Topic: For LPG user's (Read 4624 times)

xjman · « **on:** July 09, 2009, 10:40:30 AM »

This is info for anyone who is running on LPG. I have had to replace 2 fuel pumps in two years, on taking them out they were both very rusty. I am fairly certain that they have rusted up internally, which is why they have stopped. I would add that they were not Bosch like the original, but they should have run longer than a year.

Research on the net led me to the conclusion that water in the petrol is the problem. Not so long ago petrol was changed to include 10% Ethanol, Ethanol is Hygroscopic and attracts water, hence the problem. This probably does not matter in a car running just on petrol, as there is no time for water to build up. Running on LPG is a different matter, as I could make a tankful of petrol last 12 months if I tried. I have added methylated spirits, which is supposed to remove the water, and will add a light oil, like ATF, only a cup full or so to try and stop the rust.

tim_aka_tim · « **Reply #1 on:** July 09, 2009, 03:02:18 PM »

EN228 - the European standard for unleaded does not allow for more than 5% ethanol. The UK legal minimum for bio-fuels in regular
petrol and diesel is 2.5%, so the ethanol content is therefore somewhere between these two.

It's an interesting problem. You also have the problem that petrol deteriorates over relatively short times, so after 12 months it would be bad anyway. Can you not buy fuel stabiliser there?

neilhull · « **Reply #2 on:** July 10, 2009, 09:53:04 PM »

Don't now if this works but any 2 stroke mix i have left at the end of boating season . i put this in my jeep . Use to do this on old carb cars keeps things lubricated

Bubba · « **Reply #3 on:** July 10, 2009, 10:30:14 PM »

my lawn mower 4 stroke has had the same fuel in it for 2 years and starts 2nd pull of the cord so fuel cant be that unstable

xjman · « **Reply #4 on:** July 11, 2009, 11:23:24 AM »

Thanks for suggestions,
Adding some 2 stoke mixture is probably a good idea and I will give it a try, thanks.

With the lawnmower, from what I remember, the fuel is gravity fed so there is no fuel pump to corrode/rust up, so it will probably go a long time on old petrol. I cut open one of the pumps I replaced and there was rust inside, also the rubber mounts holding the pump to the bracket and the short length of rubber fuel pipe were soft and perishing, this is after 11 months. New Mini owners in the States are having fuel pump/system problems, due to high Ethanol in the petrol.

Out of all the people running on LPG it would be strange if I was the only one with this trouble. As a new Bosch pump was £158 from Lighthouse I need to resolve this issue fairly quickly or buy a new vehicle and I would be reluctant to part with my XJ.

Mike Pavelin · « **Reply #5 on:** July 11, 2009, 12:21:33 PM »

Call me old fashioned, but why not run it on petrol every now and again to shift some of the proper fuel and put fresh in.

wildwood · « **Reply #6 on:** July 11, 2009, 12:32:54 PM »

It's worked for me twicw a year run the gas completely out and drive around for 50 miles on the expensive stuff... so far OK
and 4 years and counting.

Bishops Finger · « **Reply #7 on:** July 11, 2009, 03:41:27 PM »

Said it before on numerous forums...ok onroading.net...LPG is satan fuel a waste of time and effort...

jeff · « **Reply #8 on:** July 11, 2009, 04:11:49 PM »

sounds to me you might have an issue with rain/water getting into tank, Have you checked filler cap seal etc I know it sounds obvious but you never know

xjman · « **Reply #9 on:** July 12, 2009, 09:13:46 AM »

Thanks for all the replies.
I have looked at the filler cap and it seems and looks waterproof. As Mike says running it more on petrol would help in getting rid of any water. Satan's fuel? I can only say that I have covered over 38,000 miles on LPG with no major problems that I can think of. This problem with the fuel pump is LPG connected in a way but now I know there is a problem, I can look for solutions. We will see how long the new Bosch pump lasts, I might even have to budget £200 a year for a new pump!

big g · « **Reply #10 on:** July 12, 2009, 09:48:11 AM »

Strange the way you're going thru pumps so quickly.

Can only speak from my experience which is once a month the ol' xj gets about 15-20 miles on the rocket fuel rest of the time on gas.

Never had a problem yet.
Wasn't there a thread a while back 'bout pumps constantly running even when the Jeeps are running on gas causing possible fire issues?

Diesel is the devils fuel.I love gas apart from the cold hand you can get when you remove the nozzle in a sloppy fashion.

xjman · « **Reply #11 on:** July 13, 2009, 11:19:57 AM »

I have found these people http://simonbbc.com/ who sell stuff for the Rover V8 EFI. They do a Bosch fuel pump for £46 + postage, it is slightly larger diameter than the Jeep one (which is 42mm) at 52mm, but otherwise looks the same, I reckon it should be possible to get it to fit. At the price it would be worth a try. I have made a note of their website ready for next year's new pump.

Panic mechanic! · « **Reply #12 on:** July 17, 2009, 01:22:25 PM »

Quote from: big g on July 12, 2009, 09:48:11 AM

Wasn't there a thread a while back 'bout pumps constantly running even when the Jeeps are running on gas causing possible fire issues?

yup badly installed home conversions!!!

Oldsmoker · « **Reply #13 on:** August 06, 2009, 10:21:50 PM »

Petrol goes off between 6 and 12 months I had a problem every spring when I tried to start up my bikes after the winter lay off. I'm surprised you can go a year without using petrol I always start on petrol and switch to gas when warm and as earlier poster says just go through 25 ltr every monthor two to keep fresh petrol in it.

JamesH · « **Reply #14 on:** August 07, 2009, 12:52:06 PM »

keep at least 1/4 tank of pterol in there to ensure the pump is submerged and lubricated. I also run on petrol farily frequently so make sure everything gets a lube, a use and the petrol never goes stale. It's only a few quid for a tank of fuel every now and then and I'd rather have that than the hassle of pumps etc. Mine been going 60k miles on LPG with no problems, I've only changed the LPG filter once and that's all the maintenance it's ever had!

Bubba · « **Reply #15 on:** August 07, 2009, 02:09:08 PM »

mines always cold through the gaps in the cj roof

vinyljunkie72 · « **Reply #16 on:** August 10, 2009, 10:56:43 PM »

my kit will start on the gas no problem, but i was advised by the mechanic at hilton,when starting up from cold, ALWAYS run it on petrol until it warms up to the first notch at least,(that takes until the end of the street in me cherry. lol) so the condensation clears and it keeps all the petrol bits running fine.
to be honest it costs me about 3 or 4 quid extra a week and its really worth it.

Mik · « **Reply #17 on:** August 15, 2009, 09:24:27 PM »

Quote from: V8 Bubba on July 10, 2009, 10:30:14 PM

my lawn mower 4 stroke has had the same fuel in it for 2 years and starts 2nd pull of the cord so fuel cant be that unstable

There are so many things wrong with this statement I cant think where to start

The Transporter · « **Reply #18 on:** August 16, 2009, 09:56:56 AM »

Quote from: V8 Bubba on July 10, 2009, 10:30:14 PM

my lawn mower 4 stroke has had the same fuel in it for 2 years and starts 2nd pull of the cord so fuel cant be that unstable

I think that you need to mow your grass a little more often... I have a sythe that you can borrow...

Same here on the fuel, but the mower takes a few seconds longer to start cos the fuel has about 30% diesel in it from and early morning cockup fuelling the van... Does that mean that my mower is now dual fuel and meets the requierments for some government grant?..... Smokes a bit though!

Bubba · « **Reply #19 on:** August 16, 2009, 10:02:46 AM »

not saying my lawn gets long but the last time i mowed 3 japs came out and asked if the war was over

tim_aka_tim · « **Reply #20 on:** August 18, 2009, 04:32:41 PM »

I just bought a 5.7kW genny (last year, hurricane Ike took our electric away for 5 days). It's got a 300cc
Yamaha MZ300 motor. It explicitly says in the instructions that you need to use fuel stabilizer, as after 2 months,
the fuel deteriorates. You wouldn't know it, as the motor will run, but bad fuel manifests itself as varnish in
the carb, shortening engine life. They will not honour warranty claims due to not using stabilizer. The manual also
says to run the motor once a month.

The Transporter · « **Reply #21 on:** August 18, 2009, 09:11:35 PM »

But the Americans don't have petrol... They have a wierd mix of ethanol, Rancid yaks fat, tobasco sauce and a whif of petrol essence

tim_aka_tim · « **Reply #22 on:** August 19, 2009, 04:14:03 AM »

Being English, I used to think American gas was crap too, but as usual it was based on ignorance.
The octane rating of european fuels uses RON, whereas the US, RON+MON/2 is used (the AKI or
anti-knock index). The fuel is of the same quality, but AKI comes out several points lower than RON
for the same fuel.

Max Fax · « **Reply #23 on:** February 24, 2010, 11:04:41 PM »

I Have run 4 Lt petrol for 11 years on Lpg from 10,000 miles now on 124,000 good compression still 150 to 145 lbs ft on all six .replaced pump 1 month ago same problem,rust.but keep the tank full to 3/4 the pump cost £60 from Jeep parts London

Author Topic: For LPG user's (Read 4624 times)

xjman

neilhull

xjman

Mike Pavelin

Bishops Finger

jeff

xjman

big g

xjman

Panic mechanic!

Oldsmoker

vinyljunkie72

Mik

Max Fax