Please share your LPG experiences...

MrGorsky said:

I am an LPG convert. I have DIY fitted LPG to two cars now, a X300 Jag, and then I fitted the same system (with a few extra bits) to my 4.6 V8 P38.

Both cars have run very well on LPG, the P38 gives me about 235 miles to 74 litres of gas or so.

It's dead easy to fit yourself, and set up. So long as you can use a Meccano set and operate an electric drill, you can LPG your car.

There are always loads of stories about Rover V8s slipping liners on LPG, but theres no evidence. They slip liners in TVRs and in countries where LPG is almost unheard of like the USA. Just because a V8 slips a liner on LPG doesn't mean the LPG caused it to slip the liner.

Fact is the Rover V8 at 4.6 litres is not a strong engine, no matter what you run it on you might get unlucky.

If your engine is fuel injected get a recent sequential LPG system, and it'll run great. The LPG system copies the petrol injection pulses so there no need to "tune" it for petrol or gas. As you drive more and more on LPG the engine management will use the feedback it gets from the engine to continually tune the engine just like it does on petrol. They even set themselves up automatically these days.

Mine's been great for nearly two years now, so far no problems, just reasonable running costs for a massive car with a thirsty engine.

I'd say go for it, with the 12,000 mile oil service periods the V8 has, I think it makes running one actually cheaper than the diesel.

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Datatek said:

No restrictions on tunnels ferries etc with diesel either.

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rangie1998 said:

i've had my '92 classic for 4 years. Originally a 3.9 v8 but changed it to a 200tdi last year. I did consider lpg but not really a fan. Was getting about 14 mpg out of the v8 and now get 34 mpg out of the tdi. Yes the tdi is noise but doesn't bother me, as for power, i actually like the torque of the tdi.

Tdi is definitely the way to go.

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blackstrat said:

Well I must say thank you for all the input - I'm already impressed with the LZ forums it's great to get lively reasoned arguments from all corners rather than the usual pompous bollocks issued down from the forum 'boss' as on certain other LR forums I've joined over the years - good stuff!

As for the Diesel v LPG, well although the effortless burble is intoxicating the everyday practicality of a bog stock oil-burning Classic seems to make more sense to me ..IF I decide to get another RR - I may still stick to plan A!

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martynv8 said:

Not true, LPG runs about 15% less than MPG on unleaded.
I've never had a problem finding LPG stations.
My system requires a service every 24k miles (it also tells you this when a service is ready). Generally just filters, not expensive - less than £100 for a full LPG service.
Like i said, keep your cooling system in top condition & there should be no problems running LPG on RV8's. Main cause of problems with the V8's is a poor condition cooling system - unleaded or LPG.

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pete1987RRC said:

It does amaze me how much carp some people talk about LPG!!!!
Simply its a good fuel and works every bit as well as petrol. I have several motors and never seen any issues like those stated. Runs hotter? Load of carp, runs cooler if anything due to vapouriser. Lower power, no way if you

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Datatek said:

Take a step up and get a nice P38 diesel

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blackstrat said:

thirty four??

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blackstrat said:

Sorry but no thanks. I had one once, less than 18 months old from a main dealer's showroom, undeniably a VERY nice car and drove superbly but was without the personality of the Classic I traded in.

In my opinion the P38 looks more dated than the Classics now anyway because it was a 'safer' design, less character to stick in the mind as it were. It'll be the same with the Freelander and the Disco because (like most cars) the first ones are the gamble that have all the styling then they get 'smoothed out' over progressive models to make them appeal to a wider market whilst retaining old customers by including subtle reminders of the original design.

So, now I've alienated every P38 owner on LandyZone I'll go finish my pizza

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KUpton83 said:

My experience for what its worth..

I ran an EFI 93 Disco on a mutli point LPG system for 12 months.

I averaged 9 MPG running on LPG and about 13 on petrol. This had an RPI engine with 20k miles on so was mechanically sound, LPG was serviced and 100% except the digital gauge had a mind of its own!

Definitely noticed a difference between running on one to the other. In the end had to advance the ignition timing quite a way to get anywhere near the poke available on petrol. This meant it ran most of its time apart from the initial start up running on LPG to avoid pre-detonation running so advanced on the petrol.
Some LPG systems can do this automatically i'm told.

I had 2 'under slung' 30 Ltr tanks that took a max of 50 L of LPG at a cost of £37-£40 a full tank. From this i would get 125 miles at best, even sticking at a constant 70 mph on the motorway this is the best i managed.

I could just about live with this but on long journeys was getting annoyed at driving around trying to find LPG or having to plan my route accordingly.

I ended up selling and bought a Classic with the notorious 2.5 VM TD engine, i miss the V8 smoothness and power, don't get me wrong, but now average high 30's and have a range more than triple what i had on the LPG.

Its horses for courses, and i would of course prefer the V8, but in the real world LPG isn't as cheap or readily available as it was years ago.

Ultimately that's what lead me into the dark world of driving a 22 yr old British built truck with an Italian engine!! So far so good....

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KUpton83 said:

My experience for what its worth..

I ran an EFI 93 Disco on a mutli point LPG system for 12 months.

I averaged 9 MPG running on LPG and about 13 on petrol. This had an RPI engine with 20k miles on so was mechanically sound, LPG was serviced and 100% except the digital gauge had a mind of its own!

Definitely noticed a difference between running on one to the other. In the end had to advance the ignition timing quite a way to get anywhere near the poke available on petrol. This meant it ran most of its time apart from the initial start up running on LPG to avoid pre-detonation running so advanced on the petrol.
Some LPG systems can do this automatically i'm told.

I had 2 'under slung' 30 Ltr tanks that took a max of 50 L of LPG at a cost of £37-£40 a full tank. From this i would get 125 miles at best, even sticking at a constant 70 mph on the motorway this is the best i managed.

I could just about live with this but on long journeys was getting annoyed at driving around trying to find LPG or having to plan my route accordingly.

I ended up selling and bought a Classic with the notorious 2.5 VM TD engine, i miss the V8 smoothness and power, don't get me wrong, but now average high 30's and have a range more than triple what i had on the LPG.

Its horses for courses, and i would of course prefer the V8, but in the real world LPG isn't as cheap or readily available as it was years ago.

Ultimately that's what lead me into the dark world of driving a 22 yr old British built truck with an Italian engine!! So far so good....

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blackstrat said:

Funnily enough this is exactly how I imagined the real world situation to be - it's the picture I got in my mind from all the other replies and why I would stick with Diesel even if it meant it felt a bit 'Cuban' having a big luxury car with a taxi engine.

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KUpton83 said:

in the real world LPG isn't as cheap or readily available as it was years ago.

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