16 replies to this topic

[steviejam73]

Hi, Im wondering if an lpg conversion is possible on a 1275 mini and are there many about?

[dannyg2325]

Yes google lpg conversion for carb'd cars, that should throw up what your after!

[dannyg2325]

Or have a look here

http://www.tinleytec...log/SPOLIS.html

[ibrooks]

Assuming his mini is a carbed one.

If it's injected I suspect it's still a fairly simple job as from what I understand the injection systems (SPi and MPi) are fairly dumb and will happily keep providing sparks if you've killed the injectors so it should be relatively easy for an LPG system to electronically disconnect the injectors so that petrol isn't being injected any more and start providing LPG whilst the original ECU will carry on providing sparks. Whether the timing might need to be tweaked a little whilst running on LPG is another matter.

The best bet is to speak to a local installer though as very few insurance companies will insure a car with an LPG system unless it has an installation certificate or an inspection certificate so you're going to have to go to them at some point anyway.

Iain

[Ethel]

apart from insurance it's illegal to d-i-y install lpg, find a registered installer and negotiate how much you can do yourself for them to sign off the completed conversion. I expect injection Minis (especially the SPI) will continue to produce sparks as long as the engine is turning to eliminate plug fouling or the risk of doping the catalyst with unburned hydrocarbons.

Other issues might be firing the injectors "dry" and slightly different ignition timing requirements. It might be simpler to run on mixed LPG/petrol and use an aftermarket wideband sensor to adjust the lambda signal to the engine management if required.

[steviejam73]

Hi, just to clear up. Its a single Hif44 carb, 1275, no cat box. Petrol is just too expensive got, if this was a practical option I would consider it for the savings. In theory it seems like a simple install on a single carb. Can the 1275 engine handle it though? Is there increased engine wear or over heating issues?

[Ethel]

Just the same valve erosion issue as unleaded. Though even at today's prices I expect you can buy a lot of petrol for the price of the conversion - unless you can do some cost cutting

[Rabtmac]

There is very little problems with the injectors drying up on injecter cars as the systems can be set to start up on petrol and not kick over to LPG until the revs reach a set limit (say around 1500) then it carries on running on LPG.
The same can be done with carb cars where it will start on Petrol and not change to LPG until the revs are up.
There is also a switch to swap between the 2 as and when you want.

Edited by Rabtmac, 28 March 2012 - 12:23 PM.

[Guess-Works.com]

Where you going to put the tank ?

[freshairmini]

Where you going to put the tank ?

That's a point! I guess it would be, say good by to spare tyre and move the battery. Its quite a lot of work, and prlly wouldn't break even on the outlay for quite a while...

Edited by freshairmini, 29 March 2012 - 11:47 AM.

[Ethel]

Tank, what tank????

[Alex_B]

Mount the tank in a mini trailer's boot and grab a long hose ?

[Spitz]

what;s an lpg conversion

[freshairmini]

what;s an lpg conversion

Liquefied petroleum gas - http://bit.ly/Htttrj

I think atm its about half the price of petrol

[ian2000t]

Something I've considered myself a fair bit. Small tank should fit in the boot in the spare wheel well.

I don't believe a DIY LPG conversion is illegal - you just have to get it "certified" by a qualified inspector to legally insure your car after. Don't do the conversion unless you know somewhere that can certify it for you - some places refuse to - they want the money to fit it for you.

For us MJ users, the LPG change over switch could also switch to a second map with more advance to reduce power/economy loss.

Say it cost £800 (£400 for kit + £400 for any othe costs). Round here LPG is about 57% the price of Petrol, so you would save £800 for every £1860 petrol you bought.

Rough calculations based on £1.369/ltr petrol and a car doing 35mpg (return will be sooner if you get less mpg) mean you get ~10,700 miles from your £1860 petrol/£800 LPG.

So, say 11,000 miles to 'break even', then you're saving after that. For the few that use their Minis for reasonable daily commute, that is probably a year (or less). I used to do 13,000/yr in mine, but after the first year bought a second car, and now I only do about 7,000/yr.

Saying that I've had the car 5 years, and have done 30,000+ miles in it, so I would have been saving for quite a while if I converted it when I bought it. As I'm planning to keep it for many more years it still would be worthwhile converting.

It's a far "nicer" conversion to a Mini than sticking a diesel engine in and running it on chip fat!!