LPG max tank size under D3?

[AntonP]

I have searched for a while and cant find an answer. Can anyone tell me the max LPG tank size (water volume) they have been able to fit in place of the spare wheel on the D3?

Im seriously considering a 4.4 and see this as a way to increase the range and economy, but im not sure how much usable space there is under there

Cheers

[scarry]

Do they make a kit for that model,i have never heard of one?

If underneath no doubt spare will have to be relocated.

[p38arover]

It should be possible to fit a toroidal tank. I'd guess something around 65 litres. I had a small 54 litre toroidal in my P38A Rangie wheel well. Maybe something from the Manchester tanks range, e.g.,:

MANCHESTER.OUTSIDE..CYLINDER.....CAPACITY....VALVE .....OTHER
NUMBER.........DIA (MM)..LENGTH.....WATER.LPG...ANGLE
26754.4----------650...........240.........63L....50L..Internal.... ....Toroidal Cylinder
270079.4--------720............270.........90L....72L..Internal... .....Toroidal Cylinder

Try a PM to bee utey (LPG specialist) on this forum.

[AntonP]

Thanks guys, it would need to be at least 80L to be worthwhile so Ill shoot him a PM now.

[p38arover]

That second toroidal tank I listed is 90 litres water capacity, 72 litres LPG.

[AntonP]

Do you know if that tank fits though?

I messaged him and thought id share the response below in case anyone is searching for the same

Gday Anton,

To be honest I've never done a D3, only had one in for a tune. Since there are no longer any LPG tanks being manufactured in Oz you'll just have to find a used one and get it retested. The most common tank suitable for the job would be the one made for BA to BF wagons, about 68 litres LPG capacity. A Ford wrecker I sent a friend to recently told him that they scrap every tank that comes in, they keep none.

[bikeman]

I know its a long way away but Graeme Cooper Automotive had a toroidal tank from an early L322, about 80l gas. Not sure if it still available. I can ask if you are interested.
Cheers,
Phil.

[loanrangie]

Is an LPG conversion worth the cost ?

[AntonP]

Thanks bikeman but not yet, I havent bought the D3 yet but its looking promising for a 4.4 and want to know how viable a conversion would be to increase the range.

[Pedro_The_Swift]

Is an LPG conversion worth the cost ?

82cpl here...

[scarry]

82cpl here...


And it’s getting harder to find garages with it.

Most don’t want it,to many compliance’s,low volume and margin these days.

Most regional areas,if it’s available,it is overpriced.

[bikeman]

And it’s getting harder to find garages with it.

Most don’t want it,to many compliance’s,low volume and margin these days.

Most regional areas,if it’s available,it is overpriced.

In Bourke a couple of months LPG was 89.9 and 98 was $1.69....

[scarry]

In Bourke a couple of months LPG was 89.9 and 98 was $1.69....

It’s been 88 to 89 cents/ litre here up to a few months ago,now around 82 to 84.

That’s very cheap for regional area,it’s often around $1.20 at least out of town.

[bikeman]

It’s been 88 to 89 cents/ litre here up to a few months ago,now around 82 to 84.

That’s very cheap for regional area,it’s often around $1.20 at least out of town.

I was surprised how “cheap” fuel was. Comparable to Sydney at the time.

[loanrangie]

But what is the conversion cost, would have to be in the region of 3k and if you are getting mid to high teens/100 (15-20/100) is it really worth it ?

[bikeman]

To install a completely new unit, sequential injection, tank, software etc, I would think it would be closer to 5k... I'm guessing but when you include labour etc.

[scarry]

To install a completely new unit, sequential injection, tank, software etc, I would think it would be closer to 5k... I'm guessing but when you include labour etc.

The factory fitted Landi Renso sequential injection in our work vans cost $4.5K,5 yrs ago.I think it was $4K 10 yrs ago.

Its a very good system,not one issue on two of the older vans that did over 300 000K's.

They are also very fuel efficient for LPG,with virtually no power reduction.

The later vans are diesel,as we have had difficulty finding LPG garages at times.

[AntonP]

Worth it? Im considering it for the extra range and for the environmental benefits.

For extra range I could get an aux tank installed for $1400? When you deduct that cost it becomes more attractive

[loanrangie]

From all accounts the V8 isn't too bad on fuel unless you tow or do a lot of slow off road driving.

[AntonP]

Another advantage is having a complete secondary fuelling system. Mitigates the risk of
-a punctured tank
-a faulty fuel pump / relay
-a problem with the regulator or injectors

All of which are possibilities

I know its not all upsides, but usually when people talk about gas its just about the fuel economy

[bikeman]

When I did mine, the maid reasons we’re economy and environment. Plus and extra 70 litres travel. I had been worth it but I did mine a few years ago.

[Tombie]

Worth it? Im considering it for the extra range and for the environmental benefits.

For extra range I could get an aux tank installed for $1400? When you deduct that cost it becomes more attractive

There are no enviromental benefits to be had from LPG in this application. [smilebigeye] (Making the tanks and components, Shipping them on Vessels etc negates most of the benefits in a single vehicle)

For the extra range (sub 300km gain) and the eating up a signifcant amount of the load capacity (GVM) with the frame and tank you'll gain very little.

Then add the fact that LPG is becoming harder to find now as many service stations are actively removing their LPG infrastructure.


You will be better off either going with Jerry Cans for those longer trips or an extended fuel tank (which still eats some of your load capacity)

[AntonP]

I disagree. Assuming a 90kg tank
The embodied CO2 from energy used in the steel would be around 200kg
The fabrication might double that
And the shipping would have less than 4grams of CO2



That equals less than 100L of Petrol to offset the CO2 of the LPG tank

Add all the electronic components, the copper in the wiring, the land transport, the carbon overheads of the retailer and the installer, and you are still going to be environmentally friendly within the first 200L of petrol saved

Lpg makes 33% less CO2 than petrol for the same energy output

So after leas than 8 refills you are doing better than not converting

Plus you reduce emissions locally as well

This also assumed there was no green energy in any stage of the system. Unlikely these days

[PhilipA]

I disagree. Assuming a 90kg tank
The embodied CO2 from energy used in the steel would be around 200kg
The fabrication might double that
And the shipping would have less than 4grams of CO2

We are talking about a 2.6 tonne 4x4 probably over 3 tonnes when loaded aren't we?

Regards PhilipA

[AntonP]

I think the suggestion was that the environmental footprint of the lpg system was higher than the environmental benefit of the system (as is the case with electric cars)

I assumed 90kg for the lpg tank to do a quick calc as the other components are minor and was bundled into an assumption at the end


We are talking about a 2.6 tonne 4x4 probably over 3 tonnes when loaded aren't we?

Regards PhilipA

[Tombie]

The footprint is larger on the whole now as the volumes aren’t there.
The entire LPG supply chain has now shrunk - so the trucking of the gas, the offset by volume etc aren’t there as much anymore.

And a 30% lower emission per litre is offset by nearly double the lpg consumption.

Using “emissions” as a justification for a conversion are really not the key factor. FI vehicles still cold start on Petrol, this is when their emissions are greater etc.

To quantify it all takes a lot of work.



If you want LPG then go for it, the added systems on the vehicle will just be another complexity and additional weight that comes off your available payload. Anything that hangs lower than an Aux Fuel tank will reduce capability offroad so keep that in mind when choosing tank size under the floor.


Having had some very high powered LPG vehicles it was viable, but no longer is. Even here in a rural city - we now only have one source - so a fill requires a 20min detour just to get LPG. And at $1.00+ a litre it’s on or with petrol for consumption cost per km.

Your call...

[PhilipA]

I think the suggestion was that the environmental footprint of the lpg system was higher than the environmental benefit of the system (as is the case with electric cars)

And I was jokingly suggesting that if you cared about emissions you would not be driving a D3 but perhaps a Jimny with a trailer on the odd occasion.
Regards PhilipA

[p38arover]

And a 30% lower emission per litre is offset by nearly double the lpg consumption.


I disagree with your double the consumption figure based on my experience with 13 years of driving my dual fuel P38A. Yes, consumption was higher (about 15%) - not so high that it wasn't worth it.

My P38A originally had a venturi LPG system (no ECU) but that was later changed to an ECU-controlled injected system.

[scarry]

I disagree with your double the consumption figure based on my experience with 13 years of driving my dual fuel P38A. Yes, consumption was higher (about 15%) - not so high that it wasn't worth it.

My P38A originally had a venturi LPG system (no ECU) but that was later changed to an ECU-controlled injected system.

Same for our vans,consumption increase is actually less than10%,over fuel,and that’s over many vehicles and many years.

The earlier LPG systems definitely were not as efficient as the latest injection systems.

[rusty05]

[bigsmile]
In Bourke a couple of months LPG was 89.9 and 98 was $1.69....

89.9 is good price for western nsw.


i dont think you going to get that big tank under there.
70-75 is probably the best you will get

[bikeman]

[bigsmile]

89.9 is good price for western nsw.


i dont think you going to get that big tank under there.
70-75 is probably the best you will get

I have an 80 litre tank, 70 odd refill. It is in the rear of the car not under. It replaces the bass driver which I have moved to the left side of the car.

[AntonP]

What model car is that bikeman?

I have now bought the car (V8 D3) and drove it across the nullabor. Fuel economy wasnt great as expected but the range was the annoying part. 82L (or therabouts) is not big enough for these cars. He benefits of LPG seem to stack up for me so Im going to get some prices this week for the install.

I was consistently seeing lpg available on the trip and around where I live. One place in Adelaide had it for 75c with regular unleaded being 169 and the required premium unleaded being about 185 (possibly to do with the price fixing of fuel in Adelaide)

[rusty05]

What model car is that bikeman?

I have now bought the car (V8 D3) and drove it across the nullabor. Fuel economy wasnt great as expected but the range was the annoying part. 82L (or therabouts) is not big enough for these cars. He benefits of LPG seem to stack up for me so Im going to get some prices this week for the install.

I was consistently seeing lpg available on the trip and around where I live. One place in Adelaide had it for 75c with regular unleaded being 169 and the required premium unleaded being about 185 (possibly to do with the price fixing of fuel in Adelaide)

congrats, pics to show it off.

let us know how you go with the lpg install.
i too am after a d3 v8 to replace or keep the d2 v8 company.
i think I have only seen one lpg v8 d3 for sale in the last 3 years, but it had high km