Converting Your Car To Run On LPG: The Pros & Cons

There are an increasing number of options when it comes to driving a fuel efficient car, but its hard to know what to choose. One of the most popular is to convert your petrol engined car to run on LPG (liquid petroleum gas). As specialists in genuine Honda parts, at Cox Motor Parts we want drivers to be as informed as possible about their car and what is best for their wallets. Thats why we have complied a list of pros and cons of LPG conversion.

Pros

Its considerably cheaper

Hearing the word “cheaper” is likely to grab the attention of anyone, and LPG is far cheaper than petrol. This is largely down to the fact that LPG has lower rates of fuel duty than other available fuels. Diesel, petrol and biofuels such as bioethanol are subject to 61.0p/litre duty costs, whilst LPG is only subject to 37.3p/kg. (don’t let the change in measurement confuse you, its just because of it is measured by mass and not volume.

Environmentally friendly

Converting your car can make it a much greener vehicle to drive. It is proven that a car running on LPG will see your car emissions drop roughly 20% and have almost no particulate emissions. There are also further savings to be had by provided you get in touch with the DVLA once you have converted your car.

Having a car running on LPG can lower your road tax by £10, yes its not exactly life changing but it’s a saving all the same right?

Prolong engine life

Having an LPG converted engine means you will run 50/50 with your original fuel and the LPG fuel. Reducing the amount of standard petrol being fed into your engine actually reduces wear and tear inside. Having a pristine engine along with a car that is more fuel efficient could also improve its sell on value.

Cons

Conversions are expensive

While you will save on your fuel once its installed, you’ve first got to worry about paying for the conversion. Conversions cost around £1,500 which is obviously a big chunk of cash. If you are considering it then you first need to consider what your car is worth and how long you intend on having it, because it will take at least a year to pay that off with the cheaper fuel.

Say goodbye to your boot space

Thats right, as mentioned earlier a LPG conversion means you run off part propane and part petrol, but they can’t go into the same tank, so your gonna need a second tank. As part of the conversion the mechanic will install a new (secondary) fuel tank which will usually be installed into your boot. Installations have improved and they probably wont take up as much room as earlier ones did (pretty much the whole space) but it certainly will restrict you.

Insurance can be tricky

Before converting your car, consider contacting your insurer to discuss what effect it might have on your current deal. This is a must because some insurers will not cover LPG cars while others will but may attach a surcharge.

Clearly there is a good argument for and against LPG conversion, so it really comes down to if it best suits your situation. If you intend on having the car for a number of years it is probably worth your while, if it isn’t a long term choice then you may well end up out of pocket.

Whether you need Honda Civic parts or Honda CR-V parts, we’ve got a wide range of genuine parts and accessories for several Honda models. If you can’t find the part you need, contact our team.