Girly needs help with system

Message

quantum · #21 Post by **quantum** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 1:41 am

And I should say, in my opinion xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (Edited by Moderator) has shown unprofessionalism in the past. (Message edited by admin on September 19, 2006)

brian_lee · #22 Post by **brian_lee** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 2:36 pm

Your air filter housing is held together with tape so I imagine you're getting an air leak there - that could be the reason for the difficult starting. The two tanks are simply to give you a greater range. I agree with the advice about new plugs - that can be the singlemost improvement you can make to a car's performance - but lpg requires special attention in this area regarding plug type and gap. So you need not only a decent mechanic you can trust but one who at least appreciates that lpg has certain needs. PS. I too am impressed by how you got those pics on here - maybe we need a computer forum!

dmd · #23 Post by **dmd** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 2:44 pm

As someone who refers to herself as a "girly" I think you have missed a golden opportunity to get all the blokes from this forum on your side. All you needed to do was turn the camera round the other way rather than posting all those boring pics of an engine and some LPG components, and these big hairy ugly LPG installers would be falling over themselves to help you. <img src="http://www.my90.co.uk/lpgforum/clipart/biggrin.gif" border=0>

brian_lee · #24 Post by **brian_lee** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 2:53 pm

Hey, I'm not an lpg installer!

quantum · #25 Post by **quantum** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 3:50 pm

I'm not either, although I am hairy and ugly. :j

classicswede · #26 Post by **classicswede** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 7:54 pm

Dave I like your suggestion there!! lol It's a real shame that conversion get botched like this. One qiuck question do you know if the car had recently been serviced just before you got the car? It is quite common for mechanics to fit platinum plugs to these then a few hundred miles later a big bang. We see this quite often. Changing the plugs may imrove things for you and maybe a tune up but ultamatly it does want a sequential system fitting. By the way we are close to every where - North Wales!!!!!!!!!!!

brian_lee · #27 Post by **brian_lee** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 8:03 pm

I wouldn't worry about soft valves or seats - you've been running it for a year - if they were dodgy you'd be having much greater problems. I had a 2 litre zetec engine do 80k on gas (210k in total and still going well) The flat spot and stalling you describe when you put your foot down quickly, and the rough tickover all suggest an air leak and old or incorrectly gapped plugs. A new set of plugs (£20?) and a second-hand airbox from a breakers would be my first job but as I said the right plugs gapped correctly are essential. NGK's gapped at 0.8mm are what I've heard recommended but there are such a wide range of opinions. Some say avoid platinum, some say 0.7mm. Help me out here guys - I'm as much in the dark as this young filly.

bob · #28 Post by **bob** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 8:14 pm

First get the car serviced, plugs etc. and then work from there. Fit the plugs that are the correct ones for your car. gap them 10% closer. Because your car is playing up on petrol I think it is a service problem

woody · #29 Post by **woody** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 9:41 pm

Hiya, first off , the focus is a pig on gas because of the soft valves and seats. They do not suffer with ECU'S going out of sinc. They do however on a fixed collar system suffer from backfires, and this cannot be stopped. Valve recession can occur from as little as 4000 miles upwards. Flash lube will not cure the problem only slow it down. I am based in essex SS4 2AR 01702 258286. Cheers Keith.

garysutherland · #30 Post by **garysutherland** » Wed Sep 20, 2006 10:10 am

> They do however on a fixed collar system > suffer from backfires, and this cannot be > stopped. This probably explains the state of the airbox in the photos. Cheers Gary

brian_lee · #31 Post by **brian_lee** » Wed Sep 20, 2006 1:37 pm

"It is quite common for mechanics to fit platinum plugs to these then a few hundred miles later a big bang." What exactly is the problem with platinum? I always used them on that 210k mile zetec motor I mentioned and even after 20k miles the performance wasn't badly effected even though the gap had increased to around 1.5mm by then (from 0.8mm). After that I checked the gap in between plug changes, but you know how it is, if a motor is running well you tend to leave it alone. What's the alternative? Copper? Or these NGK iridium items I've heard about? The chances of me finding those down here in S. Wales are questionable. Some folks have only just been hooked up to the National Grid.

quantum · #32 Post by **quantum** » Wed Sep 20, 2006 3:01 pm

Man, now some of you guys have gone and freaked her out so she left upset. Chances are she just needs spark plugs, but instead she's convinced the world's coming to an end. And I do not like being redacted by the Mod. I have no axe to grind. I was giving my observation, based on facts.

dmd · #33 Post by **dmd** » Wed Sep 20, 2006 3:40 pm

I do know how she feels. If your first venture in to the world of LPG is by buying a converted car it can be quite daunting, especially if it doesn't all work as expected. You expect LPG to "just work", and although that is true of the best modern conversions, it may not be true on an older conversion that also may not have been the right conversion for the particular car. My first experience wasn't good. It was a single-point conversion on a car that probably should have had a multi-point, and when some rather large backfires did some fairly serious damage to the un-protected engine (eventually destroying it) I could have been forgiven for writing off LPG as a bad idea. There is good information on the web about LPG, but it is not always easy to find unless you know what you are looking for. I am thankful to Steve for providing most of my LPG knowledge via his website, and for sorting out the problems with my first LPG car, although it has to be said that this investment of his time has paid off for him, having since sold me a converted Range Rover, a skid tank, and an OMVL conversion on my MX-5. It is a shame that no-one here seems to be close enough to help Tall Girl. There are plenty of LPG installers in most parts of the country, but not all of them are as knowledgeable or helpful as others. It is because of this fact that I have done a 200 mile round trip several times to my installer of choice, and will continue to do so when required.

quantum · #34 Post by **quantum** » Wed Sep 20, 2006 5:23 pm

Which Steve?

tall_girl_london · Wed Sep 20, 2006 9:58 pm

hello all, sorry, been busy with college. i rang steve adams the other day and he was very friendly and helpful but basically said that the system is not suitable as it is and will need another one fitted at quite some expense <IMG SRC="http://www.my90.co.uk/lpgforum/clipart/sad.gif" ALT=":-(" BORDER=0> if i want to get it to run properly. guys.. behave!! <IMG SRC="http://www.my90.co.uk/lpgforum/clipart/happy.gif" ALT=":-)" BORDER=0> as to how the cars been serviced, i have the following history of the work ive gotten: 12/05/2005 Coolant/Anti-Freeze = 7.58 (unit = 3.79) Sundries = 4.95 LPG service inc emissions check, stalling rectified = 80.00 SUBTOTAL = 92.53 VAT = 16.19 TOTAL = 108.72 17/01/2006 Spark plugs NGKTR5A-10 - 4 x 3.56 = 14.24 Sundries = 4.95 OBD check and clear faults (fault code: misfire cyl 4, lab: renew spark plugs, clean and shotblast HT leads, rectified misfire) = 48.00 extended test drive = 44.00 SUBTOTAL = 111.19 VAT = 19.45 TOTAL = 130.64 24/01/2006 Oil filter - 5.31 air filter - 7.23 set HT leads - 36.85 castrol gtx2 magnatec oil - 17.28 (3.84 per unit) trans oil (castrol) - 3.55 (7.09 per unit) brake cleaning solvent - 3.88 stop/rear 12v 21/5w pin bulb - 0.79 env. dispos charge - 3.50 Sundries - 4.95 Service - 96.00 NOTE: slight leak on gearbox and steering rack, O/S numberplate lamp rusty SUBTOTAL - 179.34 VAT - 31.38 TOTAL - 210.72 --- so as you can see, i'm quite out of pocket now and just dont know what to do <IMG SRC="http://www.my90.co.uk/lpgforum/clipart/sad.gif" ALT=":-(" BORDER=0>

quantum · #36 Post by **quantum** » Wed Sep 20, 2006 10:11 pm

What is it that you Brits call "Sundries"? Sounds like ice cream. Ya, wherever you had the work done is not doing a good job, assuming they haven't permanently cured the problem, and it's been the same problem all along. Must hold them to account, although it was back in January so maybe not much luck. How badly is it running? What about it's running is worst, and where/when/what noises was it making, and what were you wearing?

brian_lee · #37 Post by **brian_lee** » Wed Sep 20, 2006 10:41 pm

"What were you wearing?" - Please! this has to stop! What were you wearing by the way? Just out of academic interest? Seriously, I agree with Bill - that place seems to be ripping you off. What was the car going like when they handed it back to you? If I'd paid out nearly £450 on servicing over 6 months I'd expect it to better than what you're describing. You might save money long term by doing the M4/M5 trip to see Steve at <a href="http://www.go-lpg.co.uk" target=_top>www.go-lpg.co.uk</a> - he seems to know his stuff and has helped me out on this forum.

quantum · #38 Post by **quantum** » Wed Sep 20, 2006 10:46 pm

Shhh, I was hoping she wouldn't notice. Now, look what you've done.

brian_lee · #39 Post by **brian_lee** » Wed Sep 20, 2006 10:51 pm

Sorry Bill. Sorry for the typo too. I meant "I'd expect it to go better than what you're describing"... ...and so to bed.

dmd · #40 Post by **dmd** » Wed Sep 20, 2006 10:58 pm

Bill - the Steve from this forum who posts the incisive but cynical comments. Also happens to be a helicopter pilot.