Club 80-90 Forums

Calculating savings from converting 2.0l AC to a GTI. Based on 10,000 miles/year running 80% LPG my current 20mpg is £1860/yr. If I can get 35 mpg then that's £1058 saving $802/YR!

Huge job though what with all the parts you will need off a Diesel donor van, plus injection type fuel pump etc, then the radiator and pipework, the heater rad, valve and controls, then converting your LPG to the injection type (will need a Lambda in the exhaust) etc etc. I am sure you have already considered all this but what with the labour and time as well....

Not sure how much you love you current van, or what general nick it's in, but have you considered selling it and buying a Diesel van and simply dropping the inline injected motor in = much easier. Just a thought.

35mpg! You're having a giraffe!

Anyone have a good estimate? 30mpg maybe? ...

It depends on so many factors, not the least being the weight of your camper. A lightly loaded Tin-Top is going to be very different from a fully kitted out Hi-Top. Then there is driving style of course. Others with real world experience of this type of conversion will be along soon I am sure (such as our "Elvis").

I get between 26 - 28 during normal usage, fully loaded camper without a boat on the roof.

Thanks guys, I do want to keep the current bus as iv spent a fair bit of time getting it just so inside and with bodywork and respray. SW Splitz are quoting 2k plus parts for this conversion so might not be worth it for less than 30mpg.. I have a high top fully loaded (and heavy). Any other suggestions to improve MPG? What about a larger air-cooled engine? Now is the time as the engine is coming out anyway.

If you are getting 18mpg on LPG that is pretty good economy for a 2 litre and a decent ppmile rate and comparable with a diesel van doing 35mpg which most of them don't (including T4s) so why not stick with that and spend the money you'd spend changing the engine on fuel for the one you have, van stays original, 2 litre parts aren't too bad for availabilty. Standard van easier to sell on in future.
A bigger engine might not be more fuel economic unless you run a more modern fuel injection system and ecu on it which would make it expensive or have the carbs refurbished and balanced and rolling road set up by someone who knows what they are doing which also costs, decent Aircooled engines whilst cheaper than watercooled are not cheap.

What he says....

Make sure the engine is properly serviced and set up.. (sounds like its pretty good to be fair) you have good quality tyres and inflated correctly.. suspension and alignment set up properly, wheels spin freely without brakes dragging..
Unload anything you haven't used for weeks and drive sensibly..

By the time you have spent the money (and weeks of work) turning an Aircooled van into a watercooled.. you could have had several weekends away and travelled a lot of miles...

Drive and enjoy....