Q. What is autogas?
A. LPG autogas is an energy source that is recovered from natural gas deposits or from the refining process of crude oil. It is supplied and stored under relatively low pressure and at ambient temperature in liquid form. It changes from a liquid state to gas as it passes through the converter on its way to the engine in your car.
Q. How much will it cost to convert my car to LPG?
A. The price will vary and depends on the vehicle and the type of LPG conversion you opt for. Other factors that will vary the price are tank size and design, the type of converter and the electronic control module that best suits the vehicle. In addition, the recent introduction of gas vapour injection has given purchasers even more choice so allow an extra $1000-$1500 per conversion for this option.
As a basic guide allow approx:
$3,500 for most 4 cylinder cars
$3,500 - 4,000 for most 6 cylinder cars
$3,800 - $4,000 for 4x4 cars
Gas injection starts at $4000
Any vehicle manufactured after may 2004 must have an EPA approved gas kit. Liberty Autogas offers some discounts on selected products so please ask for details.
Q. How much will I save on fuel costs.
A. Generally, autogas is about 50% of the cost of unleaded fuel. Therefore if unleaded petrol costs $1.40/litre and your car holds 80 litres it will cost $112.00 to fill it up. The same amount of LPG will only cost you $56.00, with a saving of $56.00.
Q. Is a cheap job worth the savings?
A. As we all know, there is no such thing as a free lunch. Although some discounting occurs it is important to remember that for an installer to offer a substantial discount he has to cut his margin or find a source of stock at a cheaper price. With current high demand for autogas conversions worldwide and in Australia there are currently no suppliers giving discounts. This leaves little room to reduce prices other than for an autogas installer to cut his own margin (not recommended when you should be offering your customer a quality installation as well as a comprehensive product and service warranty). There is also no room for compromise on the quality and engineering integrity of the equipment and installation of a LPG autogas system. Safety is paramount and you should have the confidence that your LPG conversion meets all state and federal safety and emission standards and also complies with the relevant Australian Design Rules and Gas Standards legislation.
Q. Can I fit a second hand system?
A. Yes providing the equipment is in good condition and certain safeguards are addressed. The equipment should be thoroughly checked and inspected prior to fitting to any vehicle. Tanks should be pressure tested whatever their age and certified as safe for further use. Importantly, any equipment taken from a vehicle that was previously involved in a motor vehicle accident should not be used under any circumstances.