ADDITIONS AFTER USING MY LPG ALTO FOR FEW MONTHS:
This can be read as continuation of my previous review titled’LPG for Maruti Alto’ in the mouthshut website.
Well, I have run my Alto-LX car with LPG for last few months, and I have made a diary to note my observations from time to time during this period.
From my experience, I observed that:
1) Very few LPG conversion garages have full knowledge of the kits and scientific ways to ge maximum out of the kit.
2) After reading hundreds of pages on the web and discussion with foreign experts, I have gained lot of knowledge as to how to get best performance from your kit.
3) Different cars require different specification of mixer, which is never followed by the retrofitter(the person who installs the LPG kit).
I would like to share some information that may be useful to you.
LOSS OF POWER / LOW MILAGE:
1) If after fitting your LPG kit(without disturbing your petrol settings) you experience that there is severe loss of power, there are two reasons for it. One is that the LPG mixture is not rich to generate enough push, or its not burning fully. To improve this, you can get a mixer of larger diameter installed. This will increase the quantity of LPG mixing with air to make a rich mixture, which will give more power.
2) Another cheaper way is to reduce the air flow to your mixer. You can reduce the inlet by placing a piece of rubber pipe at the place from where the air is fed. This will help make the mixture rich and will give increased milage.
LOSS OF COOLENT:
This happens because the coolent contains water+ ethyl alcohol. The vaporiser heats up and the steam from coolent escapes. This generally happens when you switch on your AC and run your car in very slow(or stationary) traffic.
JERKS WHILE RUNNING CAR / LOW PERFORMANCE:
This happens when the injectors of the MPFI engine get clogged with chemicals. To prevent this and keep your engine in best condition, you should always start your car on petrol(never start on gas). This keeps the injectors clean, and also keeps your CPU(computer) in good condition by reading its sensors for petrol settings during every start of engine. When your car gets a little warm, switch over to gas. Some kits will do this switching automatically after a delay when the engine RPM will increase.
KNOCKING WHILE FILLING-IN THE GAS:
This is common. It happens due to safety valve preventing gas to fill-in the cylinder. It happens when the cylinder I about to reach to full condition. It’s good habit not to let the gas cylinder run empty. You should fill in gas when the indicator shows red(reserve).
BEST TIME TO FILL-IN GAS:
Fill in early morning or late evenings when the atmosphere is cool. At this time gas reduces in volume and you will be able to fill-in more gas. Do not worry if you park your car in sun with full cylinder. The cylinder always has 20% of the space unfilled to accommodate the expansion of gas. In worst situation, if the gas expands over 20%, it will escape through special safety valve without causing any harm. This valve will stop outflow of gas once the pressure becomes suitable for the cylinder. So, its clear that a little gas will be thrown out, not all of it. But, such condition is very rare.
NEVER USE DOMESTIC COOKING GAS REFILL:
If is highly unsafe to use cooking gas cylinder. Its an offence. Although it is cheap(due to subsidies) but it will spoil your LPG kit and MPFI jets as it contains many other elements including carbon that will reduce the performance of your LPG kit. Due to high calorific value of cooking gas, it heats up the engine. Never ever use domestic cylinder.