LPG dualfuel conversions on Signum or Zafira

[TJ]

Would be very interested in any user comments on the performance of LPG
dualfuel conversions, either Vauxhall factory models, or an authorized
LPG installer on the Signum 3.2i V6 or the Zafira 1.8 petrol engines

According to the Greenfuel website a conversion is about £2,000, so
amortising the investment will take a few years if you only do 10,000
miles pa.

The ecology benefits are beyond dispute. But is the conversion / car
performance trouble free and value for money in the long run?

Thanks
TJ

 

[Mike]

I can't say for those specific models, but we have run both Astra and Vectra
dualfuel cars without specific problems. Both types came from Vauxhall
already as dualfuel. We have had some other stuff converted before - Mondeos
I think - and had head trouble with at least one of them. Having said that,
a friend in the motor trade mentioned that some Zetec engined cars have head
trouble anyway, but we felt that buying cars from the maker already dualfuel
would be better from a warranty point of view.

Of course, you have to keep in mind that although LPG is very cheap at the
moment, the tax break probably won't last for ever, so if you're going to do
it, I'd say go sooner rather than later so you can make sure you get the
conversion money back.

Also our vehicles are field service staff cars, around 50-60k miles per
year, sometimes more. For our mileage, and the fact that we started off with
six or seven cars on LPG, it was worth our while having our own gas tank
installed. With that, the LPG is even cheaper as it's bought in bulk.

HTH
Mike.

Would be very interested in any user comments on the performance of LPG
dualfuel conversions, either Vauxhall factory models, or an authorized
LPG installer on the Signum 3.2i V6 or the Zafira 1.8 petrol engines

According to the Greenfuel website a conversion is about £2,000, so
amortising the investment will take a few years if you only do 10,000
miles pa.

The ecology benefits are beyond dispute. But is the conversion / car
performance trouble free and value for money in the long run?

Thanks
TJ

 

[TJ]

Thanks for this information, Mike. An excellent reference for fleet use
of LPG. With 50-60K miles pa you're ahead of the game after 6-8 months
and SAVING about £3,000 per year after that with the LPG/petrol
differential as it is.

As with the European Constitution, there is no better way to keep LPG
at a 'reasonable' price, (without the tax gourging petrol & diesel,) is
write to you MP and tell him you're voting him out, whatever party he
is! There is nothing like the boot to focus the political mind. And the
message is simple:
LPG goes up - you go out.

Perhaps the best way to see how the major manufacturers' cars stand up
to LPG is see how the models do in European markets where millions of
cars have run on LPG for 30 years or more.


TJ

 

[mvecd]

Hi

I currently have a zafira factory dual fuel and before that had a
vectra C dual fuel.
The vectra was an excellent car on LPG, returning a 28mpg around town
and 34mpg on a run.
Was sorry to see it go (garage I sold it to still has it if anyone is
interested)
With the arrival of our 3rd child a MPV was needed, so we chose the
zafira as I still wanted dual fuel.
The fuel consumption confuses me on this car as I can get 30mpg around
town (very careful driving), but can only manage 27mpg on a run. The
only thing I can think of is when doing 70 on a motorway it is reving
over 3300rpm, were as my Veccy was reving at around 2700rpm. I did
notice with the Veccy the consumption increased dramatically if I
travelled 80mph or more, which wasn't a problem normally, as 70mph is
fast enough to keep the cameras quiet! but on the zafira at above 70
the engine is reving its heart out. So I assume thats why I get the
strange readings.
Apart from that, I am very happy with the zafira, it would have been
nice had the tank been larger (52ltr capacity, 46ltr useable) but there
are plenty of pumps now. just need to plan ahead if your going on a
long journey.
Anyway, I have a spreadsheet with all the readings taken from my
Vectra, and have started the same for my Zafira (I know its sad, but I
keep a check so I know if alls well under the bonnet) so if anyone is
interested, or needs anymore advice/info, just let me know.
Hope this helps

Mark

 

[TJ]

Thanks for this info. The aerodysnaic coefficient (Cx) on the Zafria
is surely higher than that on the Vectra and therein lies the higher
fuel consumption at higher speeds. Got to move a lot more air out of
the way faster in the Zafira - and it costs. If it's reving high at
70MPH, cruising at 85 in Europe will neither be quiet, nor cheap.
Sounds like the 2.2 engine is the one to convert for long motorway
driving in mind.

Put two bikes on the roof of any car from London to Glasgow and the
extra fuel burned would pay for the train fare!

TJ