related also to overheating but it is still ok. My avanza will be 4yrs old in nov this yr, so i'm wondering how could this be happening, my suspicion right now could be the lpg kit which is connected to the radiator as well. Hope someone could give me an idea on what to do while waiting for the chief mechanic of greenfuel. the people whom i know is no longer with greenfuel like mike lim and lorna. Thanks in advance!

[Mile2]

my suspicion right now could be the lpg kit which is connected to the radiator as well.

It is called the evaporiser, it has a bypass water hose going to the radiator and it has nothing to do with overheating issue. Hot water from radiator just passes to the evaporator and return back.

If you have overheating problem on gasoline mode likewise, then there are other problems aside from your LPG kit.

If you are having overheating problem on LPG alone, then your evaporizer was set very lean and that can also lead to jerking.

There's also a chance that your LPG injectors are clogs and may need cleaning.

[ghosthunter]

hope the guru's here could help me, i had my avanza converted to sgi kit at greenfuel 2 yrs ago,it went there last monday for its calibration and will return to greenfuel, waiting for the chief mechanic because the mechanic on duty cannot fix the "kumakadyot" while using lpg. it also happens that my avanza is experiencing overheating problems. I have replaced the radiator cap, took out the thermostat, cleaned the radiator, and check the other one related also to overheating but it is still ok. My avanza will be 4yrs old in nov this yr, so i'm wondering how could this be happening, my suspicion right now could be the lpg kit which is connected to the radiator as well. Hope someone could give me an idea on what to do while waiting for the chief mechanic of greenfuel. the people whom i know is no longer with greenfuel like mike lim and lorna. Thanks in advance!

Look for WARREN.

By the way, have you tried running the Avanza on gasoline and see if the problem disappears?

Typical problems with our Honda City 1.3L and Nissan Sentra 1.3L are related to sparkplug condition. Replacing the existing sparkplugs with new ones generally solve uneven engine problems.

[scorpion255]

Thank you sir Mile2, Ghosthunter for the quick reply, i have talked to Sir warren and will try to take out the fuse to see if it will overheat when in gas mode only. Will let you guys know of what will happen.
again, many thanks!

[ghosthunter]

Overheating might be a sign of the engine running too lean. Have your car's auto-lpg "calibrated" with their PC.

[kikoteng]

Hi Guys !

First of all, thanks to this forum, I took the plunge and converted my ride to LPG just last week.

Ride is a corolla 2k xl. 1.3liter carbureted engine. So got an open loop LPG kit.

Got my Aldesa LPG kit installed by LHI in Binondo. They're also the ones distributing the Flashlube valve saver thing.

Been trying out my ride the past few days. Initially, I felt the LPG has weak acceleration compared to gas so I advanced the ignition timing and changed to new spark plugs. As what has been discussed in this thread (all 200+ pages, hehe), each of those improved power significantly.

Got a few questions though.

1. Has anyone here tried using a 'colder' spark plug ? What is the difference compared to your usual 'non-colder' plug ?

2. When switching from LPG to gas while driving, I was taught to rev hard (not to floor the accelerator, probably midway) as I flick the switch to gas. Sometimes the transition is smooth but sometimes the car seems like its drowning, speed slows down and dies. Then it is difficult to start the car. I suspect there is some left over LPG mixed with gas that is causing this. Question is, to the venturi kit owners here, do you experience the same problem ? How's your switchover (LPG to gas) procedure ?

Thank you in advance, LPG brothers ... hehehe

Kiko

[ghosthunter]

Ride is a corolla 2k xl. 1.3liter carbureted engine. So got an open loop LPG kit.

2. When switching from LPG to gas while driving, I was taught to rev hard (not to floor the accelerator, probably midway) as I flick the switch to gas. Sometimes the transition is smooth but sometimes the car seems like its drowning, speed slows down and dies. Then it is difficult to start the car. I suspect there is some left over LPG mixed with gas that is causing this. Question is, to the venturi kit owners here, do you experience the same problem ? How's your switchover (LPG to gas) procedure ?

Your switch over problems is caused by your carburator. Gasoline accumulates in the float area and takes a bit of time for that fuel to be used up.

If you switch over too quickly, your engine will take in both gasoline and lpg, resulting in a over-rich air-fuel ratio. This will not ignite or will burn slower. If the engine stalls, you have to crank the engine long enough to remove the remaining gasoline before you can start on LPG.

Typically what I hear with carb engine conversions to LPG, if you plan to switch from gasoline to LPG, you have to set the system to "neutral" and let the carburator run dry. At that point the engine stalls. Then set the switch to LPG mode and start the engine using LPG.

As for my car, I have a 4AFE engine with venturi-lpg kit. Switch over is simply reving up the engine a bit and quickly switching from gasoline to lpg mode. The switch cuts off the gasoline fuel injectors and starts the flow of LPG to the mixer.

Switching from LPG to gasoline is similar but there is a chance of going over-rich with the engine. It's because it takes time (a couple of seconds) to use up the remaining amount of LPG in the intake even with the LPG shut-off if the engine is reving not so fast.

[kikoteng]

Typically what I hear with carb engine conversions to LPG, if you plan to switch from gasoline to LPG, you have to set the system to "neutral" and let the carburator run dry. At that point the engine stalls. Then set the switch to LPG mode and start the engine using LPG.

Yep. That's what I do with gas to LPG switchover. After some time, the engine jerks due to absence of gas, I try to switch immediately to LPG. Sometimes, the engine stalls. Oftentimes, it doesn't.

As for my car, I have a 4AFE engine with venturi-lpg kit. Switch over is simply reving up the engine a bit and quickly switching from gasoline to lpg mode. The switch cuts off the gasoline fuel injectors and starts the flow of LPG to the mixer.

Switching from LPG to gasoline is similar but there is a chance of going over-rich with the engine. It's because it takes time (a couple of seconds) to use up the remaining amount of LPG in the intake even with the LPG shut-off if the engine is reving not so fast.

In that case, when doing LPG to gas switchover, it would make sense then to rev the engine harder (as i flick the switch to gas) to use up the remaining LPG.

Thanks.


Kiko

[n5110]

Got a few questions though.

1. Has anyone here tried using a 'colder' spark plug ? What is the difference compared to your usual 'non-colder' plug ?

2. When switching from LPG to gas while driving, I was taught to rev hard (not to floor the accelerator, probably midway) as I flick the switch to gas. Sometimes the transition is smooth but sometimes the car seems like its drowning, speed slows down and dies. Then it is difficult to start the car. I suspect there is some left over LPG mixed with gas that is causing this. Question is, to the venturi kit owners here, do you experience the same problem ? How's your switchover (LPG to gas) procedure ?


Kiko

im using a step colder plug on my ek civic with venturi kit. no noticeable performance gain but have some improvement when the car is idling. feeling ko lang yun, been using lpg since aug 2008 so far so good lalo na tumataas na naman ang presyo ng gas.

i just need to maintain at least 1.5K rpm and i can switch to lpg without any problems. siguro ito ang difference sa caburetor type kit mas maselan ng konti.

[kapitan88]

sino sino dito ang naka carb-type kit, yung walang mixer? baka pwede tayo mag compare ng notes, especially yung size ng hole ng carb restrictor at timing adjustments.

[wesrex315]

posting my lpg issues on my xtrail installed since june 2008 from greenfuel:


1. i've had stalling incidents since december last year usually when its moving. the engine just vibrates during idle. i brought it to greenfuel several times but no improvement. what surprises me is it stalls on specific areas like in pasig rotonda. i nearly had an accident because the steering wheel and brakes lock.
2. Also, i have been having trouble switching from lpg to gas using the switch button on the lpg fuel meter. once it stalls, i need to switch off the ignition so that it goes back to gas once i switch it on.
3. the fuel meter's light sometimes turns off.

anyway, these are things i need to do first to isolate the problem:
1. change lpg refill stations - i always fill up at petron c-5 near valle verde because i have a company petron fleet card
2. change spark plugs - what is the best spark plug for an xtrail 2.0 and where can i buy? i heard there are cold spark plugs. where do i find them?
3. i'll probably bring it back to greenfuel for calibration after i change the plugs.

any more options? thanks!

[kikoteng]

sino sino dito ang naka carb-type kit, yung walang mixer? baka pwede tayo mag compare ng notes, especially yung size ng hole ng carb restrictor at timing adjustments.

Am using carb-type kit and currently running bi-fuel.

Di ba the mixer is the round thing placed on top of the carburetor ? Is it possible to have an LPG setup without the mixer ?