My new big, red, LPG Swede
Discussion
I've been getting a bit fed up of my competent, but dull, Renault Laguna diesel (which also needed some suspension work before the MOT), so started looking around at some alternatives. I really fancied another petrol, and something that would be ULEZ-friendly for the various cities that are going down that route.
I noticed a (very) red Volvo S60 that was available not too far away and claimed to have an LPG system installed. I went over to take a look today, and I was greeted by a lovely car that was in really nice condition, with a working LPG set up (100L tank), recently serviced and ready to be used. I couldn't say no!
The garage who were selling it didn't seem to know much about the LPG setup, and hadn't tested it, but on the drive home it switched over to LPG nicely, and drove well with no misfires or hesitation - no difference in how it drives on LPG or Petrol as far as I can tell.
I've driven it about 50 miles home so far, and it seems to drive very nicely - much like a my previous V70 - but feels perhaps a little sharper to drive which is nice. It's reasonably entry-level spec, but it has got leather, cruise control and working aircon. Unfortunately I'm missing heated seats, climate control & electric/memory seats, but beggars can't be choosers!
Here's the details:
I noticed a (very) red Volvo S60 that was available not too far away and claimed to have an LPG system installed. I went over to take a look today, and I was greeted by a lovely car that was in really nice condition, with a working LPG set up (100L tank), recently serviced and ready to be used. I couldn't say no!
The garage who were selling it didn't seem to know much about the LPG setup, and hadn't tested it, but on the drive home it switched over to LPG nicely, and drove well with no misfires or hesitation - no difference in how it drives on LPG or Petrol as far as I can tell.
I've driven it about 50 miles home so far, and it seems to drive very nicely - much like a my previous V70 - but feels perhaps a little sharper to drive which is nice. It's reasonably entry-level spec, but it has got leather, cruise control and working aircon. Unfortunately I'm missing heated seats, climate control & electric/memory seats, but beggars can't be choosers!
Here's the details:
- 2002 Volvo S60 2.0t (178hp)
- Full service history - every invoice since new including the LPG installation paperwork / certificate
- 121,000 miles
- HPI clear
- 4 x almost new tyres
I was surprised when I saw you filled at Shell as they pulled out of LPG a few years ago.
But I see on Streetview that it's a Flogas site, so I suspect they're in a long term lease on the LPG compound there.
My BMW E90 330i has LPG, but only a 50 litre tank, and generally does 25-30mpg on LPG, which is 72.4ppl at the unmanned Flogas site near Chippenham or 79.7ppl at Morrisons.
I can live with that - means I break even, or better, on the HMRC mileage rates (17ppl for over 2.0l LPG), whereas my Abarth 595 used to lose me money on every business mile I drove.
But I see on Streetview that it's a Flogas site, so I suspect they're in a long term lease on the LPG compound there.
My BMW E90 330i has LPG, but only a 50 litre tank, and generally does 25-30mpg on LPG, which is 72.4ppl at the unmanned Flogas site near Chippenham or 79.7ppl at Morrisons.
I can live with that - means I break even, or better, on the HMRC mileage rates (17ppl for over 2.0l LPG), whereas my Abarth 595 used to lose me money on every business mile I drove.
grumpy52 said:
What is the space like for the driver?
I'm 6ft 1in and north of 150kg . Not very flexible in the knees .
An S60 is on my radar for my next barge .
Funnily enough, it doesn't feel as roomy in the front as the V70 / XC70 that I've had. It's taken me a while to get the seat in a good position, but it's very comfortable now I've got it sorted. I'm also 6ft 1, and can't see myself having any issues.I'm 6ft 1in and north of 150kg . Not very flexible in the knees .
An S60 is on my radar for my next barge .
According to the gauge on the tank, I'm sitting at 64% (it fills to 80%) after 100 miles. I realise this isn't an accurate way of doing it, but if the tank is linear, then that would be circa 465 miles from the usable tank capacity and would equate to 26mpg.
I'd be very happy if that proves to be the case
SebastienClement said:
Funnily enough, it doesn't feel as roomy in the front as the V70 / XC70 that I've had. It's taken me a while to get the seat in a good position, but it's very comfortable now I've got it sorted. I'm also 6ft 1, and can't see myself having any issues.
According to the gauge on the tank, I'm sitting at 64% (it fills to 80%) after 100 miles. I realise this isn't an accurate way of doing it, but if the tank is linear, then that would be circa 465 miles from the usable tank capacity and would equate to 26mpg.
I'd be very happy if that proves to be the case
We have 2 LPG vehicles.According to the gauge on the tank, I'm sitting at 64% (it fills to 80%) after 100 miles. I realise this isn't an accurate way of doing it, but if the tank is linear, then that would be circa 465 miles from the usable tank capacity and would equate to 26mpg.
I'd be very happy if that proves to be the case
Gauge on one of them drops very quickly, with the last light equating to 50% of the capacity.
On the other, it stays full forever, then quickly drops down to the red light at which point it still has 25% of the capacity left.
Until you run to empty then re-fill, you won't know, and you really need to do the test using the same pump for both fills, as there is such a wide variance in pump efficiency.
Well it's been an eventful 24 hours with the Big Red Swede. Came back to the car after work last night, and the engine was spinning over but not even attempting to fire. Until this, the car has been performing flawlessly and starting on the button whether cold or warm.
The space that the car was parked in meant that the car was facing downhill, so I took a gamble and assumed that the car didn't like low petrol (just above the red) and pointing downhill. I walked over the the local fuel station, bought a petrol can (are they still called that?) and went back to the car with 4.5L to see if that made any difference. It did - hurrah!
Lesson learned - despite mostly running on LPG, keep the petrol in the top half of the tank!
This morning, having noticed the odd stutter when driving, I decided to get a cheap wireless code reader to see if anything was stored. It was - Cyl 2 misfire. Upon removing the coil pack it pretty much fell apart in my hand, so obviously it needed replacing. On my walk over to ECP, I also decided to get a full set of spark plugs, as there's no mention of these being done in the history of the car. £120 lighter, I set about changing all 5 plugs & the dodgy coil pack.
Having driven the car this afternoon it does seem smoother, and we're now code-free!
To celebrate, here's some nice interior shots:
The space that the car was parked in meant that the car was facing downhill, so I took a gamble and assumed that the car didn't like low petrol (just above the red) and pointing downhill. I walked over the the local fuel station, bought a petrol can (are they still called that?) and went back to the car with 4.5L to see if that made any difference. It did - hurrah!
Lesson learned - despite mostly running on LPG, keep the petrol in the top half of the tank!
This morning, having noticed the odd stutter when driving, I decided to get a cheap wireless code reader to see if anything was stored. It was - Cyl 2 misfire. Upon removing the coil pack it pretty much fell apart in my hand, so obviously it needed replacing. On my walk over to ECP, I also decided to get a full set of spark plugs, as there's no mention of these being done in the history of the car. £120 lighter, I set about changing all 5 plugs & the dodgy coil pack.
Having driven the car this afternoon it does seem smoother, and we're now code-free!
To celebrate, here's some nice interior shots:
Auslander said:
If you know what kit is on it, you will be able to find the process for forcing a start on LPG if you're desperate.
My not work well in extreme cold conditions, but it can be done.
That's interesting to know! I didn't realise that could be done.My not work well in extreme cold conditions, but it can be done.
For now, I'm more than happy to keep the tank about 1/2 full. It's not like I'll actually be using much of it!
Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff