LPG quality

[DoubleChevron]

Hi Guys,

has anyone noticed varying performance depending on where you fill with LPG? I reckon the last couple of times I've filled up at Apco, it's run very poorly... I reckon they must be mixing way too much "other" gasses in with the propane and dropping the line pressure down to the point where it effects the performance

I think I'll just avoid filling up at apco in the future.

seeya,
Shane L.

[bee utey]

Yep, some auto LPG is basically any old rubbish the supplier can dump on the unsuspecting end user. That's why I prefer major brand name LPG, e.g. BP. Summer and winter mixes vary a lot in their propane/butane mix ratio so there are variations between batches and this affects the ideal air/fuel ratio for your engine. Self tuning gas systems tend to cope better as they read the exhaust O2 sensors.

It's one of the things that keeps me in business, cleaning out converters and injectors of mysterious sticky substances from lowest price LPG purchases...

[Hamish3300]

Over many years, and many laps of Aus we have found significant differences in quality of LPG - up to 100% increase in fuel consumption when filling up with remote location LPG (especially in Northern WA). We have also found significantly better running with 'name' brand suppliers in major centres. On crossing the Nullabour many time we always found that that the LPG was of a very poor quality anywhere between Norseman and Port Augusta - don't know why or what, but the car would run poorly and consume significantly more for the same speed / load. Just my musings........

[crackers]

Back when we had the Falcon (eighteen months gone now), we used to notice dramatic variations in power, anything from 'wow' to 'FFS'. Never kept track of economy but some fills the stuff seemed to disappear as though there was a hole in the tank.

Yeah, it varies.
No, it shouldn't.
Bet the good stuff goes overseas.

[DeeJay]

Now that I have retired from 25 years in the LPG industry, I can say that Shell at Lara would sell off "off spec" LPG to lesser distributors. They- the purchaser- would blend it IE put it in a huge tank with other LPG and then distribute it out.
No doubt this happens in other states.