LPG Powered Falcons
Submitted: Tuesday, May 10, 2011 at 08:15
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Ray
Any opinions on the above vehicle? I have seen a nice LPG Falcon ute and thought that it would be good for touring with an 18' 6" caravan. I have already done two trips around "The Block" with a LPG powered L/cruiser and had no problem obtaining LPG.
Reply By: rooster350 - Tuesday, May 10, 2011 at 10:22
Tuesday, May 10, 2011 at 10:22
Usually the only problem is the servos running out of gas...we travel with a EF Wagon (dual fuel and ) 17ft poptop and that is the only problem that we encountered, but being dual fuel we can carry extra petrol to get around that situation....cheers
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Follow Up By: Fab72 - Tuesday, May 10, 2011 at 20:15
Tuesday, May 10, 2011 at 20:15
I'd say the problem is running out of LPG in your tank. On a dual fuel - no problems, but in a dedicated LPG vehicle, carrying additional fuel is not an option. Other than that...no problems at all.
Fab.
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Reply By: rags - Tuesday, May 10, 2011 at 12:59
Tuesday, May 10, 2011 at 12:59
I am driving a current model FG series dedicated gas only ute as a company car and have been quite impressed with if. It is
well appointed for a base model including climate a/c . Average economy seems to be around 15lt/100km which gives approx 470km range. Always keeping an eye on distance to empty as with only a caltex card and the need for a tow when out of gas.
I have thought that if i did not need a 4wd to tow/enjoy when touring with van attached then the gas ute would be a good cheap alternative. I would look at the option of having a 2nd gas tank installed in tub for additional range as i suspect that the current range would reduce a bit when towing. If i was looking at a used BF series then maybe a RVT model would be the best option.
The currently fitted gas system is an older style and not the newer better gas injected system that would be fitted aftermarket dual fuelled,but beleive Ford is updating the gas system on soon to be released models.All said they are quite comfy and would make a good towing/touring alternative.
hope this helps
Russ
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Follow Up By: Road Warrior - Tuesday, May 10, 2011 at 15:54
Tuesday, May 10, 2011 at 15:54
Correct. New LPG system (named "EcoLPi" by the marketing propeller heads) hits the streets next month. The old Egas system was a mixer system that whilst basic, was crude and temperamental. This new system is the latest tech and according to Ford, causes the engine to produce more power and torque than the equivalent petrol engine. Now that's impressive!
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Follow Up By: Member - Bruce C (NSW) - Tuesday, May 10, 2011 at 17:54
Tuesday, May 10, 2011 at 17:54
Hi Rags,
One of my nephews ran out with a dedicated gas vehicle one time so he emptied the windscreen washer bottle and filled it with fuel and ran the hose into the top of the carby/air intake (throttle body if you like) kept on hitting the washer button till he got to a servo to fill with gas.
Just a thought in a crisis.
Cheers, bruce.
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Follow Up By: Member - Duncs - Tuesday, May 10, 2011 at 20:17
Tuesday, May 10, 2011 at 20:17
I am also driving a current model Falcon R6 Ute. It has a canopy and I am carrying no more than about 25kg of gear in the back. Average fuel economy is now at 20.8l/100km driving around the suburbs of
Sydney.
What am I doing wrong?
Duncs
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Follow Up By: Member - Toyocrusa (NSW) - Tuesday, May 10, 2011 at 20:55
Tuesday, May 10, 2011 at 20:55
Now that really is thinking outside the square Bruce C. Would have really cleaned the windscreen when he reconnected it as
well. LOL Bob
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Follow Up By: Member - Bruce C (NSW) - Wednesday, May 11, 2011 at 15:53
Wednesday, May 11, 2011 at 15:53
Yeah Bob, that poor buggar is dead now. Died 3 years ago of a melanoma at age 34.
He had a few good stories and was a clear thinker when he got going.
He was the one telling me about that cabby that got a million Ks out of his gas powered AU Falcon cab and never had a spanner on it aside from normal servicing.
Actually I don't think that was one of the nephews original ideas. I think he got the idea from the "Bush Mechanics" series about the Aboriginal guys in the NT or WA that had all sorts of ideas to get themselves and their vehicles out of a sticky situation out back
Cheers, Bruce
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Reply By: Bushranger1 - Tuesday, May 10, 2011 at 17:38
Tuesday, May 10, 2011 at 17:38
Hi Ray
I have a 2004 BA falcon wagon Egas.
Just clocked 280,000 km & have not had a single problem with it. I do lots of interstate work hence the high km. It has fuel consumption showing 12.6 litres per 100 km showing on the computer. Sure its the old technology but its been faultless.
Prior to this vehicle I had an EF wagon with duel fuel. Had a few problems with it & the economy was no where near as good as my dedicated gas BA Falcon.
Make sure you regularly change the coolant with good quality fluid & the oil too & I bet you get many years of good service.
Cheers
Stu
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Follow Up By: Bushranger1 - Tuesday, May 10, 2011 at 17:39
Tuesday, May 10, 2011 at 17:39
Sorry typo. My previous wagon was an EL not EF
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Follow Up By: Member - Bruce C (NSW) - Tuesday, May 10, 2011 at 17:59
Tuesday, May 10, 2011 at 17:59
Hi Stu,
How does the BA compare with the EL power wise. I believe the BA is a much better tow vehicle, is this correct ??.
I had an EL but it was struggling with my van on the back, that is why I went to a cruiser.
Cheers, Bruce.
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Follow Up By: Bushranger1 - Tuesday, May 10, 2011 at 18:28
Tuesday, May 10, 2011 at 18:28
Hi Bruce,
The Egas Barra straight-six 4.0 litre DOHC VCT found in the BA is rated at 150kw. I think the petrol BA is rated at 180kw.
Not sure what the EL output was on gas but it certainly felt less than my current EGas BA.
Of course the other thing that was addressed on the Barra engine was the head gasket problems associated with the EL engine.
Cheers
Stu
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Follow Up By: Road Warrior - Wednesday, May 11, 2011 at 16:15
Wednesday, May 11, 2011 at 16:15
The twin cam Barra engine, especially the latest one, is one of the strongest engines around. There are a bunch of loonies over east who have screwed 1000hp out of the turbo XR6 version!
If you are prepared to wait - in June the new LPG engine is coming out and its going to be a ripper. More power and torque than the petrol engine.
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Reply By: Member - Bruce C (NSW) - Tuesday, May 10, 2011 at 17:49
Tuesday, May 10, 2011 at 17:49
Hi Ray,
A million cabbies can't be wrong.
You already are an LPG convert mate so there is nothing we can tell you that you probably don't already know about LPG. If the alloy headed vehicle has already been set up for LPG then there are no problems.
The late model Fords have a very good reputation as a tow vehicle and the size of van you are talking about should not present a problem I would suggest.
I am a firm believer of dual fuel so that you have both bases covered when touring away from the more settled areas. But to each his own.
Cheers, Bruce.
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Follow Up By: BrigalowO - Thursday, May 12, 2011 at 03:20
Thursday, May 12, 2011 at 03:20
Purchased a smick 2008 Falcon BF dual fuel ute yesterday in
Sydney and drove 157k's back to Maitland.
It has the injected system, has plenty of power, and fuel consumption was a miserly 9.25 litres per 100 kilometres.
I am very impressed especially as I only used 17.1 litres @ 0.64cents per litre!
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Follow Up By: Member - Bruce C (NSW) - Thursday, May 12, 2011 at 11:18
Thursday, May 12, 2011 at 11:18
Hi BrigalowO,
Good to hear that you have had a win with your purchase.
If Ford are putting this level of investment into their vehicles gas technology then it only bodes
well for the future of LPG in this country.
If they increase the price of gas with the older technology going around at the moment no one will use it. Gas has to be just over half the price of diesel to be competitive with diesel.
Cheers, Bruce.
| At home and at ease on a track that I know not and
restless and lost on a track that I know. HL.Lifetime Member
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