Can you run turbos on LPG?

[Jag-D]

I was wondering if you can run forced induction on LPG?

[pk500]

yes you can

[topsparks]

Yep,my T5 runs fine and still goes off the clock!-(on German roads of course!)

[Zad]

I'm told LPG is actually very good for turbo cars. Not only does it cool the charge as it vapourises, but it effectively has a higher octane than petrol and so is less prone to knocking.

[entwisi]

<AOLNTL>

V70 T5 LPT on LPG covered nearly 100K on it.

does need to be a decent kit properly set up by someone who knows their stuff but IMHO that applies to all LPG systems....

[Por911T]

Yep - we convert them . Good quality system properly set up and you'll be ok . Turbo cars are ok but dont go for one thats been remapped or chipped if youre considering conversion . Cheers Barry

[Jag-D]

Next question:

Can you take a LPG car on the track without any problems?

[Ry_B]

What if you get a remapped turbo, say a 2 litre turbo gone from 200-240bhp and LPG that?

[entwisi]

here was an Elise that was LPG only that won some series, so Tracks clearly can't be that bothered about it ( and why should they? 5 gallons of flammable liquid in a plastic box or 5 gallons of gas in a pressure tested, thick metal tank with slow release valve that is safe to smoke next to 4 minutes after a full discharge in a typical outdoor arena....)

[autofocus]

Hi there,

My daily sh**ter is a Rover 820 Coupe. Its not an ordinary one though as its the 2.0 Turbo Vitesse Coupe complete with a few mods including an uprated clutch and full LPG conversion.

The car is superb, and currently has around 200bhp. It pulls like a train and can really eat the miles up especially when using the LPG.

Great fun and super cheap to run, there starting to get quite collectable as well so you never know it may be worth a few quid in years to come.

Regards

Tim

[Motorrad]

Wonder if you can run supercharger on it? Don't see any reason why not.....maybe I'll be LPGing my Mustang when I get back to Europe. 500ish bhp and 45mpg equivalent doesn't sound bad at all.

[mattmoxon]

Motorrad said:

Wonder if you can run supercharger on it? Don't see any reason why not.....maybe I'll be LPGing my Mustang when I get back to Europe. 500ish bhp and 45mpg equivalent doesn't sound bad at all.

It has been done, you can buy lighting pickups with a supercharger and LPG conversions, you just have to make sure the LPG system can provide enough 'gas' at full chat and has a propper map to take into account the blower.

[redgriff500]

Ry_B said:

What if you get a remapped turbo, say a 2 litre turbo gone from 200-240bhp and LPG that?

Yes but I think the previous poster meant you can't chip an already LPG'd Turbo. (you can but you need the LPG checking at the same time)

I run a Leon Turbo on LPG and its fine my LPG installer says most 4 cylinder kits struggle above 280bhp and he then adds some petrol in too.

Presumably to do with LPG 'injector' size.

[darren f]

Jag-D said:

Next question:

Can you take a LPG car on the track without any problems?

Didn't Palmersport used to run all their cars at Bedford on LPG? (they certainly ran some on LPG when I went a few years ago, not sure if they still do). Given the 'ragging' their cars get, I don't think track work is an issue.

[Jag-D]

darren f said:

Jag-D said:

Next question:

Can you take a LPG car on the track without any problems?

Didn't Palmersport used to run all their cars at Bedford on LPG? (they certainly ran some on LPG when I went a few years ago, not sure if they still do). Given the 'ragging' their cars get, I don't think track work is an issue.

All sounding positive so far

[Liokault]

entwisi said:

here was an Elise that was LPG only that won some series, so Tracks clearly can't be that bothered about it ( and why should they? 5 gallons of flammable liquid in a plastic box or 5 gallons of gas in a pressure tested, thick metal tank with slow release valve that is safe to smoke next to 4 minutes after a full discharge in a typical outdoor arena....)

Well, after being sat on the M1 for 4 hours+ due to it being closed because a car with LPG had a crash, that would surprise me. As far as I could tell, just a normal crash, no fire and no reason to close other than the authorities being worried that LPG explodes, but solid info is always hard to get several miles back in a traffic jam

[M40WST]

Well if the Team AON BTCC Ford Focus runs LPG ok on there 2.0L Turbo then I don't see what a standard road car wouldn't be ok on the track if the lpg install was done properly.

[kprm77]

I had LPG fitted to my old Saab 9-5 2.0LPT (standard). Got 80% of economy on LPG as opposed to unleaded, ran with slightly less power too. Turbo went just after, and always had the "check Engine" light on. In my case, it ruined a perfectly good car.

Personally, I would be very wary of a conversion, and make sure your LPG installer has done several of your make/model in the past. Don't just go off the fact the installer is in the LPGA (or whatever it is now).

[ManOpener]

M40WST said:

Well if the Team AON BTCC Ford Focus runs LPG ok on there 2.0L Turbo then I don't see what a standard road car wouldn't be ok on the track if the lpg install was done properly.

Didn't VW run LPG 24H racers at the 'Ring, with some success? Or was the compressed natural gas?

[Motorrad]

mattmoxon said:

It has been done, you can buy lighting pickups with a supercharger and LPG conversions, you just have to make sure the LPG system can provide enough 'gas' at full chat and has a propper map to take into account the blower.

You would be surprised at how little info there is on the web regarding this.

Nobody here in the states would dream of running their car on 'propane' as far as I can work out (other than a some commercial vehicles) so it will be a voyage of discovery for me when I get over to Europe because I see no downside whatsoever to LPG conversion (I plan to run the car for 2 yrs before selling and buying the best race rep bike I can for 15 grand sterling)