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The process of converting a vehicle from petrol to LPG is a complex process and is best built up by someone with the expertise and skills required to complete a conversion safely. All LPG conversions must comply with stringent standards and regulatons.
The system componentry used in an LPG conversion kit needs to be explained clearly to those who are not familiar with such fuel requirements. An LPG conversion is simply a secondary fuel system for your motor vehicle. After the vehicle has been converted to LPG, it will still be able to run on petrol as the primary fuel; however Liquefied Petroleum Gas can also be run through the engine’s ignition and fuel lines to power the vehicle when required.
Earlier LPG conversions relied upon mechanical engine management systems. While the mechanical systems were fine for older engines that did not have electronic engine management systems, it is not acceptable practice for equipping modern engines with old technology. Modern conversions differ from those of just a few years ago in that they use the car's existing engine management system to control precisely the right amount of LPG delivered to the combustion chamber. Older systems do not use the car’s existing electronics and so would seek to control the amount of LPG supplied to the engine mechanically. Not only is this an unreliable combination, but also the mating of a mechanical engine management system to an engine designed to be precisely governed by a computer spells disaster.
In a conversion, an auxiliary set of fuel injectors, which deliver the LPG to the engine, are fitted. Gas is fed into these injectors from a pressure reducer and this gas is controlled by
a computerised link to the vehicle’s engine management system. This system has the task of adjusting the fuel delivery rate for optimum performance and economy.
In a car that runs on both petrol and LPG, the car should automatically default to LPG for general running. On the dashboard, you will find a switch and a status unit. The switch will let you know whether the car is running on gas or petrol, and the status unit is the LPG equivalent of the full–empty gauge. The driver can change fuel systems at the flick of the switch.
When filling your car, you will find a specialised filler point, which is a mounted cover approximately 75mm in diameter, behind which lies the filler connector. The filler can be mounted anywhere on the back half of the car, even on the tow bar or the chassis itself. The LPG tank is quite large and it can be difficult to find room for it properly. Often, a tank is fitted into the spare wheel compartment, requiring the spare tyre to be stored elsewhere (you may, alternatively, purchase a first-aid liquid puncture repair kit, which many find to be quicker, safer and easier to use).
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