Which Engine

[intumult]

With 3 petrol engines on offer from the garage going to do the LPG conversion I am wondering which I should choose.

3 lire VVTI twin cam

2.8 litre

2.5 litre

I am now driving a 3 year old mitsu strada 4 door. Considering the weight of the vehicle and anything else which size engine do you think would be best?

Not really sure if it would make that much difference and the prices range from 48k for the 2.5 up to 58 or so for the 3 litre.

ALL are auto boxes - something else I am not sure about.

opinions welcome

[chanchao]

Sell the truck and buy something that already has a petrol engine.

Or go the NGV route with the original engine.

[intumult]

I do not want or need to buy a new motor. The one I have is eminently suitable for my purposes (apart from I want to cut its running costs.

NGV is not reliable and problem free enough for me and @ 75,000 Baht for the conversion is expensive for what it is.

AND the topic was which engine would be best (petrol).

[ballbreaker]

If I understand correctly you are wanting to convert your current gas engine to run on LPG.

The price should be based on the type of engine (carburetor or fuel injected) in your vehicle, size of desired tank and if you want electronic mixture control or not for a Single-point Induction System. The electronic mixture control would be better.

A Multi-point Sequential Gas Injection Systems price would be based on number of engine cylinders and tank size desired. This one would have better performance and economy but cost more and should come with electronic control.

Bottom line you need to know what type of system your are getting for the money.

[wilko]

With 3 petrol engines on offer from the garage going to do the LPG conversion I am wondering which I should choose.

3 lire VVTI twin cam

2.8 litre

2.5 litre

I am now driving a 3 year old mitsu strada 4 door. Considering the weight of the vehicle and anything else which size engine do you think would be best?

Not really sure if it would make that much difference and the prices range from 48k for the 2.5 up to 58 or so for the 3 litre.

ALL are auto boxes - something else I am not sure about.

opinions welcome

So you're going to remove the diesel engine and replace it with a petrol one?

What is the toal cost..

Fitting engine, fuel conversion, tank etc.

Will it still be the same gear-box and will the 4 wd be OK?

If it's to save money I would doubt if the end cost would justify it.

however is there not a 3.5 (or is it 3ltr?) V6 available in Oz for this vehicle? can you get that fitted?

[intumult]

With 3 petrol engines on offer from the garage going to do the LPG conversion I am wondering which I should choose.

3 lire VVTI twin cam

2.8 litre

2.5 litre

I am now driving a 3 year old mitsu strada 4 door. Considering the weight of the vehicle and anything else which size engine do you think would be best?

Not really sure if it would make that much difference and the prices range from 48k for the 2.5 up to 58 or so for the 3 litre.

ALL are auto boxes - something else I am not sure about.

opinions welcome

So you're going to remove the diesel engine and replace it with a petrol one?

What is the toal cost..

Fitting engine, fuel conversion, tank etc.

Will it still be the same gear-box and will the 4 wd be OK?

If it's to save money I would doubt if the end cost would justify it.

however is there not a 3.5 (or is it 3ltr?) V6 available in Oz for this vehicle? can you get that fitted?

Yes, I am taking out the diesel and fitting an LPG/Petrol in its place.

I got a phone call from a Thai friend today.

3 litre petrol engine VVTI twin cam including AUTO gearbox converted to run on LPG @ 35,000 Baht. Includes the gas tanks - waiting to hear the size of the tanks.

This is the same engine they use when converting a Toyota Commuter mini-bus from diesel to LPG/petrol.

They are going to take my 2.8 diesel engine in exchange - hence the 35,000 Baht price.

When I am given the name of the garage - somewhere in or near BKK - I will let you know, if you wish. I am currently waiting for a call back, but TiT and sometimes people can be slow

Not 4 wheel drive. I no longer reside in the 'outback' in Thailand

Running costs expected to be 1 - 1.5 baht a litre. A fully loaded mini-bus will do 2 baht a litre with the same engine.

As for justifying the cost, I will save at least 35,000+ Baht a year on expected travelling.

1,000 baht = 34 litres diesel approx

1,000 baht = 95 litres LPG

So, in just 1 year I make the cost of the coversion and after that I save a lot of Baht

And if diesel continues to rise I will be even better off

[intumult]

OOPS! Brain malfunction due to lack of vodka!!

last post should read ....

mini-bus does 2 baht a kilometre and mitsu to do 1 - 1.5 baht a kilometre

Time, methinks, to go out and soak up some more vodka

[jackspratt]

If I understand correctly you are wanting to convert your current gas engine to run on LPG.

What is the difference between gas and LPG?

[bino]

Have you considered the lost resale value? Shoehorning another manufacturers engine into a vehicle would possibly be a turn off for many buyers. It would be for me certainly.

Or- do you plan to keep it until it (or you) dies? If so... no worries.

[intumult]

Opinion noted.

I do intend to keep the car for a few years at least as it suits me. And no point in converting it to LPG to sell in maybe 1 year.

I did consider the fact that many people might be put off buying the vehicle when I do come to sell it. On the other hand a converted motor might have as many + points as negative ones. Seems the queues are getting longer for conversions now.

Whatever, in the future, if I get say 3 years from the motor, I will be happy enough.

Also there is the possibility of some work being put my way as my running costs would be cheaper - but that is another matter entirely

Hear now, also, to add a manual gearbox an extra 8,000 baht. I am seriously considering that option as I prefer a manual box.

As for the difference between NGV and LPG look at the topic being discussed in motor forum LPG/NGV. Some believe NGV can damage the engine.

I know it can cost 75,000 bhat for an NGV conversion and that does not make it worthwhile in my eyes for a pick up truck, especially as there is only 1 baht a litre difference in price between NGV & LPG. NGV being the cheaper of the two.

[goldfish]

Just a thought, what are the odds on them fitting a worn/completely clapped out engine? Does Somchai really know and care what he is doing? My experience of thai workmen so far has left me unwilling to trust them to open a tin of beans. That is just my, very limited, personal experience

[Plus]

Is the price difference really 1 baht? LPG, cooking gas, is actually subsidised and it's going to stop rather sooner than later.

If only NGV could be installed for less it would be a clear winner.

[Murf]

Just a thought, what are the odds on them fitting a worn/completely clapped out engine? Does Somchai really know and care what he is doing? My experience of thai workmen so far has left me unwilling to trust them to open a tin of beans. That is just my, very limited, personal experience

Good point...

Pound to a penny something is not right when the job is done

[intumult]

Just a thought, what are the odds on them fitting a worn/completely clapped out engine? Does Somchai really know and care what he is doing? My experience of thai workmen so far has left me unwilling to trust them to open a tin of beans. That is just my, very limited, personal experience

All I can say to that is the firm near my friend runs a fleet of 10 Toyota mini-buses and all are converted from diesel to petrol/LPG and none have any problems. As far as I am aware the same can be said for their partners in BKK.

I am not saying there are no problems at all, but my information from the mini-bus owners themselves is that they are happy with their conversions. If there were many problems I would not even consider doing it.