I have been toying with the idea of getting a CNG kit installed in my car(maruti esteem) for sometime now, researching on CNG, cng kits and providers.
Findings
COST
Petrol cars run at Rs 3.50 to 6 with maintenance
With CNG, cars run at Rs 1 to Rs 1.50
ENGINE LIFE
Petrol is liquid and goes through a lot of travelling before it gets pumped into the engine. Thus, brings in a lot of impurities(dust etc) with it. When petrol burns inside the engine, impurities(dust etc) are left behind which reduces engine life.
CNG is in gaseous state. thus, when it burns residue(left over) are also gases which escape through the exhaust. Thus, it improves engine life.
POWER N PICKUP
Octance value is the rate at which fuel burns higher value provides better power n pickup
ocatane value Petrol 90-100
ocatane value LPG 110
ocatane value CNG 130
Thus, CNG engines should provide better power n pickup. However, we usually feel loss of power upto 10% at max with CNG, this happens cause we don’t get lamda installed with our CNG kits. lamda ensures that there is regulated supply of CNG in the engine thus providing better fuel efficiency and power.
SAFETY
In case of a mishap, petrol being a liquid would burn out completely as it has no escape route. For eg we have 1 liter of petrol and we burn it, the whole 1 liter would burn even if it is spilled over an area.
CNG is lighter than air thus in case of a mishap it would leak and disperse into air thus reducing the amount of fuel that would catch fire.
mishap happens due to faulty installation thus I took a lot of care while selecting a cng kit provider
I choose apra cng(9911511144) cause
1) Govt Approved
2) Finance facility available
3) part of the apra group(they sell around 1000 cars and service around 5000+ cars)
4) 2 yrs warranty on the kit
5) 1 yrs warranty on parts which are linked with the CNG kit
6) free pick up and drop facility
Please don’t try and save Rs. 2000-3000 on kits, you would eventually have to pay up due to faulty installation and poor quality accessories used.
Recommended Kits: BRC & Tommasaatoo(Italian kits)
Cyclinder size depends on your vehicle.