LPG Questions Answered

Where does LPG come from?
LPG is sourced in two ways, as a by product of crude oil processing and from gas fields, several of which are dotted around the coast of the UK, delivering to the mainland by sea tanker or piped in directly from the gas fields.

What is LPG?
Sometimes referred to as Propane or Autogas, Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) is gaseous at atmospheric pressures & temperatures. With minimal pressure it becomes liquid, and on release of pressure readily becomes gaseous. These properties make it ideal for both storage and use in motor vehicles.

LPG does not have an odour, and so for safety reasons a product called a stenching agent (powerful smell) is added in production to allow the human nose to detect it at very low levels.

Running on LPG/Autogas

Is there a power loss running on LPG?
Very few people notice any kind of power loss at all using LPG, Indeed some report a more responsive throttle and it is assumed this may be because of the slightly higher octane levels compared to petrol. This potential power loss story has it's roots in years gone by, when LPG conversions first appeared on the market many years ago. As with any technology, improvements are made and steps forward are achieved as time passes .

What effect will LPG have on my engine condition
The first thing you will notice is just how clean your engine oil stays, because there is very little carbon in LPG, the oil in your engine will normally stay clean from oil change to oil change. Also because LPG is a gas when it enters the combustion chamber unlike petrol it does not wash off the oil lubricant from the cylinders, and so promotes engine longevity.

Are all LPG conversion kits the same.
Absolutely not! out in the wild it is possible to buy a cheap conversion and easily end up with poor economy, poor performance, less than optimum emissions and to top it all off, no where to obtain spare parts or warranty route for faulty components. The choice is yours where you buy your conversion, but make sure you have the back up of a well established company if things go wrong at a later date.

How safe is LPG.
LPG in motor vehicles has an excellent safety record, it is safer than petrol and is on a par with diesel, owed in no small degree by the built in strength of the LPG fuel tanks and electronic safety systems built into today's modern equipment.