G55 on LPG - any thoughts?

17 replies [Last post]
GWagonNut
GWagonNut's picture
Offline
Joined: 21.09.2007
Location: London

Just importing a LHD 2005 G55 to the UK and was thinking of converting it to LPG. Had a chat with a couple of specialists and as expected they have never converted a G55, however, one had converted an ML with the same engine. They said it should be fairly straight forward.

Can anyone advise on the potential downsides - will I lose that gorgeous exhaust rumble?! and I've heard that LPG is less efficient than petrol but by how much?

Also, are there any alternative locations for the LPG tank other than the cargo area?

Thanks

Maxwell Smart
Maxwell Smart's picture
Offline
Joined: 04.11.2003
Location: London
Re: G55 on LPG - any thoughts?

They are quite a bit less efficient. Check with Hus on this forum as he recently posted consumption on his G. I think he mentioned something in the region of 150 miles per tank and that is on a 460 with a much more economical engine than a G55K.... I would shudder to think what the consumption would be... 75 miles per tank???

If alternative fuels is what you want consider a diesel and getting it converted to run on veggie oil. Sure they're no G55K but they do have a nice rumble and can be chipped for better performance.

Russ280
Russ280's picture
Offline
Joined: 05.11.2003
Location: Trefonen
GWOA Groups: Members
Re: G55 on LPG - any thoughts?

LPG has 20% less energy for the same volume. So your fuel consumption will increase by a least 20%.
Performance - LPG has a higher octane rating and you are effectively pouring in 20% more fuel so performance difference will be marginal.

GWagonNut
GWagonNut's picture
Offline
Joined: 21.09.2007
Location: London
Re: G55 on LPG - any thoughts?

Thanks Guys. 20 % reduction seems reasonable. Gus, where have you located the tank? Does your wagon sound different running on LPG than on petrol?

markvulture
markvulture's picture
Offline
Joined: 24.02.2004
Location: sidcup kent
GWOA Groups: Members
Re: G55 on LPG - any thoughts?

as per maxwells comment....dont forget there is no standard size for an lpg tank, its whatever you can/want to squeeze in! also lpg tanks only take 80% of stated capacity, for expansion purposes etc.ie a 100l tank will only hold 80l of lgp,approximately.20% loss seems more than i would expect, i had a 560sel saloon that i had converted for lpg.litre for litre i didnt return as good a mileage as petrol but it wasnt as much as 20% less. i found the engine seemed to run smoother and rev more freely than on petrol.i also noticed no loss of power, but then with 300 bhp on tap thats no bluddy surprise is geez!!!!!!!

hus55
hus55's picture
Offline
Joined: 09.01.2006
Location: north cyprus
GWOA Groups: Members
Re: G55 on LPG - any thoughts?

lpg is the only way i could afford to run my 280GEL :shock:

loss of power=minimum. amg would even notice the difference :P

efficient= my engine is old school :? the amg would use the"sequential-system"
which is alot better than the old system i run on :!:

my G idles a bit lumpy on petrol but i cannot even hear the engine run on lpg,and its ultra smooth too..

ok,the down side is the leads,sparks,distributor,rotor arm etc have to be in tip top condition because lpg is more sensitve.

finally,would i convert an AMG :?: :?:

DAMN RIGHT WOULD TOO :D :!: :!:

WHY :?:

EASY.. i would need half the money to run an amg on lpg than i would petrol :idea:

and that doent need rocket science to suss out :!:

good luck and go for it :!: :!:

The Bear
The Bear's picture
Offline
Joined: 10.10.2006
Location: London
GWOA Groups: Members
Re: G55 on LPG - any thoughts?

It's a great way of giving mayor Ken the finger too :lol: seeing as how he likes 4x4's in town :roll:

GWagonNut
GWagonNut's picture
Offline
Joined: 21.09.2007
Location: London
Re: G55 on LPG - any thoughts?

LPG is sounding more and more like a no lose situation! I've been quoted around £2k+VAT for a conversion - how does that compare?

I will be looking for a single 120litre tank or two smaller ones to give 100litres of LPG that will return a reasonable distance between fill-ups!
I am reluctant though to give up the cargo area - are there any real alternatives? I was thinking of possibly fabricating a tank in the spare wheel housing - I will lose the spare but how often is that used? - any thoughts?

Thanks

markvulture
markvulture's picture
Offline
Joined: 24.02.2004
Location: sidcup kent
GWOA Groups: Members
Re: G55 on LPG - any thoughts?

there is a tank shape made to fit in place of a spare wheel, called a toroid, ie doughnut sort of shape, but it probably wont be big enough by itself.then another small tank behind the sill or in the load area above one wheel arch?
also i wouldnt expect to get any congestion charge exemption based on lpg converting a g.if it is a converted vehicle it has to be on the powershift register and the lpg equipment has to be from an approved supplier.the register seems to have sprinters and a class only listed.my opinion is not 100% accurate but thats the way the info reads to me.

peter perfect
peter perfect's picture
Offline
Joined: 07.11.2003
Location: Bahrain
GWOA Groups: Members
Re: G55 on LPG - any thoughts?

ok nutter, £2k is about right for your car. but make sure these guys just do LPG conversions and nothing else, ie not a side line. Try ecogas systems in bidford on avon. they have been doing it for 20 years and have researched for vauxhall too. They did my 230 on a single point system, flawless conversion for a 230, 280 is not as smooth but just as good. For your 55 this need to be done SPOT On with a multi point system. If I was you I would go for two tanks in the floor area in the rear, ones that dont go past the height of the wheel arch, then fabricate a nice floor to cover them and carpet it.

marcus
marcus's picture
Offline
Joined: 02.05.2004
Location: Co. Antrim, N. Ireland
GWOA Groups: Members
Re: G55 on LPG - any thoughts?

There was some chat at our N Ireland meet about a replacment tank installation ie remove existing fuel tank and replace with a unit incorporating both gas "tanks" and 2 or 3 gall petrol resevoir, that meets the criteria for £35.00 road tax and I presumed the congestion charge exemption as well. But this was for 460's, dont know about 463's.
Seemed like a neat idea.
Cheers
Marcus

M2dxb
M2dxb's picture
Offline
Joined: 27.06.2005
Location: UAE (Dubai)
Re: G55 on LPG - any thoughts?

No one seems to have raised this (maybe because it is not relevant?) but I've never heard of an LPG supercharged engine, shouldn't you look for precedents first (Ford GT, Mustang Cobra, can't remember what other supercharged cars imported/or out there on the UK market that might have been converted)?

GWagonNut
GWagonNut's picture
Offline
Joined: 21.09.2007
Location: London
Re: G55 on LPG - any thoughts?

marcus wrote:
There was some chat at our N Ireland meet about a replacment tank installation ie remove existing fuel tank and replace with a unit incorporating both gas "tanks" and 2 or 3 gall petrol resevoir, that meets the criteria for £35.00 road tax and I presumed the congestion charge exemption as well. But this was for 460's, dont know about 463's.
Seemed like a neat idea.
Cheers
Marcus

I've heard of this too, or if you go whole hogg, then simply replace the petrol tank with LPG! but congestion charging is not an issue for me as I am unlikely to ever drive into central London during the week.

I was, however, pleasantly surprised when speaking to a guy who may be sorting out an SVA test for me that since my car is a US import hence a 'Federal' car the new road tax laws do no apply hence it will only be £185 per year (at current rates)!

GWagonNut
GWagonNut's picture
Offline
Joined: 21.09.2007
Location: London
Re: G55 on LPG - any thoughts?

markvulture wrote:
there is a tank shape made to fit in place of a spare wheel, called a toroid, ie doughnut sort of shape, but it probably wont be big enough by itself.then another small tank behind the sill or in the load area above one wheel arch?
also i wouldnt expect to get any congestion charge exemption based on lpg converting a g.if it is a converted vehicle it has to be on the powershift register and the lpg equipment has to be from an approved supplier.the register seems to have sprinters and a class only listed.my opinion is not 100% accurate but thats the way the info reads to me.

Douhnut shaped sounds perfect, I will look into it, maybe they can make a bigger one. Any mathmaticians out there who can work out how big a tank could fit in the existing spare wheel housing?

M2dxb - good point but from what the LPG guy said, this should not be a problem! Maybe I should speak to MB first...

Maxwell Smart
Maxwell Smart's picture
Offline
Joined: 04.11.2003
Location: London
Re: G55 on LPG - any thoughts?

MB will definitely say no - irregardless of whether or not its possible.

I'm sure many people on this forum would like to know more about the steps and costs to import a G from the US seeing as they don't hold their value as well there and the dollar is diving.

Are you going to keep the side running lights and the turn signals to American spec or change it back to European spec?

GWagonNut
GWagonNut's picture
Offline
Joined: 21.09.2007
Location: London
Re: G55 on LPG - any thoughts?

Once the G is here and I have had it SVA'd, I will post a complete summary of all the steps I have had to go through to get it here! I am still a little anxious as it was in A1 condition when it was picked up - I just hope it gets here in the same condition!

In terms of spec, from what I can see from the pics, it is already in EU spec - clear indicators all round. All I anticipate is a possible changing of bulbs, the headlights of course and switching over the rear fog light with the reverse light. Anything else I need to consider?

Maxwell Smart
Maxwell Smart's picture
Offline
Joined: 04.11.2003
Location: London
Re: G55 on LPG - any thoughts?

The US Gs have running lights on the side of the car both front and rear. Also I am fairly certain that the turn signals also double as running lights.

Its got nothing to do with the colour of the indicators.

GWagonNut
GWagonNut's picture
Offline
Joined: 21.09.2007
Location: London
Re: G55 on LPG - any thoughts?

I will only find out when it arrives!