LPG???

[ad69 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close ad69]

Hi Carrot

About every 15000k's service the gas

A standard service is not that much $75 - $100 for just a service, replacements of parts if required gets added.

The guy who runs my local center ( reasonably unflappable and been there a while) found a problem though that he reckoned was becoming more common.

Dirty gas! A couple of grommets had dropped out of the bottom of the converter unit and I was losing gas ( alot). It was his belief that Bp had something going on with their ever changing formula /refinement process that left a sediment or residue that ate away at these gromets and they just dropped out. He preferred Kleenheat Gas There was something else he mentioned regarding the gas lines as well but i cant find it in my memory. Someone may have a clearer bottle on this.

It wasn't the cost of the replacement grommets (cheap), and putting them in was easy too , but I also had to have the diaphragms in the converter replaced due to this "issue"

So my $75 leak test, service and reset turned into $280 and an over night stay.

I can get further info on this if its wanted

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[ad69 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close ad69]

lpg service

Hi Carrot

About every 15000k's service the gas

A standard service is not that much $75 - $100 for just a service, replacements of parts if required gets added.

The guy who runs my local center ( reasonably unflappable and been there a while) found a problem though that he reckoned was becoming more common.

Dirty gas! A couple of grommets had dropped out of the bottom of the converter unit and I was losing gas ( alot). It was his belief that Bp had something going on with their ever changing formula /refinement process that left a sediment or residue that ate away at these gromets and they just dropped out. He preferred Kleenheat Gas There was something else he mentioned regarding the gas lines as well but i cant find it in my memory. Someone may have a clearer bottle on this.

It wasn't the cost of the replacement grommets (cheap), and putting them in was easy too , but I also had to have the diaphragms in the converter replaced due to this "issue"

So my $75 leak test, service and reset turned into $280 and an over night stay.

I can get further info on this if its wanted

Ad

[teztinkv6Prado Member Find all posts View Profile Close teztinkv6Prado]

Hi all,

My 2002 manual prado has been converted since last October. I get somewhere between 370km & 420km range off the lpg tank (68 litres usable). The conversion was done very professionally and the vehicle runs far better on lpg with more response than BP ultimate in the fuel tank. They took out the main tank and left in the sub. I recently did a run down south the Margaret river, Dunsborough and Boddington and had no problems with the supply of lpg. The whole trip was over just over 800km's, the total cost... $72.00
Vehicle gets serviced every 10,000km as per service intervals.
My 2c worth... Best thing i ever did.
PS: anyone south of perth wanting a good installer, go to the car doctor in Port Kennedy.

Terry

[zookcubr Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close zookcubr]

I bought this Prado last year and the guy we bought it from got this tank fitted in 2000 in the rear cargo area. Ok you do lose some space as its a 100ltr tank but at least we didnt lose both petrol tanks. The baby will drive 1380klms avg on 3 tanks. The tank needs to be inspected every 10 years so we have around 2 years left before it has to be done. We love LPG, its cheaper to run then my Suzuki Vitara and thats a 1.6ltr. One draw back though its a mission to get the LPG working with a snorkel.

[mike1100 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close mike1100]

Want to know if anyone has had a Sprintgas LPG system installed. I've booked my 02 GXL in to have the conversion installed in June. Installer tells me that the system will also inject fuel when system picks up that engine is struggling when under load on gas. Mate had is 4.8ltr patrol done and can't pick the difference between gas and fuel. Looking at 90ltr tank approx 75 usuable.

[rusty1 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close rusty1]

Gas conversion is a tough call, much cheaper for day to day use but when you add the other issues in (reduced range, additional service cost, lower ground clearance etc) you really have to do your sums. What works for one owner may not work for you. I am happy enough with my dual fuel set up but having said that I would probably be just as happy without it, so go figure... I also worry about the cost of repairing two multi valve twin cam heads if the valves burn out on gas.

Zook could you tell me what the issue with fitting a snorkle was, I plan on getting one in the near future. When I stuck one on my 4.2 litre patrol all that was required was a balance pipe from the converter to the air cleaner... Is there more required for the prado?

[Guest Close Guest]

LPG Conversion in Perth

Cheers - have a 2001 GXL Auto 3.4L V6 and looking to convert - I am north of the River - but will check your guys out - anyone know of someone north of the river?

Rogman

[jamdan146 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close jamdan146]

I rang Toyota Australia yesterday and they told me the prado engines are not compatable to run on gas.
Toyota Australia phone number is 1800252097
Good luck
John

[zookcubr Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close zookcubr]

Hi Rusty1,

The problem with the LPG and snorkel setup is getting the tuning correct. Im not saying it cant be done but there is a fair bit of stuffing around getting the length and diameter of the balance pipe correct in order for the tuning of LPG to be right. Since all engines air flow rates arnt the same the system has to be setup to suit the needs of the engine. In other words the mechanic who sets it up has to know what hes doing. These guys dont grow on trees. It can be a try and see approach where after fitting of the balance pipe the engine is tuned then taken for a run to see if this is the correct flow rate at speed. It takes a few goes before the system is happy. Ive got plans to fit one soon, until then forums like this is the best place to contact other owners to find the pro and cons of LPG setups with snorkels.

As for Toyota telling you LPG is not suitable for Prado their FOS! This system has been running in this vehicle for 8 years without any problems.

[jamdan146 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close jamdan146]

Thats good to know because I still want to go with gas .
Anyone else been on gas for a long time?
Cheers
John

[Kalex Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Kalex]

I got my 2.7 converted 9 mths ago. Had 8 mths of head ache until mechanics worked out valves needed reshimming baddly. Now runs great. I highly recomend you use 'flashlube'. May cost a little extra but will make your valves last longer.

[jamdan146 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close jamdan146]

Did the valves need reshimming before you had gas put on or was it a result of using gas?
Did you have flashlube installed?

[Kalex Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Kalex]

The car was running great before the gas and for the first 4 months, just lots of teething issues with the gas, then it slowly got worse and worse, loosing power and economy and would stall whenever you pushed in the clutch.
The mechanic who converted it repeatedly said i didn't need flashlube, but he could never get the car to run properly.
Now after getting the valves reshimmed (to there max limit) i run flashlube and so far it runs perfect on both fuels.
I have since talked to a few places about a future head rebuild and they all say that Toyota use very soft valves and flashlube will prolong the life of your valves short of fitting hardened ones.
Cheap insurance in my book.

[bendes62 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close bendes62]

Hi

Has anyone got some more definate figures on LPG consumption on the 90 series?

Cheers

[Steve M Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steve M]

Re:

Hi

Has anyone got some more definate figures on LPG consumption on the 90 series?

Cheers

Hi bendes62, myn is 59 usable litres, around town its about 23L per 100klms (around 250k round town). On the freeway it was 16.3L per 100, which gave me about 350klms out of the tank and it was dead empty. I went the smaller tank as I didnt want to lose any ground clearance at the rear end. Dont forget running off road tyres, bullbars etc contribute to more fuel usage. I reckon if I had standard road tyres and didnt have bullbar etc I would gain another 50k. I think it really limits you in the outback but you save heaps running around town (95% of the time). If I had the 120 petrol 4L V6 prado I would just leave petrol as my mate has one and he gets better then the 3.4P V6 in all cases and has a sh#t load of grunt and get up and go. I will either update to a turbo diesel 90 series or petrol 120 series, cant afford the D4D model diesel yet. one of them would be fantastic. Steve