lpg convertion ! good or bad ? V8 4.0L XJ8

[november mark4]

Hi contemplating buying a 1997 v8 4.0l sovereign, low miles with the view to converting to lpg and use as a daily runner. Is there anyone out there that has already gone down that road - views, experience , knowledge , please respond .

[richard300]

Hi.... My opinion (and i am no expert on LPG) is that its not worth it.
I have a 4.0 Litre X308, which until 12 Months ago I used everyday.
And i would not consider it (LPG conversion) for the following reasons:

I have never, ever read a report (written by an owner living with an LPG conversion, on any type of car) that i found they were happy with.

The best conversions (and why would you want to put anything but the best on your car) are of a price where you would have to do a lot of mileage to begin to ofset the cost

There is no way in the world i am going to have one of those horrid plastic fuel caps located anywhere on my car.

At the end of the day i prefer to put the money into lots of servicing, and things like the updated tensioners etc that my car has.

On a run the 4.0 XJ8 isnt bad, and if you waft around town its not terrifying. But on choke early morning short commutes in traffic are shocking!!!!

Buy one (carefully) drive it, stand at fuel pumps getting cramp in your habd from the possision of the fule filler cap, and enjoy it!!!!

Edited by richard300 on Tuesday 5th April 16:10

Edited by richard300 on Wednesday 6th April 08:29

[BOH]

I have an X308 XJR which has been successfully converted to run on LPG. I use it on my 110 mile commute to work - luckily not a journey I have to do every day!

Long journeys off the beaten track need a bit of planning to ensure the entire trip is done on LPG, but with satnav LPG overlays, it's not too bad.

The LPG kit itself is pretty much unnoticeable in everyday operation, which is as it should be. The engine oil stays much cleaner; normally I change engine oil at half the recommended mileage, however with LPG I go up to the specified limit. The filling point is in the middle of the rear bumper and looks like perhaps something to do with tow bar electrics. I prefer this type of filler that those cut into the body work. Filling points won't ever be the most attractive of things, however I can put up with it due to the substancial running cost savings...

...Which neatly brings me to economics; obviously you need to do your own sums depending on your expected mileage. The rising cost of LPG is oft remarked on, but don't forget LPG is current £2.50 PER GALLON cheaper than petrol. The fuel cost per mile of my LPG-powered XJR is similar to my wife's plain Jane 2.0 litre petrol car, if not a bit cheaper on a decent run.

Downsides? Not many. Apart from aforementioned filler and the cost of conversion, when the LPG tank runs dry, the kit automatically switches to petrol and if you've got your foot down at the time, there is a slight hesitation whilst the switchover occurs. The answer of course is to not run out of LPG!

Choice of converter is very important as integration of the kit needs a dilligent approach and there's lots of cowboys out there. Mine was done by Steve Sparrow of Go LPG and I wouldn't hesitate recommending him.

I don't know how experienced you are with X308, but obviously normal warnings about timing chain tensioners, water pumps and Nikasil bores apply. Suggest you check the former two are done and at very least recent evidence of a blow-by check unless the engine has been changed to a steel-linered one. You must also be confident that the overall condition of the vehicle warrants converting - no good spending a tidy sum converting it when the thing only lasts one MOT until it becomes prohibitive to keep on the road.

In summary, you need to do your sums but providing they add up, an X308 on LPG can be a prospect as a daily runner.

Edited by BOH on Wednesday 6th April 17:56

[Straight6DOHC]

I've no experience of running LPG but if I considered converting a Jaguar I'd check out Go LPG. Mainly because Steve posts a lot knowledgable stuff on the mechanical/electrical issues brought up on jag-lovers forum. He knows Jags. (No affiliation)

[richard300]

There you go November.....

Two sides of the coin, with BOH in a real possition to make comment.

[tinker-27]

I run a STR on lpg ( which was fitted by previous owner) , it had now done 155,000 miles 100,000 on gas . The filler is st in the wing (why they do that I don't know !!!) but if you are having the kit fitted have it somewhere better, and have a decent size tank mine does 190 miles in town traffic ( 6 miles to work and back) and 230 on a run to £30 gas which is way better the E61 530 D I swapped it for , that was doing 26 mpg on the same run round town . I really can't tell the difference in performance at all , all I would say is do it but get it done right !!

[Filos Hippos]

I've converted my XJ8 3.2 sport a few years ago and never had any problems with it.

Well I had a few in the beginning which were solved after some adjustment to the mapping.

Car has run beautifully ever since and have done quite some miles with it. Don't use it anymore now, has been replaced by xkr as daily driver.

Still miss it though! I reckon it was one of the finest automobiles to be in. One of the best looking saloons aswell. and a nice v8 burble to go with it.

Does make a difference at the end of the month when I get my fuel bill now ... Xkr lovely machine aswell.

[5tevie]

I suppose the answer is to buy a Jag that has already been converted. That way, you don't get stung for the installation costs but you reap the benefits. All you have to do is make sure the kit was fitted by a reputable firm and that you get all the paperwork.

[rswift]

Hi,

I have an X350, 4.2 on LPg was converted at 40k, now done 66k. More economical on fuel than my Wife's Peugeot 306 Diesel. Previously had an X300, 4litre on LPG. Converted at 80k, sold at 325k. No LPG related problems. I have a friend who runs an LPG Range Rover & Saab. The guy I bought by Jag from had just had an Porsche Cayenne converted.

Personally I would buy a car already converted, there are usually a few on Autotrader or Ebay .. thus saving the conversion fee. Don't worry too much about higher miles, but look for good maintenance, and as a previous post said .. Timing Chains, Water Pump, Gearbox, Nikasil. Also I would look for a car with a good multipoint conversion, BRC/Prinz etc. LPG is now getting expensive 76p litre near me, but still cheaper than Petrol/Diesel. I don't notice any difference in driving, other than the oil is always clean. LPG is a little harder on Plugs, so be prepared to change every 10k. No problem with availablity that I have found. My X350 has a 90 litre tank which takes the place of the spare wheel (Space savers always available on Ebay for £20) ! I get a range of between 400/450 miles.

[edward1]

I am looking to put an XKR onto gas, having done the sums even with the most expensive conversion price of £2,700 (cheapest is £1,800) it will still pay for itself in 2 years or less doing around 12k a year. If you plan on keeping a car (as I am) it seems to make a lot of sense you get a great car for the running costs of a family hatch back.

On another point it is interesting to hear positive comments about mr sparrow as I have read on another site some very worrying comments. Maybe worth furthe investigation. I was about to get a quote from him aswell. I hope I haven't just broke the forum rules.

I'd be interested to know what systems people are using on the STR, XJ's etc, Prins/BRC/OMVL/Romano?

[rswift]

I have also heard very mixed reports of the conversions & aftersales offered by the company mentioned ablove. I would suggest anyone looking for a new conversion asks to speak to several previous customers, and in these days of easy internet access does a lot of research in advance.

If you look over on the Jaguar UK forum there are a few people running S Type R's on LPG.

[Jagsongas]

As a new member I have taken a careful look at the rules and see that they have indeed been broken. However, I intend to take this no further and do understand that folk will share information that they think might help others. Problem is that we're a funny species, often giving creedence to things that are written in the media but never substantiated (the internet is full of stuff like that) whilst positive comments like some of those above are often ignored. I just ask that people take a little more care when inadvertantly helping to damage a reputation that may have taken many years to build.

So, no offence taken, but I will take this opportunity (I hope it isn't me who falls foul of the rules this time!) to balance things up a little. Visit http://www.lpg-info.co.uk to see what I and many others have to say.

I will be writing on this forum periodically to help blow away some of the myths about LPG in the near future.

Regards

Steve

[williamp]

I dont think that website does you any favours! It also doesnt tell me where you were

But anyhow, I digress. Regrading the second fuel tank inlet Could this not be located in the boot itself (like TVR do). OK so you have to open the boot to fill up, but it would keep the clean lines of the car??

[Jagsongas]

The reply wesbite wasn't meant to do me any favours - It was written to provide the facts , to balance things up a little. I'd prefer not to have to do that, not to have get involved at all, but after 6 years I think I've put up with it for long enough. The internet can be a very good and useful thing, but in the wrong hands, a very bad and dangerous thing. I sincerely hope this never happens to you, but sadly it is so easily done.

Naturally the my reply website would not give my location, just as the smear campaign website does not even give the name of its writer. You might expect anyone with valid claims would at least have the guts to sign their name?

Now, if anyone wants to check even more, I have some suggestions;

Contact UK LPG, Autogas Worldwide (Romano) 01633 894070, FES Autogas (OMVL) 01286 882097 and BRC GB Ltd 0845 5390080 for thier views on us as their approved installers.

Regards

Steve

[tinker-27]

Most the people who flag of LPG don't use it , I know loads of people who run it and are ALL happy (@65l they should be) . every time I fill up it's make me smile running a v8 supercharged car for less money than my old 320d e46 !!! , I CAN'T tell the difference from petrol
to gas in performance at all , maybe a Dyno would show it but then who cares as I'm not on the stop anyway . Mine dies not have the extra oil feed that some do ? Not sure it needs it ? . My only gripe would be it take to long to switch over ,

[edward1]

Following extensive discussions and research on the web I have selected the an installer to do the conversion on my xkr. I apologise to mr sparrow if my previous post broke the forum rules, what I will say from an LPG virgin is that the differing advice and types of LPG kit out there can be quite daunting and as I am sure many people do I searched for as much information as possible before commiting to an installer. The only reason I am not using go-lpg is distance from home and not due to the negative comments on the internet as these do seem to be in the minority and outweighed by the numerous positive comments both on here and other forums.

I finally decided that an installer I could convieniently return to, and one who also happens to be the local jag independant was my preference. I am looking forward to fuel for the xkr costing the same as it did for my wifes 147! Now if only the tyres cost the same

[november mark4]

Would just like to say THANK YOU to everyone who responded to my query on lpg. Managed to purchase a xj6 4ltr sovereign and went with the brc lpg system here,s hoping!

[edward1]

Now happily running my 4.2 XKR on LPG, with an OMVL system with petrol addition. No noticable difference in performance although I am more inclinded to use more throttle now as it doesn't cost as much!

[thebiglad]

Hi there,I'm considering LPG-ing my 2004 S-type v8 4.2,but I can't find anyone that's done any.

Anyone got a suggestion as to who might be worth speaking to?

Cheers
Dave