VYII LPG Question

[Flat_White]

Hi,

I should be getting a VY on tuesday

i just tried it out today, it has a factory LPG kit fitted (not one of those scungy aftermarket things)...

basically it has a switch on the centre console which changes the fuel between LPG and ULP,

My question is: can you start the car on petrol and switch it to LPG afterwards? I ask this because it is much easier to start on petrol rather than LPG..

TIA

[Lumps of cheese]

I'd say yes, but i think the newer models with the factory gas would be just as easy to start on gas than petrol because it's direct injected aren't they?

[Flat_White]

I'd say yes, but i think the newer models with the factory gas would be just as easy to start on gas than petrol because it's direct injected aren't they?

Thanks for your response, unfortunately the VY system is not direct injection.

The car does start on gas - just not as easy.

Im sure there is a way that you can start it on Petrol and then flick it onto the cheap-stuff. anyone know?

[andyman]

gas is still only indirect injection even for the latest vapor and liquid injection,

vy's used the old bbq ring mixer setup,
you should be able to either switch to unleaded before you start the engine ie ignition on, or switch to petrol before you turn the engine off,

also, run a tank of petrol every 5 gas tanks, roughly as using the old setups can gum up the fuel injectors after a period of time, running 98 fuel in the tank will help slightly aswell,

and also is the engine fitted with a valvesaver drip lube system, if not you should consider fitting one, it will help keep the valves lubricated and last longer, as lpg has no lubricating properties as it is a dry fuel

[azzss]

I thought the factory lpg systems automaticlly started on petrol regardless and switched to lpg (if selected) when engine coolant warm's up a bit?.

[Flat_White]

gas is still only indirect injection even for the latest vapor and liquid injection,

vy's used the old bbq ring mixer setup,
you should be able to either switch to unleaded before you start the engine ie ignition on, or switch to petrol before you turn the engine off,

also, run a tank of petrol every 5 gas tanks, roughly as using the old setups can gum up the fuel injectors after a period of time, running 98 fuel in the tank will help slightly aswell,

and also is the engine fitted with a valvesaver drip lube system, if not you should consider fitting one, it will help keep the valves lubricated and last longer, as lpg has no lubricating properties as it is a dry fuel

Yeah you can switch to gas before you start the engine (but then it starts really rough because its starting on gas) in my current ford you can start it on petrol and then flick it onto gas (which makes it start superbly)... can you do this with the commys?

Secondly, what is a valvsesaver drip lube system? i havent heard of them, where can i buy them/ how hard are they too install?

[sah]

It is very common on LPG vehicles to have a Valve saver kit. The most common is Flashlube, see link below

Flashlube fuel additives Synthetic lubricants for the automotive industry

The kit costs about $70 or $100 installed.

[Tycoonlex]

My VY2 will ONLY start on gas.... when i say that i mean if i try and start on petrol it starts dieseling... and a terrible sound it is... It never has run 100% correctly since having it converted 16months ago. it is a genuine Holden kit installed by a licenced holden installer and its been back to the installer 4 times, and to a holden dealer who blames the installer...hmmm a vicious circle? never mind. you live and learn.

[blownba]

Licenced Holden installer???
What a laugh.
I have had alot to do with the factory kits (and I have done a couple for members from this forum) and they have always run perfectly.
I have never had anything but perfect feedback and ZERO warranty issues.
The factory kit for the VY's is a awesome kit as it is all run by the petrol ECU. The petrol start, gauge and traction control cut out and the dash are all controlled by the PCM, BCM and it all works seemlessly.
I would always advise to go for the factory kit if you are going for standard LPG, but if yoiu want the ultimate go for injection. You will not be sorry.

[beefzor]

A month ago I got my VYII converted to LPG. The installer advised me that the system installed automatically starts on petrol (i have no way to override it) and then switches itself to LPG. I was advised that this means there is no requirement to run it on petrol - but I still will for good measure.

I cant say i notice a difference between LPG or ULP - perhaps except when the LPG tank is getting a bit low then it starts to get a bit choppy.

Edit: The system is an after-market (eurogas I think) installed by a reputable non-holden dealer - cost $2450

[Flat_White]

A month ago I got my VYII converted to LPG. The installer advised me that the system installed automatically starts on petrol (i have no way to override it) and then switches itself to LPG. I was advised that this means there is no requirement to run it on petrol - but I still will for good measure.

I cant say i notice a difference between LPG or ULP - perhaps except when the LPG tank is getting a bit low then it starts to get a bit choppy.

Edit: The system is an after-market (eurogas I think) installed by a reputable non-holden dealer - cost $2450

sounds like a good deal,

does it have dash integration?

what state are you in?

does anyone else know if eurogas is reputable?

[blownba]

Eurogas may not be sold for much longer from what I have heard.
Something about injector licence.

[nick_]

My question is: can you start the car on petrol and switch it to LPG afterwards? I ask this because it is much easier to start on petrol rather than LPG..

Yes you can start your car on petrol and switch to gas afterwards.. I've got a VY2 Exec (factory LPG also) and I found out that the only way to switch it to gas with the motor running on petrol is to bring the revs up around to 1500 or so and press the button.. The way I do it is:

1. Raise the revs (~1500rpm)..
2. Press the button..
3. Get off the accelerator right as/just after I press the button.. I only do this because I found that the car will jerk a bit if you keep the throttle open when you switch it over..
4. Get back on the gas (haha)

Oh and this can be done while driving.. I use 95 octane petrol with mine..
And to switch it back to petrol you just bring the revs up again and press the button.. No need to worry about the "jerk"

I hope that helps..

-Nick.

[Flat_White]

thanks for your help, ill give it a go.

[calaiscruise]

Hi,

I am getting a VY on tuesday

i just tried it out today, it has a factory LPG kit fitted (not one of those scungy aftermarket things)...

basically it has a switch on the centre console which changes the fuel between LPG and ULP....

TIA

Sam

I am getting an Impco (BRC) SVI lpg system installed on my VYII Calais soon, with the kit specifically designed for the VYII, and Impco tells me their kit includes the lpg switch/gauge like the Holden Factory LPG ones.... I am told it fits exactly into the existing centre console, just behind the electric window switches assembly.

Are you able to post a picture of that switch/gauge into this post, or send me a web link to a pic of one similar, so I know what to excpect ?? I've searched the internet for pics but cannot find any of the Holden VY factory console switch.

thanks

btw. I have to get an SVI lpg system, as each lpg installer I spoke to, and impco told me the Gen III 5.7 would backfire on the cheaper lpg system (negative pressure system?), and cause massive intake manifold, air box etc. damage.

I'm looking forward to the SVI system anyway, as I am told power will be similar, and economy pretty close to petrol.

[Flat_White]

Hi,

i didnt end up winning the VY (at auction) i am still desperately searching for one...

the swith looks very natural and fits perfectly into the center console buttons behind the power windows - it looks very neat and its integration with the dash is awesome.

[vxcalais_01]

At work we have factory gas only ford utes, and yes can take slightly longer to start on gas than petrol. Injected or not, it relates more to the nature of the fuel, petrol being liquid, and lpg obviously a gas. But general consensus amongst users it they have more low down torque than the petrol ones.

[commsirac]

Hi,

I should be getting a VY on tuesday


My question is: can you start the car on petrol and switch it to LPG afterwards? I ask this because it is much easier to start on petrol rather than LPG..

TIA

As I understand it, the VY fact system is similar/the same as the vx fact impco system and will start the car on petrol when set to petrol or gas when cold. If the car is set to gas, it will then switch to gas in a matter of seconds, it is not reliant on the motor reaching a certain temp. The system is also designed to inject some petrol at full throttle or near full throttle....dont know how much.

I dont particular like changing the fuel on the move, it makes quite a bump going from petrol to lpg even under light throttle, but next to seamless on engine overun. But havent heard that it really does anything any harm though.

Im not really sure what is meant to happen on warm starts, maybe Blownba can help here.
My Vx requires a few turns of the engine to start when warm on lpg as opposed to instantly on petrol.
There may be some gremlin in my VX with the electronics here, as occasionally(~ 2% of the time) it wont start at all when warm on gas or the starter cuts out after 5 secs..........Ive only been given alternatives of replacing the electronic module that is mounted at the tank?, with no guarantees of a fix.....I live with it and just switch it to petrol when this happens atm

[Cheap6]

Yes you can start your car on petrol and switch to gas afterwards.. I've got a VY2 Exec (factory LPG also) and I found out that the only way to switch it to gas with the motor running on petrol is to bring the revs up around to 1500 or so and press the button.. The way I do it is:

1. Raise the revs (~1500rpm)..
2. Press the button..
3. Get off the accelerator right as/just after I press the button.. I only do this because I found that the car will jerk a bit if you keep the throttle open when you switch it over..
4. Get back on the gas (haha)

Oh and this can be done while driving.. I use 95 octane petrol with mine..
And to switch it back to petrol you just bring the revs up again and press the button.. No need to worry about the "jerk"

I hope that helps..

-Nick.

The actual rpm is 1300 (for what that's worth). It's a designed in feature of the system, presumably to avoid stalling if switching at idle was permitted.

The stumble on changing over from LPG to petrol is due to the engine 'dual fuelling' (if that the correct term) as the injectors start immediately but the LPG takes a few revolutions to empty from the manifold, gas supply line and converter. It can be driven around by the switching on overun or a vapour lock off fitted in the gas supply line might help.

[calaiscruise]

Well I finally got the Impco BRC lpg kit installed on my VYII 5.7L Calais and I am very impressed.

The installer told me that I'd probably not notice the difference in performance on LPG compared to Petrol.


My old Kingswood from years ago with an ancient lpg mixer setup, had a noticeble loss of power and torque. But my new SVI system is so smooth, I cannot notice it. It is totally seemless. The only way to know is the colour of the lights on the controller switch (Red=Petrol, Orange=Transition, Green=lpg)

This system always starts on petrol (in LPG Auto mode), and once the engine block reaches a preset temperature it goes to Transition mode (over a few seconds, it migrates 1 cylinder at a time, from petrol to lpg).


I was also worried the car would take a long time to warm up running on "Liquid Gold" (aka. Petrol), before it starts Transitions mode to lpg, but from cold start, it take a couple of kilometres.

I am also surprised with the quality of the install, as I've seen some rather nasty looking lpg installs before. My kit (brackets, console switch etc.) is custom designed for the VYII, it looks like a factory install... if you hadn't looked at the engine bay before install, you wouldn't realise it wasn't original.

The only downside is the $4600 cost but I reckon even with my low yearly kms, it'll pay for itself in 2 yrs, maybe quicker when petrol gets dearer, and I'm told the SVI system is much more economical than the simpler systems that go on Falcon's and the V6 VY's.

And the 95L gas tank deletes some boot space, but I've lived with that before, and I certainly can now.

Now I just have to see what sort of economy I get compared to petrol.

Woohoo, happy days

[calaiscruise]

I've had the LPG kit on for a few weeks now, and it's going well.
Lodged my LPG rebate application and was paid the $2000 shortly afterwards, thanks Mr Howard (credit where credit's due, the Liberals started the scheme, Labour had threatened to axe it)

Did my first (almost) full tank fill up and got 355km from 55 Litres.
It's been mainly short trips around town, no highway driving.

That works out at 15.5L/100km. The cruise computer (that doesnt know it's running on lpg) calculates petrol economy as 15L/100km. This is typical for a lot of shorts trips that I've done recently.

So as the car always start on petrol and soon switches to lpg when warm the total fuel usage includes lpg and some petrol... let's say 16L/100km.

Using 16L/100km at 60c/L for lpg, compared to $1.60/L for petrol, my effective economy is equivalent to a car that gets 6L/100lkm ... and thats for short trips. For longer trips my cost/kilometre would be similar to or better than a Toyota Prius Hybrid.

And as the car's performance is just as good as petrol I'm rapt

[Flat_White]

Just got another question...

If using an aftermarket system such as SPRINT gas, is there anyway to modify it so that it will work with the dash gauge????

[rokkz]

No...........

[blownba]

Yes there is.
but if you run a VY you need to get the dash programed. Its not that hard if you know how.

[Flat_White]

Yes there is.
but if you run a VY you need to get the dash programed. Its not that hard if you know how.

how????????????????