Landcruiser Gas/Chip/supercharge

Submitted: Monday, Jun 06, 2011 at 07:34
ThreadID: 86786 Views:9252 Replies:8 FollowUps:5
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Hi All,

We have a 2000 model 100 series Landcruiser Petrol. Now I know all of you will say buy a diesel but we want to keep our girl.

So we are going on a working/travelling holiday for 2/3 years or longer who knows. Fuel is a large expense and we want to reduce this.

Anyone who could offer advice or experience with the SVI LPG system and should we look at adding a chip or supercharge to give us more grunt to pull around a 25ft full height caravan and 3.7mtr tinny on the roof of cruiser. Yes we will be at 3.5 tonne and are so confused on upgrading the performance of our car.

All info will be great.

Thanks CJ.
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Reply By: Robin Miller - Monday, Jun 06, 2011 at 08:36

Monday, Jun 06, 2011 at 08:36
Hard to give real advice without knowing whole senario CJ.

How many km would you expect to do - what is current fuel usage -
so how much could you potentially save agianst cost of changeover ?

Driving style - driving at 80 instead of 110 - big fuel difference.

You need to know all of these to point yourself in right direction.

No doubt the diesel version uses around a 1/3rd less fuel but you still
have to pay for the other 2/3rd.

No doubt also that the diesel would not pull it as fast and you have
mentioned that you could use more power.
The net cost of supercharger will be greater as you will get little fuel savings.

The chip does nothing touring - on petrols they work on the open loop ( heavy throttle) ?

I presume yours is an auto (?) - great for getting of the line but uses up to
20% more fuel than manual version.

Gas system will give you a little more torque for towing and will save on fuel
but it needs to be done right and your engine needs to be in good condition.

I only know 1 person who had your car - it was on gas and never went right
and he had gas removed and is happier now.

The caravan looks like a major load - could you convert to lightweight camper trailer with tinny on it.

Love big powerful petrols here - we go lots of places and our fuel bill is lower than many others -
Why ? because we tow nothing , have no bull bar , don't have big fat tyres
and would die if we had to have a roof rack.
Robin Miller

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Follow Up By: vk1dx - Monday, Jun 06, 2011 at 10:46

Monday, Jun 06, 2011 at 10:46
Like Robin said. We need more info. What type of travel. Towing (trailer/van), mountainous, desert and so on.

However a word on gas. One of our sons had gas in his Paj. He got rid of it because he couldn't guarantee that he could get gas where we all wanted to go. We will drive the CSR one day. He wouldn't have been able to join us. He now has a diesel GU Patrol.

Phil
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Reply By: stew1978 - Monday, Jun 06, 2011 at 12:21

Monday, Jun 06, 2011 at 12:21
I have a 2002 model 100 series and had it converted to Gas a few years back. Best thing I ever did. Saves me a heap. I would guess about 30% cheaper that petrol.

Yes you can't get gas everywhere. In those circumstances just use petrol.

I have a 110L gas tank where the spare wheel was mounted at the back. I lost the petrol sub tank when I did this. However I was able to replace the 90L main tank with a 145 main tank from a mob down in Melbourne I think.

Just remember to run a tank of petrol through the engine every now and then to keep everything in working order.

AnswerID: 456573

Follow Up By: Chris J1 - Monday, Jun 06, 2011 at 12:32

Monday, Jun 06, 2011 at 12:32
thanks so much do you know what system you had fitted?

if you had your time again would you fit the two tank option under the sidesteps and keep your other petrol tank if you were travelling?

Thanks CJ.
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Reply By: Chris J1 - Monday, Jun 06, 2011 at 12:28

Monday, Jun 06, 2011 at 12:28
Sorry very new at this.

Ok currently touring around 2.5 tonne do 25 litres/100klms.

It is a straight 6, manual.

We are looking at ordering a 25ft full height Montana caravan.

Travelling the whole of Australia as working around Oz for the next 3 years or so.

Mainly highway work. We like to travel the speed limit.

We will venture to other remote regions but if not suitable for van will leave it in lock up and take the tent.

Want comfort as home schooling two little ones and lets face it this will be our home selling the one bolted to the ground.

Will try to stay in as many free camps as possible but more than likely when working will base ourselves in caravan parks.

The engine is in excellant order and have owned her since new always well maintained and looked after. Just noticed she is struggling up hills with large load and still has low klms not worth giving up was happy to keep her till she died if could get a good LPG fitted in Brisbane and improve her pull power.

Any suggestions would be great.

Thanks CJ.
AnswerID: 456575

Reply By: Member - michael H (NSW) - Monday, Jun 06, 2011 at 19:21

Monday, Jun 06, 2011 at 19:21
Hi Chris J1,
I had my 2002 1FZ manual Petrol Supercharged recently and the words "Supercharge" and "Economy" should never be used in the same sentence :-)
But you do get more grunt, I have only done about 2000 odd K's with it and I am very happy with the results.
I went this way cause upgrading vehicles would be about 20 odd thousand $(Turbo diesel 100 series) as opposed to 5 odd thousand $
Hope this helps

Cheers Michael
AnswerID: 456626

Reply By: Member - Bruce C (NSW) - Monday, Jun 06, 2011 at 19:32

Monday, Jun 06, 2011 at 19:32
Hi Chris,
I had my 80 series petrol 1FZ FE converted to dual fuel and I would not hesitate recommending it to anyone else. I kept meticulous fuel consumption records for that vehicle both towing 2.2 tonne van and not towing.

The fuel consumption on gas worked out the same dollar value as a diesel towing a similar van. You will use more litres of gas but it is cheaper to buy than petrol or diesel.
Compared with petrol you will get your money back, for the conversion, from the savings in about 18 months to 2.5 years depending on the mileage you do. Don't forget that the government is giving subsidies for the conversion. I think it is about $1500 and is organized through Centrelink

Personally I would keep the 105 series vehicle you have and convert it to dual fuel.
Little to no power loss and a whole lot cheaper to run. You won't regret it.

A factory turbo diesel that you would be happy with (100 series) would cost around $35,000 at best and much more for a really good one. Please note that the turbo diesel 100 series was fitted with the inferior independent front suspension and a weaker front diff, so I am advised.

Hope this helps, Bruce.
At home and at ease on a track that I know not and
restless and lost on a track that I know. HL.

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Follow Up By: 3 Boys and a Lady - Wednesday, Jun 08, 2011 at 23:47

Wednesday, Jun 08, 2011 at 23:47
Hi Bruce,

Thanks so much for your information I think we r going to keep our girl and put gas on her but the 2 tank option so we still have our 2 tanks of petrol. We r just trying to find out more info about a piggy back modual for more power. Do you think it would help?

Thanks
CJ.
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Follow Up By: Member - Bruce C (NSW) - Thursday, Jun 09, 2011 at 11:20

Thursday, Jun 09, 2011 at 11:20
Hi Chris,
I have not heard of people modifying the electronic injection on petrol landcruisers but that does not mean that it is not done, it only means I don't get let out very often, LOL

I read that in America they did not have that many diesel Landcruisers as petrol was cheap and the petrol cruisers were therefore more popular so supercharging the petrol units was also more popular. I know nothing more than that and cannot say if it was good or bad.

When you tow a heavy vehicle behind you, as you are intending, then you will have major performance loss but then you have to drive the cruiser like a truck. Just drop back a gear or 2 and let the engine do its work, meaning , keep the engine in its torque band without pushing it and let it grind its way up that steep hill. This may mean pulling it back to first gear in the auto box and keeping it there till the top of the climb is reached. These are very good vehicles and can do a very good job of what you are intending. A diesel might do a better job but at what cost.
From my investigations the auto box is stronger than the manual gearbox so there is little or no benefit in going that way as the loses through the auto are minimal. In fact I have read somewhere that the auto was more economical but only just.

If you do not overtax the engine it will last a great deal longer. On the flat road your cruiser will do a very good job with your intended load.

A good friend of mine has a petrol 80 series, same motor as yours, and a V8 100 series and she said that on the highway she got better economy out of the V8 but around town the six was better. Mind you they were not towing miles as all she ever carried was six kids and all the gear required for that. But that was here experience.

I may not have shad much more light on the problem but that is as much as I know.
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.

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Reply By: TerraFirma - Monday, Jun 06, 2011 at 23:20

Monday, Jun 06, 2011 at 23:20
Mate of mine has a 100 series on SVI LPG , no chip. Was towing a 2 tonne boat down to Portland during the week and said his guage was nudging 28L/100KM which shocked him. So whilst the gas is cheaper to buy the range goes out the door when towing. No big deal if you don't mind filling up more often.
AnswerID: 456654

Reply By: Member - Bob the,01 - Wednesday, Jun 08, 2011 at 18:13

Wednesday, Jun 08, 2011 at 18:13
G'day Chris, I own a 1999 cruiser GXL manual, 4.5 petrol supercharged,and has gas vapor injection, the gas tank is installed inside the car on the left hand side,it's 95 litres usable gas,then there's a drawer/storage system and fridge slide cavity,with a parcel shelf on top which is just above the height of the tailgate when closed,still have 145 litres petrol,and spare wheel under the car. Also has a roof rack permanent,The 95 litres of gas gives me 420 kms travel and same amount of power as on petrol,95 litres of petrol gives me 560kms,mostly highway driving, It has 32 inch BFG A/Ts. I don't tow, the power is just fantastic.! I set the cruise control at just under 100kph and it's like hills don't exist,it seems to do it so easy. Supercharged by bullet... Cheers, hope this helps.
AnswerID: 456804

Follow Up By: 3 Boys and a Lady - Wednesday, Jun 08, 2011 at 23:43

Wednesday, Jun 08, 2011 at 23:43
Hi Bob,

Thank you so much for your info. Would you have considered a piggy back modual on gas would give you the same results as your supercharge?

Thanks
CJ.
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Reply By: Member - Bob the,01 - Thursday, Jun 09, 2011 at 10:04

Thursday, Jun 09, 2011 at 10:04
I don't think so. A chip in a petrol engine won't give you a 50% power increase like a supercharger does. cheers.
AnswerID: 456863

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