Lpg

Hello,

Today my brandnew Prius 2010 was converted to LPG (Vialle, lpi) with additional Flashlube injection system to prolonge valve seat recession. The gastank, net 50 liter,lays in the spare wheel compartiment, so almost the entire volume for the luggage could be preserved.
I just wondered if anybody else has some experience with the LPG-conversion on the prius-engine; how long do the valves and seats resist to the dry burning of the gas? My previous Toyota Previa (Estima) ended up by 400.000 km (240.000 miles), a number, I believe, the PIII probably won"t get...
Later I will tell you about my experiences, as well about the difference in mileage between petrol and LPG.

 

Thanks for your questions so far, I believe there is time to give more explanation on this subject.
Since the early 90's I'm driving exclusively on lpg, making a lot of kms; this was financially spoken the only solution for me; as you can see on the logname I am not a believer of the diesel-concept: in the region where I live particulates are one of the biggest pollutants of the environment, so I want to contribute to it rather than pollute even more...
The installed lpg-set is a Dutch make: Vialle, Eindhoven. It has become widely spread in the Netherlands by using indirect liquid gas injection(LPI). Big advantage is the cooling effect of the liquid gas on the valves and seats, because warmth is needed to transform the liquid gas in to gaseous form.
A build-in gaspump in the tank is transporting the lpg to the engine; in the past these pumps often didn't last longer than 200th km. Recently these problems have been sold, with my Previa it was the only real problem to have occured.
Being available in almost every gasstation in Belgium and Holland, there is no real disadvantage you should consider the conversion, although the ever imminent question on the valve seat recession may trouble your happy thoughts a bit.
To prolonge the live of the head, ther are merely two ways to use:

1. get rid of the soft material and replace seats and valves by stellite, this is much harder and will resist far better the higher temperatures of dry burning of lpg. This method is rather expensive (2000euro), my former car lasted more than 400th km doing so.

2. try to protect the valves by injecting a adapted fluid, widely used on the Australian lpg-market: Flashlube and Tune-ap.
Flashlube uses a small 400ml container near the engine, it electronically and continuously injects the fluid into the 4 cylinders.
After about 4-5000km it should be refilled.

By the way, I'll try to make some pics of the different parts of the conversion, to make it all more understandable...

so long,

.

 

So far I could'nt detect any specific problem on the side of electronics or mecanical interference; I went to a lpg conversion centre which has special knowledge of hybrid cars, in fact one month ago these people where trainded by Vialle itself to become familiar with the specific high-voltage equipment and electronic devices of the car.
Lately I filled the lpg-tank three times since the Prius started to run on lpg.
If anybody likes to follow the history of the refuelling since the start on 11/3, do visit spritmonitor.de. By now I'm getting 6.2 l/100km out of it, means euro3.2/100km, not to bad?
The installed Flashlube container seems to be more economical in use than predicted: it probably will last for 10000km with 400ml of fluid.
The question on the warranties is quite simple: because of the 3 years or 100.000km in the Netherlands, for me it will be ended up after 18 months, I 'll have to take it for granted, keeping in mind the strong reputation of Toyota's engines ( Previa/Estima with 4tons and more...).
By the way, a spare wheel is not provided here. There is a repair kit with a compressor...So plenty of space to place the lpg-tank of 62 l. Still have to look for a puncture repair can, one never knows...