Diesel LPG Fuel Delivery Solution

Motoring Channel Staff - 2/May/2007

Adelaide, South Australia — Unlike most LPG/petrol engine dual fuel systems that supply the engine with either straight petrol or liquid petroleum gas, LPG/diesel systems combine the two fuels simultaneously to improve power levels while reducing emissions. As such, it's popularity in Australia among medium and large diesel 4WDs is on the rise.

Responding to this growing demand for large-vehicle LPG systems, Diesel/Gas Australia (an Adelaide-based company) has developed an LPG injection system for diesel-powered four-wheel drives, which it claims can increase torque and power while reducing exhaust emissions and overall fuel costs.

Too good to be true? No so, says Diesel/Gas Australia's general manager Kingsley Songer: "LPG is introduced to the engine via the air intake..." and "Because LPG has a higher octane rating than diesel, the system helps diesel burn more efficiently, with more energy being extracted from it.

"The first thing people who use our system notice is that it provides more horsepower and torque - anything from 25 to 30 per cent extra for turbo engines and up to 20 per cent for naturally aspirated engines," said Mr Songer, adding that, "General driveability is improved and the extra power is especially handy for heavy-duty applications."

According to the company, the feat is achieved by improving diesel combustion via the addition of LPG Autogas and Diesel/Gas Australia's new system is an add-on rather than standalone alternative fuel system.

Mr Songer explained that one of the best things about the new system was relatively few modifications are required other than, in some cases, the exhaust having to be moved to accommodate an external LPG tank installation which preserves interior space.

"It's a non-invasive bolt-on system that runs independently of the vehicle's existing computer and fuel system. If you run out of LPG or there is a gas system malfunction, the vehicle automatically defaults to run on straight diesel again," said Kingsley Songer.

One of the main reasons many drivers are switching to LPG systems is because it is a cheaper alternative to petrol and diesel, and is widely available in Australia.

"About 20 to 25 per cent of the diesel normally used by the engine is replaced with LPG, which can achieve a 20 per cent fuel cost saving over straight diesel fuel - depending on driving style," Mr Songer said, adding that the new system will also improve the combustion process and is claimed to reduce exhaust particulate and oxides of nitrogen emissions.

"Diesel engines fitted with our system, particularly turbo diesel engines, run much cleaner. The black exhaust smoke associated with them, which is mostly unburned fuel, is almost eradicated," stated Mr Songer.

While most diesel engines have a burn rate of 75-85%, with the remainder of the diesel being burnt in the exhaust system or blown out as black smoke, Diesel/Gas Australia claims its system upgrades the burn rate to 95-98%.

While Diesel/Gas Australia is clearly onto something with its new combined diesel-LPG fuel delivery system, peak industry body LPG Australia has come out in favour of the new Southern Australian-developed system. LPG Australia industry development manager Phil Westlake had this to say about the new system: "Autogas itself burns cleaner than diesel and, when used in the Diesel/Gas system, also causes the diesel to burn more completely. It's a win-win situation from an air quality perspective."

Kingsley Songer said cleaner-burning fuel also had mechanical benefits as well as environmental ones: "Cleaner-burning diesel means less carbon contamination in the engine. You get less carbon deposit build-up so the engine components and oil stay cleaner for longer," he said.

While most of Diesel/Gas Australia's systems are installed in four-wheel drives such as the Toyota LandCruiser and Nissan Patrol, it is popular in other vehicles such as motorhomes, tractors, garbage trucks, and even harvesters.

Diesel/Gas Australia says that it's system has also proved popular with farmers for their stationary equipment such as diesel generators and irrigation pumps.

The standard Diesel/Gas Australia 4WD system costs $3850 (plus GST) to install and qualifies for the Federal Government's LPG Vehicle Scheme, which provides a $2000 grant to eligible motorists who perform LPG conversions.

To date, more than 40,000 motorists have received LPG rebates under the scheme, totalling more than $79 million since the scheme began in November 2006.

For more info on Diesel/Gas Australia's LPG-diesel systems, check out their website here.

Related Links:
- Holden VE Commodore - Dual-Fuel LPG (2006)
- LPG Rebate Scheme: Your Say (2006)
- Rising Fuel Costs: Is LPG The Answer? (2006)
- LPGautogas.com.au
- FCAI.com.au