Diesel gas conversion

[helen&tony]

Hi
It's been discussed on here before about converting a diesel to run on gas and it seems that it is possible, as a friend over here has told us that a neighbour has had his diesel Volvo converted. I know that there is a problem regarding the fact that a diesel requires a bit of assistance from the lubricant qualities of the fuel itself, on the other hand, the sump oil will get less polluted by the "blow-by" gasses passing the piston rings, and as such last longer and perform better. I am not thinking of converting the Bongo, but wanted to prompt a few replies to see what the general ground-swell of opinion is regarding such conversions
Cheers
Helen

[francophile1947]

The only conversions I have ever seen, just involve drawing a small amount of propane into the cylinders, to assist with a more complete burn of the diesel ( a bit like those hydrogen generators, except the propane ones work ) - see http://www.gaspoweruk.co.uk/diesel-lpg-bifuels.htm

[scanner]

Not ever heard of any 100% gas conversion for diesels.

I don't think the injector pump would work with gas and also I think the gas needs a spark to ignite it.

[helen&tony]

Hi
My thoughts exactly, but until i have "eyeballed" the conversion, I don't know what they are referring to. It may be possible to use a unit to replace the glowplug to create the spark, and some flow regulator for the gas, but whatever they are doing, I'm only interested, rather than thinking of converting.....I shan't get a chance to see the person who told us about it for a couple of weeks yet, so I'll post any more info, possibly trying to get the workplace number of the converter
Cheers
Helen

[Bob]

I used to drive tankers for Calor Gas, who can obviously get propane at a good price, and the view was it isn't practical to convert diesel engines to run on gas.

Like all companies they are run by the Bean Counter and looking for the most economic way to operate.

[teenmal]

Hi
My thoughts exactly, but until i have "eyeballed" the conversion, I don't know what they are referring to. It may be possible to use a unit to replace the glowplug to create the spark, and some flow regulator for the gas, but whatever they are doing, I'm only interested, rather than thinking of converting.....I shan't get a chance to see the person who told us about it for a couple of weeks yet, so I'll post any more info, possibly trying to get the workplace number of the converter
Cheers
Helen

The Compression Ratio could be a problem....

[francophile1947]

. It may be possible to use a unit to replace the glowplug to create the spark,

Yes indeed - a spark plug
Seriously Helen, this has been tried for many, many years without success - probably because it's cheaper to bung a petrol engine in. It will be very interesting to see what you find out, but I suspect it's not a full gas conversion.

[helen&tony]

Hi
I expect, as you say, it is possibly wrong, but the guy was adamant...as I say, it is possible to put something in place of the normal glow plug, much like a model glowplug, as they work on compression, but I would have to see what they are talking about, and, as I say, I am not interested anyway....just curious. I may look for a good pajero, or a Delica (if Delicas are available in petrol), as a gas conversion for a petrol engine is very cheap over here, and it makes a gas-guzzler affordable! and one or t'other would be a useful adjunct to the fleet, considering the Opel is a typical opel pile of
Cheers
Helen

[scanner]

as a gas conversion for a petrol engine is very cheap over here,

I know of several "cheap" gas conversions that turned out to be very expensive in the end.

I wonder if there is a reason why they are cheap?

[francophile1947]

I wonder if there is a reason why they are cheap?

I would think that low labour rates is the main reason (at least they're low for the locals )

[mikexgough]

I found this one.. http://www.ilovesponge.com/spongecars/d ... hnical.htm .........but I would also like to see one in the "flesh" and to have some numbers before parting with my cash

[scanner]

That is still a diesel+gas conversion.

Unlike a petrol vehicle, there is no spark in a diesel engine and the diesel is actually used to ignite the gas.

The system, in its entirety, is not complex. The LPG enters the engine along with the air and mixed before entering the intake manifold. With turbo and intercooled engines, a similar system is used, but in this case the gas is pushed into the engine at a slightly higher pressure than the intake manifold.

You are only substituting some gas for some of the diesel, not running just on gas.

SFAIK there is no 100% gas conversion for a diesel engine.

[moonshine]

I don't see how a diesel engine could be converted to run on just gas. Gas cannot be put through the injector pump, and if no diesel were going through the injector pump, it would be running un-lubricated, and would probably therefore be seriously damaged.

I used to run two petrol Transits on gas back in the early eighties, and was very pleased with it, but I never heard of anyone trying to run a diesel on it. It lost popularity for a number of years as people found that some petrol engines were damaged by running on gas, due to some engines having soft valve seats which required the additives in petrol to lubricate them.

[helen&tony]

Hi
Franco...
It's not just the cheap labour rates over here, it's the "bandwagon" in England....In europe, they have been converting to gas for ages, and gas at petrol stations is VERY common, if not usual. The parts for the conversion are as cheap as anything, and it is just a rip off in England, and the fact that you have to pay goodness only know how much to various insurance companies etc. in order to register as a converter. I know a registered gas converter over here who has been doing cars for years, and has lived in England for a long time, and is more fluent in English, and Technical English than someone born and educated in the UK, and in order to register has to pay a lot of money out....so who misses out????....the public, as usual....it's just more crap paperwork and insurance....the real cost is a few hours labour, and some inexpensive components.
The truth is, the Government wants your petrol taxes, as taxing gas to the same extent as fuel is not possible, as bottled gas is a commodity used for cooking in many countries, and even in some rural areas of England I have visited, and to tax it heavily would create uproar, so artificially high installation costs on a car, and restrictive legislation prevents people converting, as it often takes years to recuperate the cost, and people seldom keep a car long enough.
If you want chapter and verse, I can oblige, but to display the REAL cost and technology behind a conversion would cause uproar....
Cheers
Helen

[helen&tony]

Hi
Scanner
I am sure you are right, as that is what I was arguing with the guy...wait until I have seen this "conversion", and I will either confirm or deny what we all think....Like I say ., I am interested (and prepared to rubbish his argument)
Cheers
Helen