P38A LPG conversion ( 4.6 HSE Model)

Right,

Apart from my seat thread....... I'm going through a lot of fuel running the 30 mile round trip to work every day. Up to the point to where I'm now putting in about £50 every 3 days. This I can't sustain for too much longer, and the wise choice is to upgrade to Tornado chips and an LPG conversion from RPI Engineering as I don't want a sequential system.
What are peoples thoughts on this. As much as I want to keep it stock, I can't keep using this much fuel!

Thanks

No the wise choice is to buy a more economical car

LPG conversion will lower your costs but you wont see a return for around 2 years..
Tornado chip does **** all tbh..

A v8 should do 16-18mpg around the doors and up to 22-23 on a run..
Mine used to..

depends on the right hoof.

Oh and check for fault codes, a faulty MAF or lambdas will throw the economy way off.

What do you expect from a 4.6 V8 slab of brick doing 15m twice a day how long have you had it?...

Ok will try to get someone to read any codes. It's only recently its started using more fuel and you can smell it. Going to change the fuel filter and do a range of oil changes next weekend. I've only ever been getting 12-13mpg even on a re set when running at sensible speed on the motorway. I found yesterday that the centre box was un-peeling after hearing a rattle. So that needs changing too

Rangemaster 71 said:

Ok will try to get someone to read any codes. It's only recently its started using more fuel and you can smell it. Going to change the fuel filter and do a range of oil changes next weekend. I've only ever been getting 12-13mpg even on a re set when running at sensible speed on the motorway. I found yesterday that the centre box was un-peeling after hearing a rattle. So that needs changing too

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12-13 isn't right it's running rich by the sounds of it, read the codes.
Lambda or Maf i'd put my money on, or possibly both.

If it is a Thor P38 you don't have a fuel filter.

Hi Shippers,
Had her since May last year, and she's ran better than she is now. I appreciate she's a weighty old girl but reluctant to get rid of her and need to make her just a tad more healthier!!

If you have a journey....regardless of LPG, get a more economical car.

I ran my 4.4 L322 on LPG for a month to work and back (126 mile round trip per day) and it cost me in the region of £640 in fuel for the month....so even on gas it was too much.

I now use a 530d for the daily drive....whilst not 'economical' in its own right, compared to the V8 L322, it is positively frugal

Rangemaster 71 said:

Hi Shippers,
Had her since May last year, and she's ran better than she is now. I appreciate she's a weighty old girl but reluctant to get rid of her and need to make her just a tad more healthier!!

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Then you have a problem as you've noticed a difference...go with @Henry_b says...

I like LPG but couldn't stand the fact I was putting fuel in every 2 days..
180-220mi range from £50 gas.
or 402mi from £130 of pez.

I found it easier to just spunk the pez in, and tbf i seldom see LPG stations within reasonable distance, and the Rangie was never an econo box even in derv form

I have to concede that getting a good diesel car is the way to go. I just don't want to get rid if the old girl to help fund a new one. I best getting looking for a cheap economical work car!!

It's interesting hearing fuel consumption...my drive to work is 20mins no t\lights one junction and 3 roundabouts...another 40mins drive i'm in Spain and diesel is 1.14€ a litre so my daily driver a mk4 fiesta courior hitop van lasts 2 wks on a fill up..drove to Tariffa to get ferry to Tangier there and back 80€ in fuel...god knows what the 101 will cost so thinking of an LPG conversion as well...

Keep the Range Rover for high days and holidays.....and a cheap diesel for the commute.

Even if you convert the RR and use that full time, you'll thank your lucky stars you have a spare car for when it breaks down!

Pm

Saint.V8 said:

Keep the Range Rover for high days and holidays.....and a cheap diesel for the commute.

Even if you convert the RR and use that full time, you'll thank your lucky stars you have a spare car for when it breaks down!

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Agree have a project P38 plus the 101 and a Fiat Seciento which my mate has at the moment but had to use last week cause core plugs went in van luckily have a share in his garage as were putting a recon engine in my smart fortwo next week and working on his 635csi welding...and if all goes tits up iv'e still got the Piaggeo Ape 3 wheeler to fall back on...lol

Henry_b said:

I like LPG but couldn't stand the fact I was putting fuel in every 2 days..
180-220mi range from £50 gas.
or 402mi from £130 of pez.

I found it easier to just spunk the pez in, and tbf i seldom see LPG stations within reasonable distance, and the Rangie was never an econo box even in derv form

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So your V8 on LPG is not much better than an EV when it comes to range and finding a place to fill up

You've already said the centre box is going / gone. Fix the stuff that is broken before digging further. A good service will also help. After that you can start working on o2 sensors and MAF.

Don't convert a RV8 to LPG.
Not only are you adding further complication it will take you an awful lot of miles to recoup your initial outlay.
Many of these engines have developed terminal slipped liner problems after a few thousand miles of running on LPG though I concede that others have avoided the issue, but if you like the idea of Russian roulette ...

Just buy a <£500 runabout with decent MOT and use that for the commute. There's plenty on Autotrader & eBay. If it doesn't pass next MOT, scrap it & get another. That way you will have funds to sort the P38 properly, which you can then use for journeys that justify it.

Just my thoughts, LPG doesn't cause slipped liners or cracked blocks, overheating does. LPG doesn't cause overheating, but does burn marginally hotter.

Though it's not completely unheard of for engines to fail regardless of whether LPG was used or the engine overheated or not

kermit_rr said:

Just my thoughts, LPG doesn't cause slipped liners or cracked blocks, overheating does. LPG doesn't cause overheating, but does burn marginally hotter.

Though it's not completely unheard of for engines to fail regardless of whether LPG was used or the engine overheated or not

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+1....I have owned a good number of LPG converted vehicles and never once had issues with the slightly hotter and drier burn of the LPG over petrol. Keep your cooling system in good working order, sort out any issues in good time, conduct preventative maintenance and ensure you are tip top in servicing and you will not have any issues...

People knock LPG and yet, it is fitted to many different makes, models and types of car with no ill effects, but as soon as you mention an RV8 with gas...the world erupts with those being negative about it....fit it to a poorly serviced, neglected engine and you will have issues with it on an RV8 due to the marginal cooling system, but fit it to a well looked after RV8 and keep the cooling system tip top condition and you will have no issues.

Liners will slip regardless of the fuel used.

I had the RPi single point and Tornado chip LPG conversion on my GEMS 4.6 HSE. I can confirm it works fine with no issues such as backfire or noticeable performance change. I have the dial tank 135 L set up, allowing approx 110 L LPG fill and giving 300 miles per fill. Approx 210 000 miles on this rig