What is LPG?• Liquefied Petroleum Gas is a

natural hydrocarbon fuel made up of Propane and Butane. When stored under pressure it becomes a dense liquid allowing large quantities of gas to be stored in a relatively small space, which means it can be easily stored in a tank. This makes LPG an ideal alternative to petrol for your vehicle.

• Approximately 60% of the world's supply is produced from the separation of gas products, with the remaining 40% produced in the refining of crude oil. The UK currently exports around 45% of its LPG production, so there is plenty of supply.

What are the advantages of LPG?

• The biggest advantage is the cost!! At the moment, LPG is available at around 67 pence a litre. It is also more environmentally friendly, as it produces less carbon emissions than petrol or diesel.

What vehicles can be converted?

• Most petrol engines can be converted to run on LPG. There are however some new direct injection cars that cannot yet be converted. Call 01903 715715 or email help@arunautogas.co.uk to discuss your particular vehicle.

Will I be able to convert my diesel car?

• In theory, yes. In practice, it requires a lot more adaptation, and hence usually costs so much that it is not financially viable. Also because of the way a diesel engine works it is not possible to run it completely on gas, it will still run on diesel with a small amount of LPG mixed in. Most customers wishing to convert from diesel to gas change their car first.

Where can I get LPG?

• LPG is currently available at around 1500 refuelling points in the UK, and new distributors are appearing all the time. For a full list, visit www.drivelpg.co.uk/map/index.php

Will my car still run on petrol?

• Yes! The conversion adds a second fuel system, leaving the original petrol system in place. Therefore the car drives as before on petrol and will cold start on petrol. However, when you start filling up with LPG, you'll be loathe to buy more petrol than you absolutely have to.

Where does the LPG tank go?

• Most modern LPG systems use what is known as a ‘Toroidal’ or ‘Doughnut’ tank. This is fitted in place of the spare wheel.

• A cylinder tank can be fitted in the boot if a larger capacity tank is needed or if the car does not have a spare wheel well.

• In some cases it is possible to replace the petrol tank with a combined petrol and gas tank, however this is a more expensive option.

Where does the LPG filler go?

• The filler is usually positioned on the side of the vehicle next to the petrol filler flap. It can be colour coded to match the vehicle or it can sometimes be hidden in a discrete position if you don’t want it to be visible. However this is a European regulation rather than a British one. Please ask for more details.

How safe is LPG?• LPG tanks are extremely strong and are rigorously tested, so are

safer than a conventional petrol tank. Also, the gas cannot leak from the tank when the vehicle is not running due to a solenoid valve system. Safety features on approved LPG converted vehicles include an electronic solenoid valve which shuts off the supply when the ignition is switched off, if the engine stalls or if a fuel pipe is damaged.

• In case of a fire the tank is designed to withstand enormous pressure and very high temperatures. And with over 4 million vehicles worldwide running on LPG it has an exemplary safety record.

This picture shows an LPG tank that has been in a car crash and subsequent fire whilst full of gas and remains intact.

Will I have to have my LPG system serviced?

• Yes, it is crucial that your LPG system is serviced annually or every 12000 miles. We can service a variety of systems including, Tartarini, Prinz, AG and our recommended modular common rail sequential injection system BRC. Arrangements can be made to have your LPG service carried out at the same time as your petrol service. Please ask for details.

Why not remove my petrol tank and replace it with a gas tank?

• We can sometimes do this, but tend not to for two reasons: Firstly, few customers are completely sure that they will never run out of LPG. Secondly, car petrol tanks are all sorts of shapes and sizes, and hence finding a suitably sized and shaped tank is very difficult.

This Jeep Cherokee has a combined petrol and LPG tank in place of the petrol tank

Will LPG damage my engine?

• An LPG conversion will reduce engine wear. LPG burns cleaner than petrol, this means there are fewer emissions out of the exhaust and less carbon deposits in the engine, which are very abrasive and can contribute to engine breakdown. You will find that your engine breakdown. Modern systems suffer no loss of performance and engines run smoother and quieter tanks fitted to LPGA safety guidelines

What about the resale value of my car?

• At the moment, demand for cars with LPG equipment in is high. Because purchasers can see a professional & economical installation then the conversion is one less thing for them to worry about. The only problem might arise with potential purchasers who do not yet appreciate the advantages of LPG powered driving. You could either educate them or use your local LPG contacts to find a better informed buyer. In the medium term, AAG are also designing a specialist online garage for users to quickly and easily buy and sell LPG vehicles.