300Tdi Diesel Gas Review

[zuno555]

Gday all. Yet another Diesel Gas Review

*** Warning here - lots of reading (ah, waffle haha) but I like to give as much info as I can to people considering a Diesel Gas install

I have a 96 Disco 300Tdi Auto, which I wanted to put on Diesel Gas before I even bought the car (I had all mods planned and costed prior to building up the car - Build thread link - Camo Discovery 1 Build)

So finally I travelled across to Adelaide and got Bee Utey to install a system.

Its early days yet (3 tanks) but I think I am safe in saying its well worth it and would very highly recommend anyone thinking of doing a dgas install to give bee utey a buzz! His work is of the highest quality and he certainly knows his stuff! Glowing praise done

Anyways I am a numbers person and have logged every tank of fuel put in the disco since purchase, along with speedo corrected kms and fuel consumption etc. Prior to gas I was getting 12.2l/100km on easy 100kmh freeway driving, loaded or empty. This is with 33" muddies, lifted, roof rack, bar and winch, etc etc. Not such a bad figure, but stock standard on 29" all terrains I got 7.9l/100, so all the mods greatly affected fuel economy and power.

Bee utey's systems are user tweakable - sensitivity and gas flow adjustments. I have only played with the gas flow valve so far, here are my findings.

All fuel numbers are in litres/100km, and adjusted correctly for speedo error.

Gas on FULL - Diesel 9.9 Gas 3.5
Gas on HALF - Diesel 10.8 Gas 1.7
Gas on 3/4 - Diesel 9.0 Gas 2.9

So far the last setting is the most economical, with easier cruising and more overtaking power (haha in a 300tdi )when the foot is put down. The engine is still burning roughly the same amount of fuel, but of course gas is cheaper than diesel and it gives the diesel a much better burn rate, increasing efficiency and power.

On FULL gas, keeping the accelerator constant pressure, the gas gives a full 2lbs extra boost and you can feel the car surge with the extra power. On 3/4, I get around 1lb extra boost which is still noticeable.

Prior to DGas, at 100kmh I was on 10lbs boost with EGT's around 450*.
With Gas on at 100kmh, I am on 8-9lbs boost with EGT's around 400*.

So basically the car is producing more power with less throttle, thus increasing fuel economy. However if you floor it, obviously you reach your max boost sooner and EGT's skyrocket, but its easy to just back off a touch to keep them under 700* (pre-turbo temp) or whatever safe temp you determine.

These findings are almost identical to the Diesel Gas websites 300Tdi Defender example, but bee uteys system is around $2000 cheaper The Diesel Gas website also has a complicated explanation on $$$ saved per tank of fuel, and after cross checking with my figures they are about correct. You will save between $20-28 PER TANK over the life of your car. This is on current diesel and gas prices.

My payback time after the rebate and including fuel costs to adelaide and back is under two years. Keep in mind EcoShot or Diesel Gas Australia prices are WAY higher and payback would be forever haha.

Immediate benefits are more power, increased range per tank (I have gone from 700kms to 900kms per tank), cleaner burning of diesel = less smoke out the back unless flooring it and cleaner oil (yet to test that out).

NEGATIVES / CONS

So far I am burning more gas than I thought, so I would run out of gas before running out of diesel. I was going to try and get the balance the same, so 85litres diesel = 20 litres of gas. BUT, its actually makes more $$ sense to have a higher burn of gas and lower diesel due to price difference. I was thinking of putting twin 20litre tanks in, but cost would have been a fair bit higher. On a previous thread bee utey said you can carry a 9ltr gas bottle with adapter and fill it up from that.

(please comment on this - forgive my ignorance but wont the pressures equalise and you would end up with 4.5ltrs in each tank?? I don't know how gas tanks and pressures work)

Well thats about it for the negs, so not much at all! However, an in cab electronic adjustment for gas flow would be nice! When towing and coming up to a hill select full gas flow, on flat cruising select 75% gas flow etc

My car has a 2.5" body lift, so this made it easier to raise the tank against the bottom of the floor, and to use chassis mounted brackets for the tank. The bottom of the tank is about equal with the chassis rails, so I haven't reduced ground clearance or ramp over angle which is fantastic.

FINALLY, PICS!!!















Where I camped the night in Adelaide Hills.... PS - Those 2 second pop up tents are GREAT - highly recommend them as well!





Many thanks again to bee utey for the top job and the big day you put in installing it!

Cheers

[big guy]

I totally concur.

I have similar system by same installer, who by the way has done 3 conversions for me now.

I recovered the install cost after rebate with in a few weeks and the extra power is so very handy.

I also run on 50% mostly, only when towing do I crank it and its brilliant, like another turbo spooling up in terms of more power.

Good review.

[PAT303]

My Tdi has had a new lease on life since I fitted D/gas three years ago.Others on this forum have gone just short of calling me a liar about it but after three years I know it works. Pat

[85 county]

Oh the great D gas debate Great isint it

same installer put LPG on my NA isuzu county

brilliant, thats all, one word brilliant

[zuno555]

The mechanic where I have spent many thousands of $$$ was advising me strongly against it. As I have already had the fuel pump tweaked he said I would get either no or barely any power increase. Also brought up the issue of filling up two tanks all the time.

However, besides researching the flash websites with big claims a few things helped me decide to go ahead:

Jock the rock went from Tassie to Adelaide (!) for the install and his feedback was very positive.

Pat I have seen your positive comments in numerous threads.

And I have read a lot of other positive comments from people on this forum.

I didn't actually see big guys thread until after the install, (even tho I searched for diesel gas on here, don't know how I missed it!) but its good to see his system is going strong and the results are close to mine.

The issue of filling up twice isn't much of an issue at all. It takes barely a minute to attach the nozzle and fill the small tank, and its even better when your local servo has the LPG and Diesel next to each other!

Just had a quick 70km round trip on the freeway, included a few long gentle gradients, and without flooring it I could actually accelerate! (Before anyone gets smart that was going UP not DOWN haha) Before I could *just* hold my speed. It makes the car much more enjoyable to drive, tho it can still get better of course, thinking of water intercooler to lower air temps more, and a bigger straight through exhaust, tho if I get a 3" system I will probably put a muffler on it!

Basically I owe a big thanks to the forum and all its contributors, I will definitely be subscribing soon! Helped me out heaps since getting my disco.

Thanks and cheers.

[big guy]

Zuno
Keep an eye on that header tank too, the original ones are prone to splitting on the join.

Enjoy.

[peter5111]

What sort of $$ figures for the install ?
Is it worthwhile / safe to install on a TD5?
Does the govt gas rebate apply to Diesels ?

[zuno555]

Gday Peter,

A Diesel Gas Australia or Eco Shot install I guess is around $3-3.5k. But you can get a *much* cheaper and better install from a gas fitter who knows what they are doing. I travelled interstate for my install, 1500km round trip, and wouldn't hesitate to do again.

I can't answer on the TD5, but from what I have seen the system can go onto any diesel with similar results. A chipped/ecu TD5 and dgas would be awesome!

Gas $1500 rebate does apply. Govt is gradually reducing the rebate year by year. Once the paperwork is submitted, money in your bank within 2 weeks.

PM bee utey from Adelaide for cost/tech questions.

Cheers.

[p38arover]

What sort of $$ figures for the install ?
Is it worthwhile / safe to install on a TD5?
Does the govt gas rebate apply to Diesels ?

Td5? See http://www.gastek.com.au/cgi-bin/eng...e.html&Rec=239

Yes, the rebate does apply for diesel - except the 130. The rebate applies for vehicles below 3500kg GVM. It used to be up to 3500kg GVM. The 130 has a GVM of 3500kg.

A Diesel Gas Australia or Eco Shot install I guess is around $3-3.5k. But you can get a *much* cheaper and better install from a gas fitter who knows what they are doing.

There is also Diesel Gas Technology aka GasTek which, I am told by them, is the only one approved in Victoria. Authorities in Vic may require others to be removed. See Dieselgas Injection Systems by Gas Tek

Gas Tek Global is the only company producing ADR79/02 emission certified kits for modern vehicles. This makes us the best choice for all post 2003 diesel vehicles as it is illegal to use a non emission certified kit on a post 2003 vehicle. Using a non certified kit can void your new car warranty, insurance and could lead to further legal complications.

[bee utey]

I am aware of the emission rules. Eco-Shot also do emission certified kits, sadly they don't do TD5 engines yet. I fitted one of their kits to an '05 Rodeo, and it ran as expected. Anyone in Melbourne contemplating a post 2003 model TD5 should contact them direct. I believe the emissions testing is quite simple now that an approved emissions testing facility is open. Previously Ford Australia had the only approved diesel emissions testing facility and they weren't interested in helping small conversion companies. I have done one pre 2003 TD5 and it ran fine on my non-approved system.