I have had the conversion in my car for about 2 years now and 15,000 miles.
The revs on petrol are very erratic now, and the power is not as smooth as it once was.
Anway, I have had to take it to the garage, who suspect a burnt out valve or that the valve clearances need adjusting.
I am fearing the worst, but can anyone tell me how much it might cost to put right?
I have just installed this flashlube product that lubes the valves (gas being dry!). But it might be too little, too late!
Hoping it is fine though! I'll post anything new.
Greg
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Can anyone give advice, on the above and the product (www.autogas.co.uk/shop.php?id=1128087582 ).
Greg
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Could also be caused by blocked filter, dirt in the vapouriser or an air-leak in the induction system.
PS Couldn't get your link to work. {Link should now work. There wasn't a space left at the end between the end of the link and the closed bracket - DD}
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My Honda VTEC engine is also supposed to be vulnerable to valve seat recession, so I had it fitted just in case. I'm afraid that my own research was not conclusive; speaking to Honda owners at an LPG pump who had it converted 5 years ago. No Flashlube and no problems. My own expeience leads me to believe that problems are probably caused by bad installations. I was not at all satisfied with my conversion and am currently going through a grievance. It only takes a course to be LPG certified. That is no mechanical engineering experience required!!! My car runs lean and this leads to higher operating temperatures which can lead to premature valve seat recession. Installer keeps adjusting the system and upgrading the software, but will not entertain the idea of an air leak!! The inlet manifold is disassembled and modified to add gas injectors for the multipoint (sequential) LPG conversion. The quality of the workmanship and gaskets look very poor to me, but access to the manifold is restricted in this installation.
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One of my jobs in the past was to do with the fitting of LPG equipment-not me fitting it but looking at other conversions.From what I saw,I would say not to touch anything that is not manufacturer fitted or recommended-if you see a conversion and there are jubilee clips and scotchlok connectors used,run in the opposite direction as fast as you can.
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It looks like it will be an expensive fix. The compression is low (130 psi as oppose to 180).
Will cost about £1100. I think the car is worthless, but if I run it for another 4 years it should pay itself back.
I think the valves are burnt.
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Crossing my fingers that Flashlube really works in my Accord then! Thanks for posting, personally I wouldn't get another car converted to LPG. Got my brothers Volvo V40 converted in Poland 3/4 years ago and that was ruined too. Broke down in Germany on the autobahn 4 near Cologne and kacked myself as I pushed it to the layby in the dark with huge lorries speeding past (no lights on German motorways). ADAC man then towed me like a racing driver to the nearest Volvo garage in Duren. That wasn't pleasant either as I don't know if he realised I had no Servo! (car wouldn't run). Stayed in a local hotel where I had the best steak I've ever tasted and sampled the local brew.
Next day, Volvo garage couldn't trace the fault, said it might need a new ECU, but trailered me to an Auto Electrician who despite having posters of a smurking Michael Schumacher was very thorough and diagnosed a loose earth on the ECU. The LPG convertor tapped into the ECU and didn't screw it down basically. £330 later (not too bad, what would it've cost in England?) and I was on my way and quite suprised at how smooth LPG was. However, a few months later it started backfiring. Was told that it was because it was a single point injection system, blah, blah, blah. As I said LPG installations, mmmmn. An old VAG TDI engine and SVO for me next. I'm a sucker I know.
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The car is getting repaired. Hopefully, this will be a lesson to others. But the flashlube, plus one tank of petrol to 4 tanks of gas makes it less likely to give up.
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I have been down to another garage, and they say as I have flash lube, it shouldn't get worse. Also it might be worth ruling out other factors that might be causing the erratic idling.
The erratic idling seems to have calmed down now I have run it more on petrol.
What other things can get checked to ensure it might not just be a misfire?
The revs seem too high now. They are sticking at 1100 rpm as oppose to 900 rpm.
What other things should I look at?
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Would check or replace spark plugs as LPG is harder on the ignition system apparently. I am going to try some NGK Iridiums at about £30 a set. New leads, rotar arm, dist cap etc. Basically make sure ignition system is in tip top shape. If it still persists then you may have an air-leak in your induction system.
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i used to repair/re-build fork lift trucks for a nissan dealer, these engines are a basic petrol engine when they came to the uk they were dual fuel a simple switch for petrol/lpg we made them all LPG, my point is they never burnt any valves out these engines would do approx 250.000mls before any serious work to be done ocasionally you had to do a head gasket when they boiled!!, but all i can put it down to was the very strict servicing ie: oil changes reguarly plugs,filters inc gas filters, after all these are jap engines!!!
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And what rpm. did they go upto,nothing like in a car.
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there governed but was set to 500 rpm but would go higher, they ran very hot with wide core rads fitted to combat this, not many motorists "in my opinion" will go over 500rpm but i surley do!!!
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