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Autogas is the name applied to Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) for cars and other vehicles. Autogas is in a gaseous state, it changes to liquid when it is subjected to pressure. This ability to turn into a liquid state at low pressures gives Autogas an advantage over natural gas which will only turn to liquid at extremely low temperatures. Therefore with Autogas, more fuel can be stored for the same weight and volume than with natural gas. In many countries LPG for automotive used is a mixture of propane and butane gases, usually in equal proportions.

Your vehicle warranty is not voided by the installation of an LPG system. However, the vehicle manufacturer will not warrant the LPG system (unless fitted or endorsed by them) and the manufacturer may not warrant anything that is affected by having the LPG system fitted or running the vehicle on LPG. These items are covered by the LPG system supplier and installer. Extended warranty products are also available to cover the vehicle for longer periods. Please check with your installer for your warranty options.

It can be. There are two different grades or blends of LPG and they are not interchangeable. LPG Autogas that is a mixture of Propane and Butane is for automotive use only.

Yes. LPG has been used safely in India for decades. The Indian standards for LPG equipment, appliances, installation, storage and handling are amongst the world’s best. Virtually every aspect of the LPG industry is covered by an Indian Standard and may also by covered by additional State regulations.

The LPG Autogas systems in today’s modern vehicle are designed to be very safe.

They are safe in use, safe to repair and safe in a vehicle accident situation.

Autogas has an excellent safety record throughout the world, in storage, transportation and use.

In road transport Autogas is much safer to use than petrol. Autogas is stored in the vehicle, under pressure in liquid form in a specially designed tank. This tank being constructed from a thicker gauge steel than used in a petrol tank. All connections inside the car are made in a gas tight box. In the unlikely event of any leak, the gas would be vented harmlessly outside the car. In fact in crash testing an LPG tank proves to be far less likely to rupture.

An Autogas system has a number of important safety features including:

A welded steel pressure cylinder which is stress-tested to many times its normal operating pressure prior to being installed.

Two electronically controlled shut-off solenoids (on cylinder and under bonnet) which stop the flow of gas to the engine if the engine stops for any reason. Pressure relief valves, for the tank and the system, to prevent any pressure build up that may damage the system or be hazardous.

Double back-check valves to ensure gas tight filling. Sealed compartments and venting around valves and pipe-work to ensure no LPG enters the interior of the vehicle.

In fire tests, LPG tanks are less likely to explode than petrol tanks as the pressure relief valves protect them. The Queen and various government ministers have vehicles that run on Autogas - this would surely not be the case if it were unsafe.

As soon as the engine stalls or is turned off the flow of gas is stopped. The gas tank is made of steel, unlike many modern petrol tanks which are made of plastic. The gas can not spill from the tank no matter what angle the car ends up at. In the event of a serious fire then obviously it is important to vacate the vehicle and retire to a safe distance before calling the emergency services, whether or not you have a gas converted vehicle.

The dirty black smoke that we see coming from diesel vehicles is particulates and a recognised carcinogen. With an LPG Autogas equivalent, emissions of this particulate matter would be cut by up to 80%.

Using Autogas creates appreciably less carbon dioxide (CO2) than unleaded petrol. CO2 is the most significant of the greenhouse gases, causing long-term climate change. Overall tailpipe emissions can be improved by as much as 15 per cent, using LPG Autogas instead of petrol.

You save money with LPG Autogas. Autogas can be purchased for around 2/3 the cost of unleaded petrol. Retail Autogas prices move in a similar manner to petrol prices. Price fluctuations reflect the highly competitive nature of the industry, with retailers discounting product in times of low demand.

Additional costs are incurred when transporting Autogas from coastal terminals to outlets in regional inland areas. In addition, smaller volumes are transported to regional areas less frequently than in metro areas, and are reflected in the price per liter. This transport premium could be as much as five times the amount to transport the same volume of petrol to the same regional outlet.

Yes. Autogas infrastructure is well established. There are more than 1200 outlets across India and nearly half of the filling stations are in regional or rural areas.

There are a variety of different kit and tank types that will suit most makes and models of vehicles. Most petrol powered vehicles can be converted.

Petrol engines that are suitable for lead-free fuel are normally suitable for using Autogas. If you intend to convert a vehicle that only uses 4 Star Leaded Fuel, then you will need to have the valve seats replaced. In addition some older vehicles may also need the valves and valve guides replaced. Diesel engined vehicles are unsuitable for conversion.

While some systems have a slight increase in fuel consumption, this is more than offset by the lower price of Autogas, as compared to petrol.

Converting to Autogas LPG can increase the power and performance of your car especially if it is a turbo model. However, generally there is a small loss in performance, but so small you won't notice it while driving. What you will notice, compared with a diesel vehicle, is a smoother and quieter ride.

No. Autogas is a cleaner burning fuel that doesn't contain acids or leave behind carbon deposits. It can, in fact, increase the life of the engine.

Not only will your engine be in better condition, as Autogas reduces engine wear and tear, there are also an increasing number of motorists attracted by the money saving benefits of Autogas. Therefore, converting could actually increase the value of your vehicle.

Yes, with an Autogas conversion you will save money as soon as you drive away. With the price of LPG being approximately 50% less than petrol or diesel you will be filling up for approximately Rupees 2000 instead of Rupees 3340 to travel the same distance.

Autogas will take you 90% of the mileage that you would travel on the same quantity of petrol. For example if 1 liter of petrol took you 12 Kms. then 1 liter of Autogas would take you 11 Kms.

No, typical road test figures for an LPG powered car would read as follows: Peugeot 406 - Top Speed on Gas 188 Kms per hour, 191 Kms per hour on petrol, Acceleration 0 - 62 mph on gas 13.3 seconds and 12.8 on petrol.

when the car runs out of LPG it will automatically switch to petrol. This is hardly noticeable and causes no damage to your engine. The car will normally start cold on petrol and then quickly switch over to gas when the engine is warm, it is therefore important to always have a little bit of petrol.

No, you do not have to adjust your driving style. Cold starting is not a problem. The engine performance is almost exactly the same as with petrol. There is no spilling and no possibility of theft or pilfering of the fuel. Engine noise is low and you'll even be driving in a more environmentally friendly manner.

No, you need full training to install the systems. KRGFI are professional motor engineers and have been fully trained in the safe installation of the Autogas systems.

In India there were more than 1200 Autogas filling stations. The Indian Auto LPG Coalition (www.iac.org.in) has list of known filling stations that is updated on a regular basis. Bulk users can have their own tanks installed.

Refuelling a vehicle with LPG takes roughly the same time as with petrol or diesel. The LPG is metered in by the liter through a similar pumping system with a one way valve incorporated into the filler for safety.

There are couples.

a) The first one is the relatively limited number of Retro fitment stations and now this is improving at an amazing rate.

b) The other disadvantage is the size of the gas tank. However, by careful planning, loss of boot space can be kept to a minimum in hatch back vehicles by using a doughnut shaped tank fitted into the spare wheel well. Although this means you have a wheel in the load area, you can still fold the rear seat.

Yes. Major Car Manufacturers like Maruti, Hyundai, Chevrolet have OEM fitted cars.

LPG is one of the most environmentally friendly automotive fuels around, offering a tremendous advantage in towns and cities where pollution is a problem. With an increasing need to protect the world we live in, it’s good news to find that Autogas offers an option to help reduce harmful emissions.

Tests have shown that Autogas emits:

• 10-12% less CO2 than petrol.
• 53% less NOx than petrol.
• 120 times less small particle emissions than diesel.

Commonly, Autogas is utilized as part of a dual-fuel system with petrol. Vehicles are fitted with both petrol and LPG tanks. The great benefit of a dual fuel system is that when an Autogas filling station is not available, you can switch your vehicle back to petrol at the click of a button. Having two fuel tanks also allows you to increase the miles covered between filling up.

Most conversions put the LPG tank in the spare wheel well of the car so as not to reduce boot space. If you are unlucky enough to get a puncture we can supply fully approved tyre foam. This reflates the tyre and seals the puncture until you can get it properly repaired.

It is possible to remove the LPG system from your car if you wish to do so at some point.

LPG cars fuelled by Autogas provide a number of environmental benefits – cleaner air, less CO2 and a reduced amount of particulate emissions.

Converting a vehicle to LPG means making a significant contribution to a greener planet. LPG emits less carbon dioxide than petrol, and less nitrogen oxide and fewer particulates than diesel.

Lower Emissions with LPG Vehicle emissions are recognised as one of the main contributors to climate change, but LPG is widely recognised for its inherent environmental benefits.

Autogas offers an immediate reduction of up to 15% in CO2 emissions compared to a petrol-powered vehicle, while up to 80% of damaging particulates are eliminated by replacing a diesel engine with an LPG fueled equivalent.

A further benefit is that LPG vehicles operate relatively more cleanly when the engine is cold – and most vehicles are used for very short journeys.

Filling an LPG tank is a fully sealed process so it also benefits the environment during refueling. When filling up with petrol or diesel, chemical vapours escape into the atmosphere and can also be inhaled. This does not happen with Autogas.

Almost all vehicles fueled by unleaded petrol or diesel can be converted to LPG operation at a reasonable cost.

Dual-fuel LPG systems allow a vehicle to operate on either LPG or unleaded petrol and can almost double a vehicle's range.

The petrol tank still remains in the car and the driver can switch from gas to petrol or vice-versa.

Fast Facts About LPG Conversion Running an engine on LPG is actually beneficial for your car. LPG is a cleaner burning fuel than petrol, so engine life is actually extended. Engine oil and spark plugs need changing less often with LPG, so service intervals can be increased

The time required to install an LPG system varies.

A typical family sedan, with a single boot-mounted tank, should take only one to two days.

A large four-wheel drive, with multiple tanks, might take two to three days.

You should tell your insurance company of the vehicle's conversion to LPG. You should experience no problems with increased insurance premiums. Some insurance companies may even offer a lower rate for Autogas vehicles.

They should revise the coverage to reflect the value of the system.

Note that any vehicle with a compliance plate dated after December 2003 that is converted to run on LPG must be fitted with a system that has passed current emissions test standards.

Types of LPG Conversion Systems

Converter-and-mixer systems are the oldest style, dating back decades and still widely used. The liquid fuel is converted into vapour and then mixed with air before going into the intake manifold.

• Vapour phase injection (VPI) systems use a converter-and-mixer system, but the gas exits the converter under pressure and is injected into the intake manifold. Electrically controlled injectors improve the metering of fuel to the engine, fuel economy and power, as well as reducing emissions. This has been the most popular type system in recent years.
• Liquid phase injection (LPI) systems inject liquid directly into the intake manifold, where it vaporises, not using a converter. The fuel vaporising in the intake manifold cools and increases the density of the intake air, substantially increases power output, improves fuel economy and has lower emission, when compared to VPI systems.
• Liquid phase direct injection (LPDI) are the most advanced systems, injecting liquid LPG directly into the combustion chamber. The LPG instantly vaporises, cooling the combustion chamber fuel-air mixture during the compression stroke, with further performance and emission improvements.