LPG/dual fuel VEs thread . Tips tricks?

[Skylarking]

Thanks. It's duel fuel so I'd assume if injectors were leaking I'd also smell petrol while on petrol but I don't. Is there a diagram of what hoses are for the LPG?

The VE factory LPG system is a LPG gaseous injection system.

That is, the liquid is pushed past the energised gas isolation solenoid located at the tank by the gas pressure within the tank. It then pushes along the line to the LPG converter which may have another isolation solenoid and I believe a LPG liquid filter as well. The converter has coolant flowing through it to stop it freezing and as such the LPG system will only work if the coolant is above a set temp. The converter will allow the liquid to boil into a gaseous state at a specific pressure and this gas flows along a tube, through a gaseous filter to the LPG injector rails which IIRC also have a filter within each injector. The system fires the LPG injectors as required for the load placed on the engine (obviously inhibiting the petrol injectors when running on LPG). Just like the separate petrol side, the LPG system also uses the O2 sensors to ensure correct mixture.

LPG leaks, if the occur only when the system is working, will mean the leak can emanate anywhere around and after the converter upto and includingnyneninjectors. If the liquid side was leaking, you’d be smelling LPG all the time or you’d be doing orange people impersonations.

As the. the LPG system actually needs specific service. If you’ve never had the LPG serviced by a licensed specialist, I’d get a licensed professionals to go over it as a matter of urgency. While he’s at it, I’d get him to also change the liquid and gas filters and also clean the gas injectors (can be done but some want to replace them instead cause more $)…

There is a VE factory workshop manual PDF floating about the forum and it has all the VE LPG system described in detail. Worth googling for it, down.pacing it and reading it…

 

[BADTR1P]

The VE factory LPG system is a LPG gaseous injection system.

That is, the liquid is pushed past the energised gas isolation solenoid located at the tank by the gas pressure within the tank. It then pushes along the line to the LPG converter which may have another isolation solenoid and I believe a LPG liquid filter as well. The converter has coolant flowing through it to stop it freezing and as such the LPG system will only work if the coolant is above a set temp. The converter will allow the liquid to boil into a gaseous state at a specific pressure and this gas flows along a tube, through a gaseous filter to the LPG injector rails which IIRC also have a filter within each injector. The system fires the LPG injectors as required for the load placed on the engine (obviously inhibiting the petrol injectors when running on LPG). Just like the separate petrol side, the LPG system also uses the O2 sensors to ensure correct mixture.

LPG leaks, if the occur only when the system is working, will mean the leak can emanate anywhere around and after the converter upto and includingnyneninjectors. If the liquid side was leaking, you’d be smelling LPG all the time or you’d be doing orange people impersonations.

As the. the LPG system actually needs specific service. If you’ve never had the LPG serviced by a licensed specialist, I’d get a licensed professionals to go over it as a matter of urgency. While he’s at it, I’d get him to also change the liquid and gas filters and also clean the gas injectors (can be done but some want to replace them instead cause more $)…

There is a VE factory workshop manual PDF floating about the forum and it has all the VE LPG system described in detail. Worth googling for it, down.pacing it and reading it…

Thanks guys appreciate the information. What price range should it be to have an LPG specialist service it and possibly recertify it (doesn't seem to have ever been recertified since there's nothing stamped on the plate other than the factory stamp).

 

[J_D 2.0]

Thanks guys appreciate the information. What price range should it be to have an LPG specialist service it and possibly recertify it (doesn't seem to have ever been recertified since there's nothing stamped on the plate other than the factory stamp).

I just had my tank recertification done about a year ago and it was about $400 IIRC. He did come out to me to do it though so you would probably get a cheaper price if you took it to a workshop.

 

[Skylarking]

Thanks guys appreciate the information. What price range should it be to have an LPG specialist service it and possibly recertify it (doesn't seem to have ever been recertified since there's nothing stamped on the plate other than the factory stamp).

I don't know about the cost of servicing or tank certification.

The tank testing and certification date is stamped on the tank itself, usually on the rim surrounding the valve gear. Once tested and stamped, the tank is good for another 10 years. But the certification testing requires tank removal for proper inspection, along with valve replacement, which is why the cost is higher. If it wasn't for the labour to remove and reinstall the tank, the cost wouldn't be much different to that for testing and certifying a BBQ bottle.

Oh, and the tank certification date isn't stamped on the compliance plate that's located within the engine bay (if that's what you thought/meant). Unfortunately, sometimes it may be difficult to actually see the certification date stamp on the tank itself because of it's location.

 

[J_D 2.0]

But the certification testing requires tank removal for proper inspection

No it doesn’t. The tank tester who did mine just removed the valve and gauge assemblies and inspected the inside of the tank through the open holes.

He said they just need to visually inspect the inside for rust and dints which is normally possible to do with an inspection mirror through the valve/gauge openings.

The tank doesn’t even need to be fully empty/purged as the remaining LPG in the bottom of the tank just slowly boils off over time.

 

[Skylarking]

No it doesn’t. The tank tester who did mine just removed the valve and gauge assemblies and inspected the inside of the tank through the open holes.

He said they just need to visually inspect the inside for rust and dints which is normally possible to do with an inspection mirror through the valve/gauge openings.

The tank doesn’t even need to be fully empty/purged as the remaining LPG in the bottom of the tank just slowly boils off over time.

Many have said that they want to remove the tank so go figure...Guess some testers may be more reasonable than others.

But if the tank isn't removed, the $400 paid is a huge ripp off because the work is no different to testing and certifying a BBQ LPG bottle which last time i did one was peanuts...

 

[J_D 2.0]

Many have said that they want to remove the tank so go figure...Guess some testers may be more reasonable than others.

But if the tank isn't removed, the $400 paid is a huge ripp off because the work is no different to testing and certifying a BBQ LPG bottle which last time i did one was peanuts...

Basically is no different than inspecting a BBQ bottle, and it really shouldn’t be as thats basically all it is! Like I said the tester who did mine came to me to do the inspection so it’s probably cheaper if they don’t come to you.

Having said that no doubt the LPG cylinder testing market suffers the same affliction as LPG fuel sales, there’s so few doing it and the volumes are so low they name their price as competition is low.

My local BP sells LPG for 109.9 cpl and the Metro servo in the middle of town sells its LPG for 92.9 cpl. There’s no fuel cycle with LPG so the BP is charging a 17 cpl premium to the price every day of the week because they can and don’t really give a toss about LPG sales, take it or leave it!

 

[VTS5]

I took my tank out,it's been pressure tested, no pin holes no hairline cracks, valve,gasket,gauge and selonoid replaced then stamped incl. written report,,,Cost = $ 195. I've already replaced the Vaporizer and filters,now waiting for new injectors from Poland,nothing wrong with the ones running but because they're not going to be around for too long,like to have spare ones .

2006 VE Omega Dual Fuel
335 klms

Filled up this morning 79.5 cpl.(Sth.East Melb.)

 

[BADTR1P]

I took my tank out,it's been pressure tested, no pin holes no hairline cracks, valve,gasket,gauge and selonoid replaced then stamped incl. written report,,,Cost = $ 195. I've already replaced the Vaporizer and filters,now waiting for new injectors from Poland,nothing wrong with the ones running but because they're not going to be around for too long,like to have spare ones .

2006 VE Omega Dual Fuel
335 klms

Filled up this morning 79.5 cpl.(Sth.East Melb.)

At some point I doubt we will be able to even find a servo with a LPG pump in the near future. Did a 10000km drive thru Australia and struggled finding any, had to use petrol for most of the trip.

 

[VTS5]

Well,plenty servos in Vic/ Melb. also I drive to and from NSW every Xmas,just about every servo on Hume has lpg..So it'll be awhile b4 lpg pump's disappears (at least this side of the country anyway )