LPG vs Diesel MPG

Post by **Pickles** » 06 Sep 2006, 15:31

I have just returned from a 2300 mile trip to and around France in my 1989 2.1 5 speed camper with pop top roof and averaged 17.92 mpg for the whole trip. The drive to France was 700 miles each way.

I did the same trip on exactly the same route in my 1.9td Syncro DOKA (in 2wd ) in May and averaged 27.65 mpg.

The speed on the Motorways in the 2.1 was 70mph to 80mph

1.9 td 60mph to 70mph

2.1 5 speed LPG - 700 MILES on motorway 18.07mpg cost/mile 10p

1.9 td Doka in 2wd 700 MILES on motorway 27.65mpg cost/mile 15p

Cost of fuel LPG 39.9 Diesel 92.9

The 2.1 drove faster on the motorway and was 50% cheaper

Cost of 2300 mile trip approx LPG £230 and Diesel £345.

I have done 65,000 miles on LPG at the figures above the cost would have been LPG £6500 Diesel £9750 a difference of £3250 which is what I paid for the van in 1994 from the main dealer (Panel Van)

Post by **geordie skydiver** » 06 Sep 2006, 16:12

This should be sticky.

Excellent info, thanks!

Post by **speleobod** » 06 Sep 2006, 20:38

The 2.1 ltr did 18.07 to the gallon Therefore used 38.73 gallons for 700 miles

The 1.9 Td did 27.65 to the gallon Therefore used 25.31 gallons for 700 miles

Why was 2.1 cheaper?

Post by **geordie skydiver** » 06 Sep 2006, 20:57

The 2.1 was running LPG which is half the price of Diesel?

Post by **airhead** » 07 Sep 2006, 01:29

You can convert diesels to run on LPG as well though. Or like what Ill b doing, Vegetable oil. And theres no government taxing on it here.

So €2 for 5l of veg oil in the local cash and carry. Im not doing the maths but €690 for the elsbett SVO kit. I reckon its a bargain!

Post by **geordie skydiver** » 07 Sep 2006, 06:55

Converting a diesel to LPG is not worth the hassle in my opinion.

Too much like hard work.

Post by **Trundler** » 11 Sep 2006, 20:47

As additional data, I've just done a 3500 mile tour of the Alps in my 1.9DG camper on LPG. A lot of this consisted of mountain passes etc but the motorway stretches were taken at mostly 60-65mph and the overall consumption has worked out at 22mpg, with a high of just under 25mpg during a gentle tour across northern Italy. I actually achieved a record of 302 miles on my 70 litre tank (55 litres gas capacity) between Bonneville in France and Merano, near Bolzano in Italy.

I was well pleased with these figures - especially the bit where I filled up in Belgium at under 35p/litre!

Post by **"WEAZLECHIN"** » 15 Sep 2006, 15:48

take away the "turbo" on the 1.9 diesel engine and you will get nearly 50mpg at 56mph, (yes really), like we do. run it on biodiesel at 45p per litre and, thats 50 miles on 5 litres = £2.25 ?. diesel engines eh, they put em in all trucks too. no rusty bolts in the water jacket either !!!!!!

Post by **monkeynut** » 16 Sep 2006, 09:53

I get about 40mpg (little more on the motorway) out of my 1.9 TDI engine
some folk onley use there vans at the weekends so fuel cost aint too mutch of a issue, allso some cant afford the intial outlay for a lpg conversion which is alot of cash to find(price of a good van!)and will take a long time too recoupe unless you get the milage in!. (TRUNDLER is well up on this subject and has the facts and figures pros n cons )

So with very limited funds and the silly fuel prices in this country
My choice is to stick to the heavy oil engine there is next to no difference in running costs plus they are allready in the vans and there is a choice of fuel types mineral /vedgiediesel/svo/
(just they they sound like Inglestat taxis n not the flat four)

Post by **Trundler** » 16 Sep 2006, 19:13

The conversion cost is a big stumbling block for many and it's true that the running costs are not a million miles apart (cheaper to run a Diesel in Europe). But, like you say monkeynut, a Diesel lump just doesn't have that flat four throb....

PS don't be taking the turbo off - turbo Diesels are MORE efficient than non turbos when driven economically.

Post by **"WEAZLECHIN"** » 16 Sep 2006, 20:07

you wont get 50 mpg from a td, no matter how you drive it!. im 39 years, and have been driving for a living since 17,ive driven in most countries in the world with the army most of which you wouldnt like (bullets through me windscreen) i now own a haulage business and i can say from vast experience that a non turbo driven well, will give better mpg than turbo of the same year(driven well). i can show you a years worth of diesel receipts then you can see the difference... ner ner

Post by **HarryMann** » 17 Sep 2006, 18:26

run it on biodiesel at 45p per litre

Where do you buy biodiesel for 45p/litre?

Or do you eman Straight Veg Oil?

I've never seen biodiesel for that price!

Post by **Ian_Fearn** » 17 Sep 2006, 19:30

HarryMann wrote:
run it on biodiesel at 45p per litre

Where do you buy biodiesel for 45p/litre?

Or do you eman Straight Veg Oil?

I've never seen biodiesel for that price!

Pukka Biodiesel, i.e. a fuel generated from biomass for use in a compression ignition engine is rarely any cheaper than diesel even though the taxation is at a lower rate.

I guess most VW diesel engines have Bosch pumps which run fine on SVO but the Lucas/CAV/Rotodiesel pumps need the thinner diesel fuel to lubricate the heads and SVO is just too thick.

I used to run my old Golf AAZ on 20% diesel, 80% SVO in the summer but i found the injectors gummed up pretty quickly. Starting from cold is the biggest problem, SVO is too viscous when cold. Thats where the 2 tank systems come in. I'd rather run LPG than a 2 tank veggie burner.

You have to be registered to use SVO or any other homebrew with the inland revenue. It all starts getting complex if you want to do it legally.

Post by **"WEAZLECHIN"** » 17 Sep 2006, 19:33

yes, sorry i did mean straight veg, havent used biodiesel yet. one thing though- the eberspacher does not do veg oil at all so i just use normal ripoff now and put the receipts in for me truck.

Post by **HarryMann** » 17 Sep 2006, 20:07

Is it 5% methanol or kerosene to help thin it a bit...

TBH, it all sounds a helluva lot of faffing about, especially if the injectors start gumming up. If only good quality biodiesel was 50p/litre but its not!