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Anyone been running LPG in any type of EJ for a while now?

Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2007 9:26 am
by Phizinza
I read on another forum someone saying LPG kills Subaru (and a lot of other brand) engines. So I'm just wondering if anyone on here has LPG on their EJ and how long they've had it. Or if anyone has had problems with it.

Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2007 2:36 pm
by steptoe
can have something to do with the rings or top ring of the piston that LPG might 'kill'. I am running gas on my EA81 and have done for about 150.000km on a rebuild. Not EJ I know. Mitsu had a code on their eng blocks to indicae whether engine was suitable for gas, maybe Subaru can help you

Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2007 8:57 pm
by AlpineRaven
I've seen a few EJs running on gas, I've been tempted to talk to the owners to see how they went, From what I heard that gas isn't good on alloy components on EJ engines...??¿¿
Cheers
AP

Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2007 10:30 pm
by Phizinza
Gas fitters seem to think it would be ok.. All (just about) engines these days have alloy heads.. I was told gas was only bad to some non-ULP engines.
With the new gas 'injection', some people are getting upto 10% more power with Gas and about the same mileage. And it looks like it likes to have a turbo (as it's high octane and the turbo boosts compression.) I haven't heard/saw from anyone yet who can tell me with certainty that LPG killed an engine. But you can't trust anything you read on the net I guess.

Posted: Sat Nov 10, 2007 10:54 am
by steptoe
Brumberty had LPG straight on his EJ and as we all should know it also had the added stress of his supercharging efforts. Never heard a bad word on his gas system. From what you save on fuel will more than pay for another engine "if" gas eventually killed it as opposed to some driving styles.

Posted: Sat Nov 10, 2007 1:43 pm
by tim_81coupe
If you do end up running LPG ensure you use a good upper cylinder lubricant (ie FlashLube) as LPG is a dry fuel and as such you would normally see more valve and valve seat wear than if you ran ULP.

FlashLube sell a kit that dispenses upper cylinder lubricant through the vacuum system, works very well. Most LPG fitters in WA fit this very kit with every LPG conversion.

Posted: Sat Nov 10, 2007 2:16 pm
by Phizinza
I read on a LPG equipment manufactures website that petrol is more of a problem then gas as petrol is a solvent and washes all the oil away from bores and the valves, where as gas isn't a solvent and doesn't soak it up, of cause I guess it will get burnt. I've heard of lubricant injectors, so if the time comes to put gas on a Subie I'll ask the installer if they recommend one of those injectors.

Posted: Sat Nov 10, 2007 2:46 pm
by D3V1L
i have had 2 gas cars in my family a holden and a ford...both engines which died in the end...ie: no compression in the motor anymore

Posted: Sat Nov 10, 2007 4:56 pm
by AlpineRaven
The money you save... is spent towards engine rebuild once it dies due LPG damage.......
Cheers
AP

Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2007 10:32 am
by steptoe
I have read an engineering article regarding valve recession due to lpg, the gist of which was that if the head is alloy it will have hardened valve seats which is necessary for good service life if going from SUPER to ULP. It is these stellite or hardened valve seats that prevent recession on LPG also. I have had LPG since 1990 on various cars and loiter in a gas licenced workshop and yet to see valve recession or LPG damage other than backfires in the intake side of things...if you want my 2 cents worth

Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2007 12:13 pm
by Phizinza
Not that I don't believe it does happen, but I have yet to see proof that LPG solely caused engine failure. There is so many things that can and do go wrong in engines, I kinda get the feeling all those people that have LPG and have engine failure instantly blame it on the LPG. But if theres proof I would believe it.