Welcome to Just Commodores, a site specifically designed for all people who share the same passion as yourself.

New Posts Contact us

Just Commodores Forum Community

It takes just a moment to join our fantastic community

Register

Alloytec on LPG- worth it?

akqrate

New Member
Joined
Apr 14, 2009
Messages
34
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Location
Beaumont Hills, NSW
Members Ride
VZ Executive
Hey guys

Trying to save money with fuel, was wondering if the LPG is as good with the alloytec as it was with the old ecotec.

Reason I ask is that a lot of people are telling me a lot of different things like an alloytec on lpg will end up costing the same for fuel as not converting it... or things like LPG will ruin the alloytec engine, and some back it up by saying how many alloytec commy's do u see driving around as taxis?

While that is true, why would holden then release dual fuel models of the VE that work with the new alloytec engine?

Any ideas? Is the conversion worth it? Are there extra servicing requirements which will make it not so worthwhile?
 

JBDrifter

Now in a Calais
Joined
Oct 24, 2006
Messages
230
Reaction score
5
Points
0
Location
Melbourne
Members Ride
VZ Calais & VT Exec Wagon
I got mine done, simply because my dad specialises in gas conversions and i got it done at cost price. Which still isn't cheap mind you, it cost me $3,450. So that's $1,450 out of my pocket after the government rebate.
It is definitely worth it though, I pay about $35 for a full tank of gas and it gets me on average about 450km per tank, that's stop start driving. On the freeway I'll get at least 600km easily.
 

poweredbycng

New Member
Joined
Feb 5, 2007
Messages
301
Reaction score
1
Points
0
We own a VZ SV6 that has had an SVI LPG conversion installed for two years now. We average around 13-14L/100km in the Perth suburbs and that's hand-calculated (compared to about 12L/100km on 98 RON unleaded), which gives around 550km per 75L tank ($40 to fill - we have a cylindrical tank with 90L liquid capacity). It runs really well and has covered 25,000km on LPG now. Low down, it has more torque on LPG than it does on petrol. Even up high, it seems to have the same grunt regardless of fuel selected. The system starts the engine on petrol even if LPG is selected and the fuel changeover occurs when the coolant temperature hits 40C (takes about 2-3min on a cold morning). If you want to see some photos or would like more info, please let me know.

Regards,
Dave
 

Tuttle

stupidity reigns supreme!
Joined
Feb 10, 2009
Messages
174
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Location
Adelaide
Members Ride
VZ Acclaim
By the sounds of it is worth getting just have to find a reasonable price.

If anyone knows of a good place around Adelaide that would be sick, not the kinda thing i want done dodgy
 

bcw61

Member
Joined
Sep 14, 2009
Messages
357
Reaction score
18
Points
18
Location
Northern suburbs of Adelaide
Members Ride
VZ 2005 Executive Wagon
Trying to save money with fuel, was wondering if the LPG is as good with the alloytec as it was with the old ecotec.

Any ideas? Is the conversion worth it? Are there extra servicing requirements which will make it not so worthwhile?


I bought my VZ wagon with the factory BRC LPG system fitted. Although I initially had a fault with the system after I bought the vehicle, after it has been fixed, I reckon it is the greatest thing since sliced bread. With LPG hovering around the 65c a litre mark in Adelaide, it is cheaper to run than on petrol. With the wagon, I get around 13.5 l/100kms, which gives me a highway range of around 450km. The BRC system also has really expensive gas vapour filters that need to be changed every 15000kms, although I think I may have identified some much cheaper generic Ryco ones instead.

Not sure about conversions, although I have noted on these forums that the aftermarket vapour injection LPG systems are reported to be pretty good.
 

muneey

New Member
Joined
Oct 6, 2008
Messages
37
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Members Ride
VZ
I bought my VZ wagon with the factory BRC LPG system fitted. Although I initially had a fault with the system after I bought the vehicle, after it has been fixed, I reckon it is the greatest thing since sliced bread. With LPG hovering around the 65c a litre mark in Adelaide, it is cheaper to run than on petrol. With the wagon, I get around 13.5 l/100kms, which gives me a highway range of around 450km. The BRC system also has really expensive gas vapour filters that need to be changed every 15000kms, although I think I may have identified some much cheaper generic Ryco ones instead.

Not sure about conversions, although I have noted on these forums that the aftermarket vapour injection LPG systems are reported to be pretty good.

what size tank is it (useable) and is that 13.5l/100kms on the freeway? what about local consumption?..i am seriously thinking about it for my wagon..currently on petrol my consumption is close to 13l/100..and that is grannying the thing in sydney traffic :(
would also like to know what kind of space saver would fit in the vz as i would want a smaller wheel up on the stand to save room in the boot area
 

bcw61

Member
Joined
Sep 14, 2009
Messages
357
Reaction score
18
Points
18
Location
Northern suburbs of Adelaide
Members Ride
VZ 2005 Executive Wagon
what size tank is it (useable) and is that 13.5l/100kms on the freeway? what about local consumption?..i am seriously thinking about it for my wagon..currently on petrol my consumption is close to 13l/100..and that is grannying the thing in sydney traffic :(
would also like to know what kind of space saver would fit in the vz as i would want a smaller wheel up on the stand to save room in the boot area


The tank size in my wagon is a 75 litre doughnut tank, with a working LPG capacity of 60 litres. In practice, my tank will take around 58 litres from empty, although a few months ago, my partner did accidentally fill it with over 70 litres :eek:. Needless to say, I told her to drive the car straight away on gas, and keep on driving to get rid of the excess gas ASAP.

Just did a few rough calculations, and my gas consumption driving to & from work (outer suburban driving) works out at around 15.5 l/100km. As my BRC system starts and initially runs on petrol, my petrol consumption was around 2 l/100km for the same period.

The only downside is the floor of the cargo floor area is reduced slightly because of the raised gas tank cover, and the relocation of the spare wheel to the drivers side of the cargo compartment. However I regard these as minor issues & have learned to live with them.
 
Last edited:

muneey

New Member
Joined
Oct 6, 2008
Messages
37
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Members Ride
VZ
hey bcw61, just a quick question, on lpg do the fuel consumption/ distance to empty etc readings still work on the dash readout on the vz ( i have a 3 cluster dash in the lumina wagon)or do they become reduntant like my VT calais on lpg (mixer setup)
 

womble66

New Member
Joined
Mar 16, 2011
Messages
131
Reaction score
3
Points
0
Location
Illawarra NSW
Members Ride
07 VE CALAIS V - V6
Before doing it find someone that has +100K km on LPG on an alloytec after a SGI conversion and see what they say. When I got my VZ Calais in 2006 I looked at doing it but back then there wasn't enough long term evidence on the negative impacts on the alloytec especially in the area of cylinder head deteriation.

I decided not to risk it as at the time they advised the heads would s%#t themselves and you would need to get them overhauled to LPG specs within 50K - 100K km which would see any savings made on fuel costs eaten up on repairing the heads. Apparently the factory spec LPG alloytecs have harden valve/seats to negate this issue.

Now its 4-5 years on the evidence should be much clearer but like a previous poster stated you don't see many VE taxis which is even further confusing and may point to some long term issue given Ford don't make a 'taxi' special any more yet it appears there are many more and therefore indicating to me that the Falcons are still the taxi industries preferred option.

Even with my VE Calais V I didn't revisit this LPG option even though I do 45K km p.a. because I think the opinion on the alloytec is still there.
 
Top