4.8lt Patrol on Gas
Submitted: Friday, Apr 21, 2006 at 12:35
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Bill n Di
Just purchased a late 2004 Patrol and intended putting it on gas, but salesman said they don't recommend this with the 4.8lt.
Has anyone done the conversion and if so any problems?
Would appreciate any info - pros and cons.
Di
Reply By: Robin - Friday, Apr 21, 2006 at 12:49
Friday, Apr 21, 2006 at 12:49
Haven't put
mine on gas yet, may one day but as fuel is only 20% of cost of running its not high on priorty list considering the compromises and fact that my long term (110,000km) average is 16.5lt/100km anyway.
However , it was time to have valve clearances checked the other day and I did
mine myself figuring they wouldn't need adjustment so no need for Nissan but as part of checking out price Nissan said that its around $200 except if its gas and last gas one they did was so bad that valve head job was $4000.
Sort of makes you think !
My brother an automotive engineer in the field says , no matter what anyone tells you even with late models , always run valve saver on gas and its even a good measure off gas.
Robin Miller
AnswerID:
168296
Reply By: Member - Beatit (QLD) - Friday, Apr 21, 2006 at 13:26
Friday, Apr 21, 2006 at 13:26
I also haven't put
mine on gas and after Robin's reply glad I haven't. The main reason for me is that
mine is driven to
places where gas is not readily available so a gas tank would be taking valuable space.
Kind regards
AnswerID:
168300
Follow Up By: Kenell - Friday, Apr 21, 2006 at 18:41
Friday, Apr 21, 2006 at 18:41
Theo,
You go to
places that humans are scarce let alone LPG. Having run a GQ on gas I cant see myself ever doing it again. But, never is a long time, and diesel isn't getting any cheaper. When I have to toss up between the cornflakes and a tank of juice for a weekend in the high country I will probably reconsider my position. In the meantime !!!!!!!!!
Ken
FollowupID:
423674
Follow Up By: Brew69(SA) - Friday, Apr 21, 2006 at 19:29
Friday, Apr 21, 2006 at 19:29
Yeah i really cursed and swore today when i filled up for 41.5c p/litre and right next to the lpg pump was the $1.40 a litre diesel pump. Really brought a smile to my face.
FollowupID:
423681
Follow Up By: AndrewX - Sunday, Apr 23, 2006 at 08:04
Sunday, Apr 23, 2006 at 08:04
Yes Brew69 something like the smile on the face of a mate who arrived in
Oodnadatta and had to buy 6 jerries for extra petrol because there was no gas there and he had to get to
Birdsville. I agree that the pump price of gas is attractive but the long term price (unavailability for 4wding, engine damage and of course the initial cost makes me glad I have a TD)
FollowupID:
423893
Follow Up By: Brew69(SA) - Sunday, Apr 23, 2006 at 10:11
Sunday, Apr 23, 2006 at 10:11
Long term price??? Yes i keep hearing about its uncertain price but heck whats happened to ulp and diesel? By the time gas hits $1 diesel will be $2.50. I am sure the extra 6 jerries he has to buy when outback take only a few weeks in the smoke to recoup. If you can afford diesel then good for you. Engine damage? I suppose if I had $$ to burn then a diesel would be more attractive to me. the fact is I can run around town each week and do 450kms for $50 or less. $50 will buy you 35 lt of diesel. Not too many diesels can do 11km to the litre.Then theres the oil every 5k. Ok Ok maybe i bit too
well here lol.
FollowupID:
423911
Follow Up By: Member - Beatit (QLD) - Wednesday, Apr 26, 2006 at 07:49
Wednesday, Apr 26, 2006 at 07:49
Was speaking to a mate of
mine who was up from
Sydney over the weekend and he has a GQ and a GU on gas. The Gq he's owned for about 10 years and has done around 160,000K and the GU about 6 or 7 years and its done 180,000 and he tells me that neither have had problems. Trust me when I say he just drives them and doesn't look after them. He also has a fairlane of some old vintage that has run on gas for most of its life (it is probably 15 years old) and just about to expire. He as also recently bought a Rodeo and put it on gas. He swears by gas and reckons that for him it is just right BUT he just drives around the city and NEVER goes off road.
His view on gas being a problem for engines is that it is scaremongering.
Kind regards
PS G'day Ken, hope you are
well and are planning some trip away soon (we all need these to keep sain)
FollowupID:
424370
Reply By: Robin - Friday, Apr 21, 2006 at 14:53
Friday, Apr 21, 2006 at 14:53
Di , its an issue I have looked into a bit and there are some
good news stories out there but the bottom line is more
frequent valve clearance settings and issues so I'd be
hot of the warranty side of things if going ahead.
Normally a car can expect to get to up to 150k before
requiring valve shim adjustment but gas ones seem to
need it between 50-100k and if you don't you risk valve
replacement.
Range issues were my main concern to Beatit, and I agonized over
it for a while and recently fitted rear OOT 145lt tank which
came up
well and have comfortable 1000km range now (manual).
(have trip coming up which I est will require 220lt min.)
Replacing the sub-tank would have been better option with gas in mind
however I may yet be able to one day fit small (60lt) tank in sub position
for running around town and keep 145lt main , which is still
more than car has standard for outback trips.
Robin Miller
AnswerID:
168318
Reply By: WANDERER124 - Friday, Apr 21, 2006 at 20:05
Friday, Apr 21, 2006 at 20:05
I am having my GUIII 4.8 put on gas next month ,had to book two months ago.
Its an injected LPG system & has its own computer ,so when you turn over to LPG
the gas computer changes the timing to suit the gas.
They drill injectors into the intake runners on the manifold.
I have been advised to fit the upper cylinder lube as
well to save the valves.
The job is being done in
Newcastle.
I am 100 % anti diesel.
Cheers,
Doug.
AnswerID:
168383
Follow Up By: Robin - Saturday, Apr 22, 2006 at 06:56
Saturday, Apr 22, 2006 at 06:56
Thats the way to go Wanderer, although its more expensive , guess you'll probably go with the 80lt usable sub tank for your petrol to.
Just fitted to mate's car and not bad although does hang down 5cm below chassis rail but has good front chamfer.
I think the main benefit of injected system is that the gas does not displace the air in the inlet manifold and hence it genuinely comes up with about same power as before.
Sounds like your supplier knows the score, lets no how it goes.
Robin Miller
FollowupID:
423745
Reply By: hazo - Friday, Apr 21, 2006 at 20:50
Friday, Apr 21, 2006 at 20:50
Bill,
My mates 4.8 has been on gas for 2 years now with no dramas, apart from, in my opinion, he has only got a 35 petrol tank now! and when gas is either not available or awaiting delivery he's stuck! last year he was at Auski r/house nw WA and no gas so had to hang around for a few days before moving on! the 35ltr petrol was not enough to get him to Port Headland as he was towing 25' van! and didnt want to chance running out of fuel.Also spoilt his plans of visiting Karagini np.
Brian
AnswerID:
168395
Reply By: Bill n Di - Saturday, Apr 22, 2006 at 13:05
Saturday, Apr 22, 2006 at 13:05
Thanks to all the replies. Bill is a mechanic and a licensed auto gas fitter so the cost of fitting and doing valves isn't a real issue. We have had a GQ on gas for about 10 years now and really happy with it - still going strong and son #1 taking this over. We installed an extra long range fuel tank and have never had a problem with range - and the vehicle runs just the same on gas as petrol even pulling the van!
I just wondered if there were any obvious problems anyone has found with their 4.8lt - the Nissan salesman was specific with the 4.8t - said 4.5lts were fine.
I just wondered why he would say this, and what others experiences were.
There is always a wealth of advise and info from this
forum.
Di
AnswerID:
168454
Follow Up By: Brew69(SA) - Saturday, Apr 22, 2006 at 14:31
Saturday, Apr 22, 2006 at 14:31
G'day Di, when you say extra long range in the GQ how many litres is it? My GQ has 115 usable of lpg and 70 ulp, but am keen to increase the ULP capacity.
FollowupID:
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Reply By: Bill n Di - Monday, Apr 24, 2006 at 13:54
Monday, Apr 24, 2006 at 13:54
Bill says we have a 95lt gas and 75lt petrol & use a custom-made stainless steel removable petrol tank on the rear back floor which gives us another 80 lts - for when we travel on long trips.
Di
AnswerID:
168709
Follow Up By: flappa - Monday, Apr 24, 2006 at 14:22
Monday, Apr 24, 2006 at 14:22
IMO , thats just plain stupid.
A Fuel tank on the rear door is a safety
hazard. Thats why you cant carry Jerry cans on there either. Not to mention that an extra . . . 90-100kg's on the door.
I would expect the hinges to fail at the first sign of corrigations.
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Brew69(SA) - Monday, Apr 24, 2006 at 14:23
Monday, Apr 24, 2006 at 14:23
ummmmm floor lol
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Follow Up By: Truckster (Vic) - Monday, Apr 24, 2006 at 15:02
Monday, Apr 24, 2006 at 15:02
I hear KY is handy for removing a foot from mouth... :P
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: flappa - Wednesday, Apr 26, 2006 at 09:45
Wednesday, Apr 26, 2006 at 09:45
Lol . . . Oops.
Took me a few days to remove my foot.
Please consider myself suitably embarrassed.
FollowupID:
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Reply By: Grizzle - Wednesday, Apr 26, 2006 at 14:28
Wednesday, Apr 26, 2006 at 14:28
I had my 2002 4.8 Ti put on gas 2 years ago. I also had the larger 75 litre petrol tank fitted. The main problem with the 4.8 is the lpg burns hotter than fuel and burns out the ceramic Catalytic Convertor.
Mine burnt out halfway across the Nullabor, collapsed and blocked the muffler. You should fit a Hi-Flow Catalytic convertor. ( I fitted a Stainless Steel one $300.00). Since then it has been Ok. The money was reimbursed by the LPG Installer so it is obviously a genuine problem. I have had other problems but related more to people not knowing what they doing working on it.
As usual after having the problem and talking to other people about it, it is not ucommon and not worth the risk of "I'll chance it".
I get approx 300k out of a 90 litre tank towing a Jayco Swan Outback. This effectively gives me 600k range and will allow you to do most trips.
My sytem is not the Gas Injected Type.
Good Luck.
AnswerID:
169088