What cars can't have LPG installed on them? What is LPG in a car? How to operate a car with gas equipment

Modern autogas systems make it possible to convert almost any car to gas, regardless of engine type, injection system, etc. Manufacturers of gas equipment are mastering new technologies and releasing new firmware for gas control units, sometimes even before the car goes into mass production. This allows installers to claim that any car can be converted to gas. And this is great news for those who are going to save on expensive gasoline.

Nevertheless, with all the development of technology, there are also certain limitations, because it is not for nothing that consumers periodically ask the question: which cars cannot be equipped with LPG? And the answer to it is not as clear as we would like. If you are denied conversion at one of the small service stations, this does not mean that LPG cannot be installed on your car. Typical reasons for failure include design features, complex injection systems, and many other factors. It is these factors that are beyond the control of many installers whose professional level is far from perfect.

One of the striking examples in this regard is the 5 liter direct injection compressor engine from the Range Rover Supercharged. The structural arrangement of the components here is so close and intertwined that when drilling gas fittings into the manifold, there is a risk of damaging the intercooler. Only high-level professionals will undertake this operation, and those who are not familiar with this technique will even be afraid to bring this car to their service station.

The Lexus LS460 can be switched to gas without any problems, but only in versions with distributed injection, but no one has won the combined injection technology used in the engine of this car. Owners of Mitsubishi Pajero Wagon 3.5 GDI (6G74), Nissan X-Trail 2.0 (MR20DD) or Audi Q7, A6, S4, A7 with a 3.0 TFSI engine often experience difficulties with installing gas equipment. These cars are also not welcomed with open arms at autogas stations, but these are only temporary precautions. Many LPG manufacturers are intensively working on kits for these machines, and there are reasonable hopes that in the near future the situation will change dramatically.

For example, the Audi A6 2.8 FSI (from 2012), Porsche Cayenne and Porsche Panamera with 4.8 Turbo engines were also previously denied conversion. But today several different solutions are available. Many Ecoboost engines were on the list of opponents of LPG, but now most of them run on gas fuel without problems. And manufacturers will add the entire range of these engines to the available lists in the near future. But here it is also worth making a reservation that only qualified installers with direct technical support from manufacturers of gas equipment are able to make friends with gas equipment and advanced engine technologies.

And if you are still refused at one of the service stations, citing the fact that such cars cannot be equipped with LPG, do not despair. PROFIGAS service station specialists can offer high-tech solutions for the most modern cars. And at the same time we are ready to do our work efficiently and with a guarantee.

4SAVE

4SAVE- a new innovative module from the European manufacturer EDDC. Modules 4SAVE are made from automotive components, so a guarantee is provided for the entire service life of your car and are by far the most high-tech in the world. The module's firmware configuration allows you to configure the operation of the gas injection system in the best possible way, which in turn leads to savings in fuel consumption of the ORDER 10-15% compared to any equipment presented on the Russian market. Since 2018 installed in Russia.

PROMOTION - LPG for Auto 4 cylinders - RUB 20,999. (cylinder 50 liters)

We issue a complete set of documents for registration of gas equipment with the State Traffic Safety Inspectorate (GAI)

Accompanying the client until he registers with the traffic police

When installing HBO - Computer diagnostics of a car as a gift

“Standard” package *

4th generation equipment 4Save,Digitronic, Kme, OMVL, classic gas injectors - Valtek (nozzles), multi-valve class A, any cylindrical cylinder up to 10 0 liters or TOP 50 liters

TOP 94 liters + 4500 rub.

12 month warranty or 100 thousand km.

Optima package *

4th generation equipment 4Save,Digitronic, KME ,LOVATO, OMVL (Italy-Poland), gas injectors - OMVL, A.E.B. — high-speed injectors adapted for low-quality fuel, class A multivalve, any cylindrical cylinder up to 100 liters or TOP up to 54 liters.

TOP 94 liters + 4500 rub.

Warranty 36 months. or 150 thousand km.

* For the “Standard” and “Optima” trim levels, installing an ignition timing variator on a car (chip tuning of a gasoline engine for its optimal operation on gas) - plus 6,500 rubles.

Premium package **

Electronics 4Save, OMVL, Digitronic IQ, high-speed gas injectors AEB, OMVL. Any TOP up to 60 liters or cylindrical up to 130 liters.

TOP 94 liters +4500 rub.

Warranty 60 months. or 300 thousand km.

** For all configurations, covering a cylindrical cylinder with carpet - plus 5,000 rubles. to the price of installing gas equipment, a non-standard cylinder is negotiated separately.

Price of LPG for cars with direct injection of gasoline

* The price includes installation work.

Price for removing HBO from a car:

The cost of preparing all the necessary documents for registering gas equipment with the State Traffic Safety Inspectorate:

* In cases where the equipment is not installed by us and only the preparation of registration documents for the traffic police is required, check the price with the operator.

Auto electrical work:

installation of parking sensors 4 sensors (without removing the bumper)

installation of parking sensors 8 sensors

HBO manufacturing companies:

	Lovato Lovato currently has in stock a whole series of accessory systems and components for installing gas equipment on cars, both LPG and methane. Since 2008 is part of the Landi Renzo Group of companies.
	4SAVE A European company that produces innovative electronics for LPG systems of 3-4-5-6-8 cylinders. It is popular in European countries, India, Ukraine and other countries. It has been represented on the territory of the Russian Federation and the countries of the Unified Customs Union since 2018.
	Digitronic The Digitronic company in Europe is better known as STAG and has been on the Polish market for almost 30 years in the development, production and sale of LPG systems for cars and occupies a leading position in its country and neighboring countries in all areas in this area.
	BRC BRC Gas Equipment has been known in the market for the production of gas equipment systems and components for cars for more than 40 years. In 2002 company M.T.M. S.r.l. BRC Gas Equipment has become the largest gas equipment company in the world thanks to the merger of M.T.M. (Italy) and IMPCO (USA).

Gas is the most realistic alternative to gasoline and diesel. We are talking primarily about liquefied propane-butane. Alas, compressed natural gas, methane, is not very popular, primarily due to undeveloped infrastructure (ZR, 2013, No. 3). But there are enough refills with liquefied gas - you can fearlessly embark on long journeys.

The main reason for switching to gas is financial benefit. In the past, the scale of savings was breathtaking: sets of gas equipment for primitive carburetor engines were inexpensive, and propane-butane cost half as much as gasoline. Now the situation is different. To match a gas power system with modern engines, a completely different level of components and installer qualifications are required. Coupled with new requirements for the safety of cylinders, this has led to a significant increase in the cost of kits.

Each kilometer traveled on gas costs on average a third less than on gasoline.

Armed with exact figures, I estimated the benefits of installing HBO on two editorial machines with an enviable appetite. It turned out that a high-quality kit with installation in the capital for Nissan-Almera will pay for itself in just 18 thousand kilometers, and for 12 thousand. This is less than the average annual mileage for most cars. Total: every kilometer traveled on gas will be on average one third more profitable than on gasoline.

Tired of excessive fuel costs for the Almera (it consumes an average of 10 l/100 km), we equipped it with an LPG system, which we reported on in the December 2014 issue of Za Rulem magazine. A study of specialized forums did not reveal a clearly best kit. Therefore, we chose the installer based on the recommendation of friends. A set from the Polish company LPGTech with a 42-liter toroidal cylinder cost 25,000 rubles.

Six months later, it’s time to check how Almera handles its new menu - propane-butane. During operation, material has accumulated about the operation of the gas station network. We shared our observations, which can be found below, in the June 2015 issue of the magazine, calling the publication “Is there life on gas?” Let us add that the gas-powered Almera still serves in the Za Rulem vehicle fleet, without causing any particular inconvenience - no new revelations have emerged in the intervening time.

NISSAN ALMERA

• Manufacturer - AVTOVAZ, Russia
• Year of release - 2013
• In operation ZR - since April 2013
• Mileage at the time of report - 60,000 km
• ZR Publications:
• 2013, № , 8, 12;
• 2014, № 2, 3, 7, , 12

Let me start with the fact that during this run I stalled a dozen times - in a car with an automatic transmission. This is not difficult to do. You just have to try to move off exactly at the moment when the engine, after warming up, switches from gasoline to gas.

On the very first “gas” kilometers I noticed that the Almera trip computer continued to calculate the consumption in liters per kilometer. It was too early to rejoice: the sensor, designed for gasoline, began to shamelessly lie. The error, according to my observations, is 20–25% downward. The actual engine appetite (see table) increased by more than 20%. This is higher than the 10-15% promised, but I have reason to doubt the accuracy of my calculations based on receipts and mileage.

Judge for yourself. The gas level indicator installed in the cabin is not accurate. Over the course of 120–150 km from the moment of refueling, it shows the maximum level, and over the next 20 km it drops to the minimum level, at which it remains until the cylinder is completely empty. Therefore, I made it a rule to reset the odometer directly at the gas station. In urban mode, a 42-liter capacity is enough for 300–315 km.

Every visit to a gas station is also a kind of lottery. With gasoline, everything is clear: pour until the cutoff or until it comes out of the neck. The supply of propane-butane is stopped by a signal from a pressure sensor, which can operate in different ways. I was filled with 41, 35, and 23 (!) liters into an almost empty cylinder at different dispensers. Let's add here the dubious type of equipment at many stations, which makes one suspect underfilling. So, in such conditions, calculate how much fuel actually remained in the tank and how much was actually poured into you.

Despite some inconveniences, I like driving on gas. There are no complaints about the equipment of the Polish company LPG TECH. The problem with a defective sensor in the main line was resolved in half an hour - under warranty. It did not hold pressure and cut off the fuel supply. As a result, about fifteen minutes after starting, the LPG was turned off, and the engine automatically switched to gasoline. Propane power was restored (for the same 15 minutes) only if the engine was started when it had completely cooled down. The only scheduled maintenance so far at a mileage of 10,000 km cost a modest thousand rubles and took 20 minutes.

There are savings, and they are noticeable: the cost per kilometer has decreased from 5.71 to 5.03 rubles (despite the fact that Almera drove less than a third of its total mileage, taken as the basis for the calculation, on cheaper fuel). For this I am ready to endure minor inconveniences.

If you also want to install LPG, I advise you to start by calculating the payback period, and then carefully consider where you will refuel. The rest is secondary.

They have gas...

Going on a New Year's trip to Germany, my wife and I were determined to save as much as possible on fuel. The Internet has become infected with optimism. The successfully found site mylpg.eu turned out to be a treasure: all gas stations in the European Union with addresses and coordinates for the navigator!

Out of 5000 km, Almera drove about one and a half hundred on gasoline. The lion's share of them came from Belarus, where the gas station I was hoping for turned out to be closed, and there was not enough gas left until the next one. In Belarus, gas water pumps on highways are located in a single complex with gasoline ones. True, they stand in the far corner, and their operators in half the cases turned out to be ardent advocates of safety: get out of the car, open the hood, move 20 meters away. Not the most pleasant procedure in the cold. What if I had a baby sleeping in my car?

In Poland, propane-butane is sold on almost every corner. Prices on local highways and on the Warsaw-Berlin toll highway vary: from 2.2 to 2.5 zlotys per liter in the first case and from 2.7 to 3 zlotys in the second (for the duration of the trip, 1 zloty = 16 rubles). But there is no discrimination: speakers labeled LPG or Autogas (European spelling) peacefully coexist with gasoline ones. There are no gas stations, no bright safety posters.

On German autobahns you can’t get hold of gas at all roadside complexes, but in general there are no problems. However, there is a nuance. If the Russian adapter (Dish type) is used by both Belarusians and Poles, then in Germany it is a different one (ACME type). The cashier usually has a set of adapters. It was not there at only one of about a dozen gas stations where we stopped. They don’t just give you the necessary piece of hardware; they require a deposit - a passport or documents for a car. Cash will do. I left between 25 and 70 euros as a deposit. If for some reason you are not satisfied with this option, wait for a car with Polish license plates. Such people often drive on propane, and the drivers, as I have seen for myself, amiably share the adapter without any capitalist conventions. By the way, in Europe they use four different types of adapters.

At home I calculated the costs. For 5,000 km, 556.5 liters of propane were consumed (average consumption 11.1 l/100 km) for a total amount of 23,195 rubles (according to the current exchange rate of 70 rubles per euro at that time). In Europe, gas is half the price of gasoline, but part of the savings is eaten up by the increased appetite of the engine. I assume that thanks to HBO, up to 20 thousand rubles were saved in the family budget. One trip to Europe almost completely offset the cost of installing the kit!

...and we have gas

There are about 55 gas filling stations throughout Moscow. A good third is located on the Moscow Ring Road, another part is undergoing reconstruction, after which the preservation of the gas profile is a big question. Deciding to scout out the situation in neighboring regions, I sketched out a route for the run, covering both federal highways and regional roads.

On paper, the idea seemed a little adventurous. The already mentioned website benzin-price.ru reported only 17 gas stations in the entire Ivanovo region (gasoline gas stations there, according to the same site, are 153), and in the Smolensk region - a dozen in total (gasoline gas stations - 257). For comparison: in the Moscow region there are almost 250 gas water pumps and 1365 petrol pumps, in the Nizhny Novgorod region - 70 and 532, in the Vladimir region - 48 and 310. The ratio is depressing.

But in reality everything turned out to be good. The longest stretch in which I did not encounter a single gas station stretched for 210 km - from Nelidov on the M-9 highway to the entrance to Smolensk. To be fair: in most of it, the 170-kilometer section of the P136 road, there was not a single decent gasoline gas station. Outside the city, one Almere cylinder is enough for 360–400 km. So if you start looking for the coveted word “propane” 200 km after the previous refueling, then most likely you won’t have to switch to gasoline.

Frequent stops take time, but leave more money in your pocket. In addition, on a long journey it is recommended to stop every two to three hours to warm up. So consider this as an additional contribution of HBO to your safety while driving.

Safety and other aspects of HBO will be discussed below.

A BUNCH OF MINUSES OF CONVERTING A CAR TO GAS

Of course, switching to propane-butane is not without its drawbacks. The first of these is related to the car warranty. Even if you present all the required documents from the installers (which in itself is a great success), the dealer will most likely refuse free repairs. The appearance of a second fuel system in a car, whatever one may say, is a rather serious interference in the design. Therefore, do not be surprised if, for example, an official service center offers to fix engine malfunctions at your own expense. And the trial is a long process with an unpredictable result. Therefore, owners of new cars for the most part are excluded from the list of potential visitors to gas stations.

An exception is cars equipped with gas equipment at the car plant itself or in a company authorized by the car manufacturer. We have few such companies, and, as a rule, they specialize in commercial equipment. For example, GAZ, which mass-produces “gazelles” with gas equipment for both liquefied and compressed gas fuel.

The second significant argument against is the bulky cylinder. It is impossible to place it without compromising practicality. The toroidal one will displace the spare tire from its rightful place: you will have to move it to the trunk or even leave it in the garage. A conventional cylindrical container will negate the transformation of the luggage compartment. Even owners of sedans are unlikely to like this, not to mention station wagons and crossovers. However, it all depends on the specific model. For example, owners of first-generation Logans with a non-folding rear seat have nothing to lose. In addition, installers offer owners of UAZ-Patriot and other full-size all-terrain vehicles many options for placing the cylinder: a large cylindrical one - not only along the rear seat, but also on the side wall, a smaller one - under the bottom, and if toroidal - two on the floor. In the latter case, a flat raised floor is laid over them. True, 250 mm higher than the standard level. Although with such a volume of trunk this is a small damage.

Another nuance is the availability of gas stations. In terms of network development, gas engines are significantly inferior to gasoline and diesel engines, however, there are no problems with propane-butane either in large cities or on highways. The all-knowing Internet will help you plan a long-distance route: several resources will tell you the coordinates and addresses of gas stations. True, to a car enthusiast accustomed to modern colorful signs and spoiled by the service of large chain gas stations, they will seem, to put it mildly, outdated and even unkempt. There are complaints about gas quality online. However, the situation is no worse than with gasoline and diesel.

…AND A COUPLE OF MYTHS

The greatest concern is related to the health of the engine converted to gas. One of the most common arguments is the likelihood of valve seats burning out due to increased temperature inside the cylinder. Qualified installers unanimously say: correct and careful adjustment of equipment reduces the risk to nothing. And we haven’t heard any massive complaints from users. Regular spark plugs work well with propane-butane, but you can replace them if desired

Replacing gasoline with gas fuel helps increase the efficiency of a car, since gas (in most cases propane) is almost half the price.

But the changes that were made to the rules for operating vehicles with gas equipment affected not only the procedure and rules for installing gas equipment on a car.

Registration of gas equipment in a car with the traffic police in 2020 now goes through several stages. And this leads to an increase in the cost of re-equipment.

Let's look at how to register gas equipment for a car at the traffic police. Do I need permission to install?

Installation of gas equipment is a serious intervention in the design of the car.

But some car owners still install LPG and are not afraid of losing their warranties, since every kilometer traveled on gas is much cheaper than a kilometer traveled on gasoline.

Professional installation and high quality equipment will reduce fuel costs and also maintain the technical characteristics of the car.

If the driver installs gas equipment immediately upon purchasing a car, the cleanliness of the engine is maintained for 5 years or more.

To install gas equipment, you must choose a trusted center that must:

• be certified;
• have all the documentation for the equipment that would confirm its quality;
• carry out individual configuration of the vehicle;
• issue copies of certificates for installed equipment after installation;
• regularly check the safety of gas equipment;
• employees who install equipment must have appropriate certificates;
• prepare documentation for further registration of gas equipment with the traffic police;
• have many years of experience, a wide selection of equipment manufacturers, so that customers have the opportunity to choose the most suitable equipment for their machine.

Some companies also offer a month of testing the installed equipment so that customers can refuse to continue using it if something does not suit them.

Do I need to register gas equipment with the traffic police? Yes, every fact of installation of gas equipment, which involves the use of gas as fuel for a gasoline engine, is necessarily recorded in the traffic police.

Let's find out what the procedure for registering gas equipment is, as well as how to legalize gas equipment on a car in 2020?

According to the new registration rules, registration of gas equipment with the traffic police is not necessary in the following cases:

• the car was originally released with gas equipment;
• the technical passport of the vehicle provides for re-equipment (replacement of gas equipment components that are intended for this vehicle model);
• if the equipment was installed earlier, it complies with all points of legislation in force during the installation period: the re-equipment was carried out before amendments were made to the current legislation (does not apply to independently supplied gas equipment that was not properly registered).

In other cases, installing a gas cylinder as a fuel source requires going through all the stages that are provided for by current legislation.

The requirements for installation and registration of gas equipment are regulated by the law on gas equipment for cars, i.e. Section 4 of Chapter V of the Technical Regulations of the Customs Union On the safety of wheeled vehicles.

Paragraph 75 states that it is necessary to undergo verification. A preliminary check is carried out before installing the gas equipment, i.e. The car owner must obtain permission for installation from the traffic police.

After installing and receiving a copy of the certificates for the equipment at the appropriate center, as well as receiving a diagnostic card when passing a technical inspection, you must go to the traffic police. There, changes will be made to the registration documentation of the car.

A preliminary check is carried out to determine the “compatibility” of the car with HBO. Those. it is determined that gas equipment can be installed on this vehicle, and that the machine complies with safety requirements.

1. It is necessary to pass a preliminary technical examination.
2. Obtain permission to install gas equipment from the traffic police.
3. Install the equipment in a certified center, obtain a conclusion, copies of certificates for the equipment.
4. Pass a technical inspection and receive a diagnostic card.
5. Collect documents, go to the traffic police, receive a “certificate of compliance of the vehicle with changes made to its design.” Register changes.

Registration of HBO is impossible without certificates, a diagnostic card, or a certificate of conformity.

List of documents for obtaining a certificate for gas equipment for a car:

• conclusion of preliminary technical inspection;
• declaration statement from the installer;
• technical inspection protocol on the safety of equipment after installing gas equipment;
• receipt of payment of state duty;
• vehicle passport, STS, copies of certificates of compliance of gas equipment;
• passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation.

Registration costs and state fees:

• registration of a certificate of conformity of design - 800 rubles;
• obtaining a car registration certificate - 500 rubles;
• making changes to the vehicle passport - 350 rubles.

If you apply for registration through the State Services Portal, you can pay state fees with a 30% discount.

But how to register for HBO at the traffic police in 2020, if it is already available?

Many drivers begin to have difficulties registering a car that was purchased with gas equipment already installed, but did not go through the necessary registration procedure.

How then to legalize the equipment, since usually traffic police officers require that car owners follow the established procedure?

If the order is violated, employees require the dismantling of the fuel system and its subsequent reinstallation. Some car owners dismantle visible elements before the preliminary examination and try to negotiate with certified centers to issue a conclusion for blind registration.

The main problem: the car owner may not have documents from the company that once installed gas equipment. Therefore, before purchasing a car with gas equipment, you should require the necessary documents from the seller.

If a purchased car with gas equipment has gas equipment included in the registration documents, the vehicle can be safely registered with the traffic police.

If a driver drives a vehicle with damaged installed gas equipment or an expired mandatory inspection period, or with equipment that has not passed the inspection or was not properly registered, the motorist will receive a fine of 500 rubles.

The registration certificate must contain notes indicating that gas supply is installed in the car, as well as a note about the service inspection of the gas equipment and permission for installation.

The motorist should bring his vehicle in for a system check on a regular basis. The frequency of examinations is indicated in the documents for the cylinder. Typically the frequency of inspections is every two years.

The inspection is carried out at a center authorized by the traffic police, then a certificate of the result is issued indicating the date of the next inspection. If the driver does not pass this test on time, the use of the cylinder is prohibited.

It is also not allowed for use if:

• the period for periodic inspection of gas cylinders has expired;
• fastenings of components of gas cylinder equipment are broken;
• There was a gas leak from the gas equipment elements.

Equipment must be registered within 10 days after its installation.

If a car owner decides to re-equip his vehicle, it is necessary to obtain permission for installation, and then be sure to register changes in the design of the car.

The life of the driver and other road users depends on conscientious and patient completion of all stages of the process. Amendments were made to the legislation to protect drivers from tragedies that can happen after improper installation and operation of gas equipment.

The re-equipment process involves two examinations. One establishes the possibility of equipping a particular vehicle with a gas cylinder, the second confirms the correctness and safety of the work performed.

The main reason why motorists resort to installing gas equipment is the desire to save money, taking into account the constantly rising prices for gasoline and diesel fuel. Like any other vehicle conversion, installing gas equipment has obvious advantages along with certain disadvantages as a result of such a decision. Let's look at the obvious at first glance and subsequently manifested pros and cons that will await the car enthusiast during the operation of the car after switching to a gas power system.

Read in this article

Advantages and main advantages of HBO

Significant savings are perhaps the main advantage of LPG for cars. Gas consumption is up to 20% higher compared to gasoline, and the cost is almost 2 times less. It is necessary to take into account that you can save noticeably only if you actively use the car, and the mileage far exceeds the mark of 10-15 thousand kilometers traveled per year. If you drive less, then the advisability of purchasing an LPG becomes questionable.

Don’t forget about the consumption rate of your specific one. If it does not exceed 6 liters of gasoline, then you should once again think hard about the need to purchase gas equipment. The fact is that the costs of purchasing gas equipment and its subsequent installation will take a very long time to return with low mileage and a small engine, even taking into account the noticeable difference in prices for 1 liter of gasoline compared to one liter of gas.

Parallel use of gasoline and gas

This advantage of parallel use of fuels will undoubtedly be appreciated by those drivers who need to regularly travel long distances. It turns out that you have an additional power reserve. You can travel a significantly greater distance with HBO. This feature allows you to reduce the risk of refueling your car with low-quality fuel at dubious gas stations far from large populated areas. For example, you drive part of the way on gas, and after the supply runs out, you immediately switch to gasoline or vice versa. Many drivers use gasoline in highway mode for high speeds and intensive overtaking, and in populated areas the engine switches to gas power, since it is on gas that the internal combustion engine often loses its power, which is not always good on the highway for obvious reasons.

Gas and engine

During operation, many car enthusiasts note that a gas engine operates more stable and quieter compared to gasoline. This feature is explained by the fact that the octane number of gas is higher and is around 110. This is what allows a gas engine to operate softer and smoother, as well as reduce its noise and vibration levels. If we talk about noise pollution in densely populated megacities, then there is another advantage of gas equipment, although in the CIS this is not given due attention, which cannot be said about the developed countries of Europe and the USA.

Among supporters of gas equipment, there is also an opinion that engines running on gas have a longer service life. The main argument in defense of this statement is the fact that propane-butane, which is a liquefied gas in the power supply system of passenger cars, enters the engine cylinders in the most optimal gaseous state. Let us add that methane-fired units are not used in passenger cars due to the large weight of the system and dimensions. As we have already said, gasoline does not have this property of being in a gaseous state when it enters the cylinder, and designers around the world are trying to make the working mixture of air and gasoline as close as possible to gas.

On gas, engine ignition becomes much more efficient. The gas itself burns slower than gasoline, but the process is more uniform. This means that shock loads on the cylinder-piston group are noticeably reduced. A higher octane number of gas fuel allows to minimize detonation and the consequences of this unpleasant phenomenon. The final result is reduced wear of engine parts with LPG by 30-45% compared to a gasoline unit.

The gas mixes more evenly with air and does not leave deposits. Therefore, after running on gas, the engine oil in the engine is cleaner, its viscosity remains longer and the service life from replacement to replacement increases by 30-40%. Moreover, the protective oil film in a gas power unit is not washed off from the cylinder walls. The combination of these features allows us to say that gas instead of gasoline theoretically increases the overall service life of the engine.

There is also an increase in the service life and quality of spark plugs. When operating on gas, there is no accumulation of tar deposits in the combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine, and the formation of soot on spark plugs is reduced. It turns out that the life of the candles increases to 40%. This can be explained by the fact that the gas contains a higher hydrogen content.

Environmental friendliness of engines with gas equipment

HBO has a lower risk of fire or explosion. A gas leak is not as dangerous as a gasoline leak. If mechanical damage occurs to the gas pipeline or gas cylinder, then the gas is immediately cooled. For example, we note that at an outside air temperature of about +20ºС there will be a drop to -130 degrees Celsius. Then the gas will turn into a gaseous state and simply evaporate. If the outside temperature is negative, then there is almost no risk of gas ignition. This difference between liquefied gas and gasoline, which is a flammable fuel at any temperature even from a small spark, allows us to talk about the advantage of LPG.

Experiments by foreign and domestic specialists were repeatedly carried out, which confirmed this statement. The use of equipment from well-known gas equipment manufacturers, installation in specialized centers and scheduled maintenance of gas systems will make fire almost impossible. A modern gas cylinder is equipped with safety valves and is placed in the car in such a way as to minimize the possibility of deformation or destruction in an accident.

The ADAC club from Germany, which represents the interests of car owners in this country, conducted a number of tests. The Germans simulated an accident with a blow to the rear of a car with HBO. Maximum damage was caused to gas equipment, and then the damaged vehicle was set on fire. The results of this test were considered quite acceptable. Experts came to the conclusion that serviceable and correctly installed gas equipment is not dangerous provided that it is used normally. LPG is even less dangerous compared to a tank of gasoline in the event of an accident.

The strength of a gas cylinder turns out to be orders of magnitude higher than the strength of the same gas tank. Fires in cars with gas equipment do happen, but they turn out to be a demonstration of a gross violation of the basic rules of operating gas engine power systems. Such consequences can result from driving cars with obviously faulty gas equipment. There are no fewer similar examples of fires or explosions of cars with a faulty gasoline fuel supply system. Another advantage of LPG is that the smell of a gas leak in a car is felt much earlier and more clearly. In order for the leak to be recognized in a timely manner, special substances called mercaptans are added to the gas mixture, which have this specific odor.

• Never try to fill LPG with household gas;
• Do not violate the requirements regarding the maximum permissible pressure in the gas cylinder;
• Follow the recommendations of the HBO manufacturer;
• Consider the requirements of gas system service specialists;

All that remains is to follow these basic rules. If you notice the slightest sign of a leak in the engine compartment, or detect the presence of a gas smell in the car interior or in the trunk, then it is necessary to immediately check the gas equipment and its elements for leaks. Operating the vehicle until the problem is resolved is strictly prohibited! Pay special attention to the fastening elements of the gas cylinder. If the fasteners are loose, then there is a very high probability that the gas pipeline has ruptured.

The main disadvantages of HBO

The biggest disadvantage is the high initial cost. You can’t argue with this, since a 4th generation LPG with a turnkey installation can cost about 500 USD. You invest these funds in the “prospect” of savings, like a bank deposit with its interest. So the benefits from HBO will not appear immediately, and also take into account many factors.

Engine power on gas

Gas exhibits a decrease in power, which is caused by the fact that the burning rate of gas is lower than that of gasoline. The car's power drops by up to 15%, this is especially noticeable during intense acceleration. The situation is saved a little by the smoothness when accelerating on the gas, the absence of dips and jerks on the throttle. This feature is similarly directly related to the slow combustion of gas.

The need to re-equip the car

Forced re-equipment leads to the need for subsequent additional service of the gas supply system, which must be carried out regularly. However, financially servicing gas equipment is not particularly expensive, but only if you take into account a correctly installed and configured gas system. One way or another, but with gas equipment, the engine will require increased care for its technical condition. We will not talk about the first gas supply systems, but even with solutions of the 3rd and later generations of gas equipment, the engine will require more frequent maintenance and replacement of a group of filters.

Gas is a “coarser” fuel compared to gasoline, but it is more difficult to ignite and the temperatures inside the combustion chamber are higher. The need for regular care of the condition of not only the gas, but also the gasoline injection system, as well as the ignition system, is quite obvious. Some cars additionally require frequent replacement of high-voltage spark plug wires, etc. The scheduled maintenance interval for a car with LPG is definitely reduced to 10,000-15,000 km. This recommendation is worth taking note of for drivers who are trying to save as much as possible on servicing their cars.

Maintenance of gas equipment systems

Such additional costs are definitely present, and the price depends on the generation and type of installed system, on the quality of the gas being filled, and on the individual price list of each car service center for installation and maintenance of gas equipment. In fact, it can be said that servicing HBO is not that expensive. For example, the Italian 4th generation BRC system will not require any special additional procedures or repairs. The only manipulation is to replace the filter every 15 thousand km. mileage The planned resource of the specified equipment is around 200 thousand km, but with a caveat.

It is necessary to start the engine on gasoline in winter, since a cold start on gas shortens the service life of the gearbox diaphragm. When the internal combustion engine warms up to 50 degrees, then you can switch to gas.

The health of the system also depends on the quality of gas you usually fill. If the gas fuel contains impurities or dirt, then the gas injection elements (gas injector) will fail relatively quickly. The resource of this part of the system actually determines the costs of maintaining gas equipment. A filter that is subject to scheduled replacement in relation to the 4th generation of gas equipment costs about 10-15 USD. depending on a particular system. A relatively simple gas equipment with a Valtek, Rail or Lovato gas injector simultaneously requires periodic adjustment, cleaning of gas injectors and repair of related elements. The cost of such routine maintenance and filter replacement is usually about 30-40 USD. Maintenance is carried out every 30,000 km, which is quite affordable.

Vehicle weight and trunk capacity

If the first nuance regarding weight can be called conditional, then it is impossible to disagree with the second. Gas equipment really takes up space and takes up useful space in the luggage compartment, since this is where the gas cylinder is installed in 95% of cases. The cylindrical cylinder literally “eats” the trunk, and the toroidal cylinder occupies a niche for the spare wheel.

In the second case, car owners very often carry a full-size spare tire, placed in a special case, just in the trunk. In the CIS, only a few people purchase “dokatka” or compact kits for repairing wheels, since the poor condition of domestic roads dictates its own rules, according to which the presence of a full-fledged spare tire in a car is almost a prerequisite for normal operation of the car.

Gasoline power system and HBO

Difficulties arise with the gasoline fuel supply system in the presence of LPG. Difficulties may arise when diagnosing malfunctions, repairing the gasoline power system, as well as during work regarding regular vehicle maintenance, which depends on the vehicle model. If a malfunction occurs in the standard fuel system, diagnosing the problem becomes much more difficult precisely because of the close integration of the gas and gasoline systems. Access to the elements of the gasoline power system becomes more difficult, since the installation of gas equipment implies communication with standard elements.

If malfunctions arose due to incorrect configuration or installation of gas equipment, then ordinary car services may completely refuse to carry out diagnostic procedures and subsequent repairs of a car with a gas system. In large populated areas this problem is not particularly relevant, but in the case of “garage” repairs it is quite common.

Gas kills the engine

Very often you can hear from car owners that gas is good for the internal combustion engine, while others say that it is what causes the engine to fail prematurely. Let's figure it out. The second statement is partly true, but today to a large extent things are no longer so. Rumors about engine damage appeared simultaneously with the first generations of HBO for about 15 years. This applies to ejector-type equipment and 2nd generation gas equipment. Then the engines were simpler, designed for 76, 80 and 92 octane gasoline. Such engines did not have knock sensors, there was no automatic adjustment of the SPD, etc. And the first and second generation systems themselves were configured not by computer, but manually.

Another phenomenon was encountered when, after adjustments on the gas analyzer, the owners themselves or unscrupulous installers adjusted the fuel supply so that the gas consumption was ultimately less than the gasoline consumption in relation to a specific internal combustion engine.

This setting is unacceptable if the power unit is in absolutely good working order and its gas consumption is normal. It was the dubious “savings” that led to problems with the cylinder head, shrinkage and even burnout of the valves occurred.

The second unpleasant phenomenon was “popping” when a micro-explosion of the gas-air mixture occurred in the intake manifold. Microexplosions led to serious consequences and even fires. With the advent of the 4th generation HBO, these nuances are eliminated. Modern engines are designed for 92-98 gasoline and are equipped with knock sensors. Starting with the 4th generation gas equipment, gas injection in the system is controlled by a standard or controller, the working mixture is not inferior in quality to the gasoline mixture. This made it possible to minimize or completely eliminate problems with the cylinder head. Accelerated wear of the cylinder head is still possible, but this applies more to engines that are structurally absent of hydraulic compensators, and the owners of such cars neglect to timely adjust the valve clearance.

It is well known that the combustion temperature of the gas mixture is 30-50 degrees higher than gasoline. If this is taken into account, then the valve clearances should be slightly larger (about 0.05 mm) when adjusting is done manually. After installing gas equipment, be sure to adjust the valves and increase the clearances, as this will help avoid unwanted overheating. Additionally, it is not recommended to “turn” the engine to maximum speed when driving on gas.

Compliance with these conditions and the presence of a 4th generation gas engine allows us to assert that the occurrence of problems with the cylinder head when operating on gas is similar in frequency to the problems that arise with this element of the internal combustion engine when operating on gasoline. This is confirmed by statistics on repairs of gasoline internal combustion engines. The advantages of gas remain that it does not wash off oil from the walls, does not lead to the appearance of soot, does not cause engine detonation, prolongs the life of spark plugs and lambda probes, and also spares the catalytic converter of exhaust gases.

Most modern 4th generation systems operate on the principle that the engine starts automatically on gasoline, which does not depend in any way on the outside air temperature. After the engine warms up to a predetermined threshold, the switch to gas occurs imperceptibly, and automatically. Such a transition can occur at idle or while driving, and the moment of transition is determined by the LPG system control unit. The only thing you need to take into account is that gasoline is still consumed when starting and warming up the power unit, so its presence in the tank becomes a prerequisite.

Parking problems

Some underground parking lots prohibit parking cars with LPG. This disadvantage is due to the fact that liquefied propane-butane is heavier than air and tends to linger in low points of underground parking lots, which are ventilated much less intensively than open ground areas. It is highly not recommended to leave a car with gas equipment in garages with a channel or an open inspection hole, and there is also a categorical ban on the presence of such cars in the territory of some underground parking lots.

Registration of gas equipment

Gas equipment must be documented and registered with the relevant services. This statement is fair and greatly limits the ability to install gas equipment with your own hands. The fact is that in order to register gas equipment with the Traffic Inspectorate, you need to present a special certificate and license for the right to engage in work on the installation of such gas equipment. It turns out that independent interventions in the design of the car are unacceptable.

The issue has been repeatedly raised among motorists that a car with an installed but unregistered gas power system cannot pass MOT. The traffic police refuse to register or deregister such cars with LPG. Problems will arise, but only if there are no relevant documents for the installed gas equipment. Documents for gas equipment can also be legally asked for at a gas station, although in practice this does not happen.

The difficulties arise from the fact that the installation of any systems, and especially from the 4th generation and higher, will require significant re-equipment of the vehicle. For HBO-4, you need to drill holes in the intake manifold for gas injectors, you need to cut the wiring to gasoline injectors, connect to car sensors, etc.

Difficulties when selling a car with HBO

A car with gas equipment can sometimes be more difficult to sell. Indeed, a car may be difficult to sell when your potential buyer has a negative attitude and opposes any interference in the design of the car. If you try, then almost all the consequences resulting from the installation of a gas installation can be completely eliminated or carefully hidden from prying eyes. But this step will require certain financial costs. Some sellers remove the LPG from the very beginning before selling, but only if they plan to install the system on another car or sell it separately. This approach allows you to save up to 40% of money when converting another car to gas.

Lack of gas stations with gas refueling capabilities

Naturally, there are noticeably fewer gas stations with gas fuel than only petrol ones. Such gas filling stations are subject to more stringent safety requirements, and difficulties arise with the transportation and storage of liquefied gas. The gas filling process is slower and requires increased attention from the gas station operator and control over the process of installing a remote refueling device, as well as other equipment. For this reason, the development of a network of gas filling stations in the CIS is not particularly intensive. If you do not have the opportunity to freely fill up with gas at any time, then it is better to always fill up a full gas cylinder at the first opportunity.

How much does it cost to install gas equipment on a car?

Let's start with the fact that the total cost of LPG will be influenced by the cost of components. Let's start with the balloon. As a rule, the types of gas cylinders for cars differ in shape, volume and manufacturer. Today we can distinguish a cheaper, outdated cylindrical cylinder and a modern toroidal one.

Cylinders can also be propane or methane. The latter option must be stronger, which affects its cost. At the same time, the design of a car’s gas cylinder is often not very different (in fact, it is a container with a valve), however, products from different manufacturers may have different prices. This also affects the price of installing gas equipment.

• The next important element of the gas equipment is the gearbox. To understand how a gas reducer works, it is enough to imagine a housing with two chambers. To put it simply, first the gas from the cylinder enters one chamber, where it changes from liquid to gaseous state. Also in the first chamber the gas pressure is reduced to working pressure. Next, the gas enters the second chamber, from where it is dosed and supplied to the engine. At the same time, filters for gas purification are installed in the reducer.

So, the price of LPG will also depend on the manufacturer of the gearbox. At the same time, solutions from well-known manufacturers can cost 40-60% more than products from little-known companies. Also an important element are injectors, especially when it comes to the latest generations of gas equipment. Their quality will determine the efficiency, economy and productivity, as well as the durability and proper operation of the entire system. Naturally, high-quality branded gas injectors will be better, but also noticeably more expensive than their analogues.

By the way, maintenance of gas equipment on a car involves mandatory replacement of filters, checking the functionality of valves, injectors, computer diagnostics of gas equipment for modern versions, etc. At the same time, regularity increases the reliability of the entire system and extends the service life of individual elements.

It becomes clear that it is important to first decide which gas equipment is best installed on a foreign or domestic car. The overall service life of gas equipment depends on the quality of all components. If you assemble a kit from cheap elements, such an LPG will be cheaper, but can last only a couple or three years, while expensive branded installation kits with proper maintenance will last 10-15 years or more (for example, BRC). The price of the equipment will directly depend on this.

• However, that's not all. It is also important to know where to install gas equipment on a car, since prices for installing gas equipment may also vary. If the installer issues a guarantee and the installation is certified, the price will naturally be higher. Garage services can supply gas equipment inexpensively, but there will be no guarantees for such installation. Also, the corresponding certificate is not issued, which will allow for the further legalization of gas equipment in the traffic police.

Please note that often private installers do not talk about whether it is necessary to register gas equipment with the traffic police in 2019. In fact, legalizing gas for cars today is quite difficult and expensive. At the same time, these costs also need to be taken into account, that is, they must be included in advance in the cost of installing LPG on a car. At the same time, certified installers, for an additional fee, often provide assistance for registering gas equipment with the traffic police, provided that the equipment is installed at their place.

It turns out that if you compare the prices of large services in comparison with a garage installation, the prices for installing gas equipment in the first case may seem high at first, but in fact, assistance with the further legalization of gas equipment will be a more profitable solution than trying to legalize gas equipment on your own.

• So, taking into account the above, you can approximately calculate the cost of installation, registration with the traffic police, as well as the payback of 4th generation gas equipment. Also, the operation of gas equipment in winter should be taken into account separately, when the car starts on gasoline, warms up, and then automatically switches to gas. The price of maintenance of gas equipment on a car also deserves special attention.

On average, prices in Moscow for HBO-4 for a four-cylinder engine range from 25-27 thousand rubles. To this you need to add the cost of registering the equipment with the traffic police, which will cost the owner an additional 9-12 thousand rubles. You also need to take into account that the larger the engine volume and the number of cylinders, the more elements are needed in the equipment set. The total amount of work also increases, that is, in this case, the cost of the installation itself is higher.

Let's sum it up

If you have made a responsible decision to switch to gas fuel at the same time as gasoline, then be sure to take into account all the pros and cons of using gas equipment listed in this article. It happens that for one car owner, the obvious advantages of gas in a car significantly outweigh, while for another driver, the use of liquefied gas becomes absolutely unnecessary or even unacceptable, taking into account the specific features and operating conditions of the car.

Remember also that a car with HBO will require increased attention. Only correct installation, absence of current problems with the gas system, regular maintenance and refueling with high-quality fuel will allow us to talk about the final savings. We do not claim that gas in a car represents the optimal solution, without which it is impossible to imagine a modern car. One way or another, the “correct” LPG has a whole list of advantages, due to which such systems invariably enjoy high popularity not only in the CIS countries, but also in developed European countries.