L322 LPG - known issues?

L322 LPG - known issues?

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Discussion

Duke Thrust

Original Poster:

1,680 posts

238 months

Thursday 6th January 2011
quotequote all
Chaps,

Anyone have any info on potential problems with LPG in an L322?

My 4.4 V8 has a BRC multi-point system fitted, my local RR indy says he hates LPG conversions and sees lots of problems with the blocks cracking and running very hot.

Any experiences with such problems?

DKL

4,480 posts

221 months

Thursday 6th January 2011
quotequote all
I'd be inclined to ring Blaze autogas in Hullavington (not that far from you) and ask their opinion to get a balanced view. Their mechanic runs a classic on gas (ok its not the same engine) but they quite like them.

Texpis

230 posts

256 months

Thursday 6th January 2011
quotequote all
Depends which engine the BMW 4.4 is apparently okay I have owened mine for a year with LPG and the car has been fitted with LPG since it 2005. I have had no problems not sure about the previous owner.
I have read on the Range rover sites that the Jaguar 4.4 engine can be problamatic because the valve seats are not hardened. I have never heard of cracked blocks on these cars.
Do you think he meant the previous incarnation the p38 these were notorious for cracked blocks with or without LPG.

Mick

Duke Thrust

Original Poster:

1,680 posts

238 months

Thursday 6th January 2011
quotequote all
Texpis said:
Depends which engine the BMW 4.4 is apparently okay I have owened mine for a year with LPG and the car has been fitted with LPG since it 2005. I have had no problems not sure about the previous owner.
I have read on the Range rover sites that the Jaguar 4.4 engine can be problamatic because the valve seats are not hardened. I have never heard of cracked blocks on these cars.
Do you think he meant the previous incarnation the p38 these were notorious for cracked blocks with or without LPG.

Mick
Yes, he specified the BMW M62 engine - (which is mine) I'm looking into flash lube systems for the LPG. The M62 is a hot running engine, high pressure water systems (ie higher temps) make this more problematic. It seems that the flash lube lowers the combustion temp (LPG burns hotter and dryer than petrol) and protects valve seats. Mind you, it could be snake oil so am looking into it.

http://www.autogassolutions.co.uk/about-lpg/flash-...

JW911

884 posts

194 months

Thursday 6th January 2011
quotequote all
I have run a 4.4 V8 on LPG for a couple of years and 30k miles with no issues. (Prins on the BMW engine). As far as I have always been lead to believe, there are no valve recession issues with the BMW engine as the valves are already hardened. The Jag engine has some issues though.

Shaw Tarse

31,543 posts

202 months

Thursday 6th January 2011
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Jem0911

4,415 posts

200 months

Thursday 6th January 2011
quotequote all
I have been known to bang on about the
4.4V8 on Gas
I have had mine for a just under a year now. 12k miles so far.
BRC system with a 100L tank.
I can't fault it (whisper)
I have the gas side serviced twice a year as gas is getting dirtier.
I put a Tank of petrol through every 2/3 thousand miles of gas.
The S/C 4.2 needs flashlube but not the BMW engine. It has hardened valves.

All Range Rover petrols need care on the cooling side.
I have had a few niggles with cooling but with a weekly level check for peace of mind you should be ok.

bozmandb9

673 posts

179 months

Sunday 9th January 2011
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I have a 4.4 L322 with LPG, and engine issues, however I bought it with problems, and my feeling is that the problems relate to poor maintenance rather than being caused by the LPG.

It has a noisy engine, probably hydraulic lifters, or cam followers. When I purchased it there were problems with the PCV system, and it had blown one of the cam covers off, which I suspect caused oil starvation issues.

Looking into engine rebuilds, there seem to be places which claim to rebuild a lot of M62 L322 engines, and many with LPG, however I wonder how many of the problems are caused by poor maintenance, many people buying L322's with LPG are buying them specifically for the low running cost of LPG, so may skimp on maintenance (though obviously not any petrol/piston - heads!).

All the research I've done seems to indicate that the M62 engine works well with LPG, and of my two local LPG specialists, one runs an L322 4.4, and the other runs an X5 with the m62 engine!

Cheers,

David

Duke Thrust

Original Poster:

1,680 posts

238 months

Thursday 13th January 2011
quotequote all
Thanks guys, all very interesting.

I wonder how many of the 'issues with LPG' my indy has seen have other root causes. The rads on the L322's are not great and the M62 does have a reputation for blowing off hoses. With the hotter temps of LPG running I wonder if it's just bringing to light other cooling issues.


ABIL

10 posts

114 months

Friday 12th September 2014
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Hi Chaps,

Read all the posts here! I am interested in buying the RR 4.4 BMW engine converted already on LPG. All the people I spoke to came out with more or less same issues, one being most common...engine run hot on lpg..meaning issues with valve and valve seats....Only 1 PERSON EXPLAINED that.....you just need to service oil more frequently as it gets thinner runnin on hot temp......which is fine..but overall impression I get is that LPG is not recommended by most people as it does create problems...but some people are very clear that BMW 4.4 ENGINE ON L322 ARE FAR better engines then Jags...I am bit confused what to do? Is it worth buying such an expensive car with status symbol tag.....but poor performance issues....once converted to LPG. Any suggestions as I live in bedford....Appreciate any suggestion/inputs..Thanks

RedLeicester

6,869 posts

244 months

Sunday 14th September 2014
quotequote all
ABIL said:
BMW 4.4 ENGINE ON L322 ARE FAR better engines then Jags...
I don't know about LPG, but that's rubbish. The Jag engine is smoother, quieter and more powerful. The only discernible difference to me is it doesn't sound quite as nice as the BMW lump. I've had both and I'd take the Jag 4.4 over the BMW every time.

dingg

3,974 posts

218 months

Monday 15th September 2014
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The BMW 4.4 is a good conversion for LPG and quite bomb proof

I would have no hesitation about buying one already converted

ABIL

10 posts

114 months

Monday 15th September 2014
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Hi Dingg,

Thanks for the feedback...any recommendations for service near bedfordshire area...Guys if any known garage in this area or nearby for both LPG AND PETROL service then do let me know. Would welcome any more feed back on Range Rover 4.4 LPG converted...thanks

ABIL

10 posts

114 months

Monday 15th September 2014
quotequote all
Hi Guys...

Do the engine run hotter and blows off hoses as said in one of the posts. What care and precautions one has to take in maintenance...for LPG converted 4.4 Range Rover on BMW ENGINE...? It has new a fairly new system fitted 2 years back....OMVL I guess....any more inputs...appreciated..Thanks

Jem0911

4,415 posts

200 months

Tuesday 16th September 2014
quotequote all
See my post back in 2011,
I have since sold that 4.4 V8 as I now run a company car.

I wouldn't hesitate to buy an LPG BMW 4.4 engined Range Rover again, the one I owned was faultless.

As it happends I am looking for a car for shooting and winter, the Full Fat is high on the list.

dingg

3,974 posts

218 months

Tuesday 16th September 2014
quotequote all
ABIL said:
Hi Dingg,

Thanks for the feedback...any recommendations for service near bedfordshire area...Guys if any known garage in this area or nearby for both LPG AND PETROL service then do let me know. Would welcome any more feed back on Range Rover 4.4 LPG converted...thanks
ask here


http://lpgforum.co.uk/

DKL

4,480 posts

221 months

Tuesday 16th September 2014
quotequote all
The BMW engine (4.4) has been converted very successfully thousands of times. The newer jag engine seems to need a more careful conversion with that mystery thing called flashlube. It seems to be that it is a slightly more fragile engine for LPG but given sensible precautions will run fine.

Jammez

656 posts

206 months

Tuesday 16th September 2014
quotequote all
If it helps I've got a 2003 HSE with the 4.4 BMW v8. It's done 150k with 130k of those with the LPG conversion. The Prins LPG conversion has run faultless - the engines do run hot regardless of the LPG conversion and there's plenty of well documented information out there on the weaknesses of the cooling system. Most of it tends to be down to poor maintenance & using the wrong coolant etc. Look after the coolant system & get the LPG system serviced too & you'll be fine.


The S/C Jag engine isn't as suitable for the conversion even if you use the flashlube. A friends just had to have his rebuilt at 70k with hardened seats despite using a flashlube. If I remember correctly some of the conversion companies are not converting S/C engines unless you get the hardened valve seats done too.

Don't be fooled by people who've done it on a s/c & try & convince you all's well because they've done 10k with no problems as it takes higher mileages for the problem to occur.

Hope it helps.

ABIL

10 posts

114 months

Tuesday 16th September 2014
quotequote all
Hi Jammez,

Thanks for your input really appreciate that. I thought so too that due to poor maintenance any car would go faulty. I try to keep things in order to keep the car going and hope to have the same for Range Rover 4.4 LPG converted. I believe that if you look after the car well, by doing regular service they will run forever. Any recommendations for a good garage near Bedford/Watford area for LPG/Petrol engine service.Thanks

ABIL

10 posts

114 months

Wednesday 17th September 2014
quotequote all
Hi Jammez,

Thanks for your input really appreciate that. I thought so too that due to poor maintenance any car would go faulty. I try to keep things in order to keep the car going and hope to have the same for Range Rover 4.4 LPG converted. I believe that if you look after the car well, by doing regular service they will run forever. Any recommendations for a good garage near Bedford/Watford area for LPG/Petrol engine service.Thanks