Converting Toyota Corolla To Lpg

[opalhort]

Hi,

My wife wants to convert her Toyota Corolla (year 1998, 1,600cm³) to LPG to save a few Baht.

Since she often drives up-country where LPG may not be readily available a dual (Gasoline/LPG) installation would be in order.

1. If the conversion is performed by a licensed / certified garage what would be the approximate costs?

2. Does Toyota do conversions?

3. How many miles/Kms would it take to recoup the investment, taking into consideration that the current LPG subsidies may eventually be scrapped?

Hope the experts here can help me since my knowledge about LPG and cars is close to nil.

opalhort

[Plus]

I guess you can go with the cheapest LPG system as your engine is quite old, that would be under 20k, you don't really need "sequential injection" or anything fancy.

Savings depend on the mileage, expect to pay about half of what you are paying now even after the subsidies are lifted.

All systems in Thailand can switch between fuels, won't be a problem.

A friend of mine has Corolla about this age, she paid 18k for LPG and there are no problems so far.

[VocalNeal]

Since she often drives up-country where LPG may not be readily available

LPG stations are poping up everywhere. OK if she sticks to the main roads. I recently went to Buriram, maybe not "upcountry" but there is one there, at least 2 in Saraburi, at least one in Nakhon Ratchisma etc.

Range between fill ups should be about 400+kms so there should be no problem finding filling stations but she will need to be attuned to looking out for them. I think you should be able to save 2 baht/km so will take about 9000kms to break even.

[ruddick]

May I just add a word of warning. Just as LPG filling stations are popping up everywhere, so are LPG Car Conversion Installers.

Be careful there are some real cowboys around. Try and use an installer by recommendation and who has been around for a while.

Try the site below, lots of information.

http://www.gasthai.com/

[JAS21]

Hi,

My wife wants to convert her Toyota Corolla (year 1998, 1,600cm³) to LPG to save a few Baht.

Since she often drives up-country where LPG may not be readily available a dual (Gasoline/LPG) installation would be in order.

1. If the conversion is performed by a licensed / certified garage what would be the approximate costs?

2. Does Toyota do conversions?

3. How many miles/Kms would it take to recoup the investment, taking into consideration that the current LPG subsidies may eventually be scrapped?

Hope the experts here can help me since my knowledge about LPG and cars is close to nil.

opalhort

Just read threads on this subject which have been commented on in the last couple of days and you will get all the answers to your questions, also remember that some insurance companies will not insure LPG converted cars..CHECK..as you may be driving without insurance..AND..you need to take it to the test centre and get the 'log book' updated.

[Plus]

I didn't inform my insurance company and they said nothing not only about LPG but the whole engine swap, exactly as our insurance guy had told us before. He said as long as we got proper registration papers from the government, insurance should have no questions.

On the policy there's only chassi number listed, not the engine.