Autogas lpg – an alternative engine for retrofitting

adminonApril 22, 2022February 4, 2022Leave a Comment

LPG – liquified petroleum gas is a fuel for gasoline engines. About 400.000 cars are equipped with LPG on german roads. A car that has been converted to run on autogas will run on either autogas or gasoline. It is easy to switch between the two fuels while driving. Normally the engines start with gasoline and as soon as the engine is warm enough, the system automatically switches to autogas. In germany, numerous car companies offer LPG ex works or as a direct conversion for new cars.

What is LPG made of?

LPG, liquid petroleum gas or LPG basically consists of a mixture of butane and propane. These two main components of automotive gas are used in the extraction of crude oil, but also in the refining of diesel, gasoline and other fuels.

Retrofitting with autogas and costs

As mentioned above, there are numerous car manufacturers that offer vehicles with LPG offer as fuel. In principle, the alternative fuel autogas is suitable for cars that previously ran on gasoline. Only a few petrol cars can not be converted to LPG. Since LPG burns hotter than gasoline, sometimes the exhaust valves have to be replaced with a gas resistant version. In addition, there are solutions with additives that are injected to protect the valves.

For the conversion there are professional LPG conversion companies. The costs are about. 1.500 – 3.000 €. The price depends on the type of vehicle and engine. During the conversion, the gas system with filter, gas vaporizer, injectors and possible additive tank is installed in the engine compartment. An additional tank is also installed for the gas. Mostly wheel well tanks are used for this purpose, which find their place at the location of the spare wheel. The connection for the tank nozzle is either placed next to the usual tank nozzle behind the fuel filler flap or is installed in the rear apron of the vehicle.

Since the conversion involves modifications to the engine, the manufacturer’s warranty on the unit is voided. But reputable retrofitters take care of this 100%. Therefore, when refitting should be carefully considered.

Below is a summary of the conversion costs for specific cars: PDF

Range through LPG

The range of a car converted to LPG, as with any other fuel, depends on the size of the tank installed, which can vary from vehicle to vehicle. It should also be noted that for safety reasons, an LPG tank can only be filled to 80%. The dispenser then switches off automatically. The remaining 20 percent serves as a buffer in case of strong expansion of the gas. A 60-liter tank can therefore effectively hold 48 liters of autogas. With autogas, the vehicle consumes about 10 percent more than with gasoline. If a car consumes about 10 liters of gasoline per 100 kilometers, a vehicle that runs on autogas consumes 11 liters of LPG. With our example tank of 48 liters capacity, the range with LPG is about 430 kilometers. Since the normal gasoline tank also remains in the car, the range with gasoline is added once again. If our example vehicle fills up with 60 liters of gasoline, a total of over 1000 kilometers is possible.

How to refuel with autogas?

LPG can already be filled at many gas stations. Depending on how the vehicle has been retrofitted, an appropriate adapter must be screwed on. The nozzle can then be connected to the adapter or directly to the vehicle. Afterwards, a so-called "dead man’s switch" must be activated at the gas pump for refueling. This must be kept pressed throughout. As soon as you let go, the refueling process is finished. When the tank is 80 percent full, the system stops automatically. When the nozzle is removed, a small amount of autogas still present in the hose escapes. This is completely normal and absolutely harmless.

Maintenance costs after conversion to LPG

After the vehicle has been converted, additional maintenance costs are incurred. This includes, among other things, changing the filter, checking the connections, fastenings and hoses, and checking for leaks. This is usually done as part of the regular inspection. After accidents or fires, a gas system check is also on the program. Every two years, the LPG system is also checked during the main inspection (HU).

LPG prices and subsidies

The price per liter of LPG varies from 45 to 90 cents depending on the region. Prices are generally subject to slower and smaller fluctuations than gasoline. The tax on LPG is currently favorable. This benefit decreases every year and it is planned that from 2023 there will no longer be a tax benefit. Then the liter of autogas costs just under 15 cents more and is still well below the cost of gasoline and diesel.

LPG and the environment

In the context of the discussions about the pollutant emissions of passenger cars LPG an interesting alternative. Comparisons have already shown in 2017 that LPG vehicles emit significantly less nitrogen oxides and fine dust has also been reduced by up to 99 percent compared to gasoline operation. In addition, the CO2 values of LPG vehicles are impressive, being 15 percent lower than those of comparable gasoline-powered vehicles.

Car dealers – your reliable partner for buying and selling cars / trucks / motor vehicles. Also online!

There are many car dealers in Germany. From a purely structural point of view, the industry distinguishes between at least two main categories.

On the one hand there are contract car dealer, who are mostly concerned with the sale and registration of new cars. And there are independent car dealers, whose core business is mostly the brokerage and trading of used cars. And then there is the field of export – car dealers, most of them are specialized in the purchase of used cars.

car dealers in germany

These types of car dealership can be distinguished in an ideal way. Of course, the transitions are fluid and cannot be completely separated from one another.

Contract car dealers

Contract car dealers usually deal exclusively in new cars of all types and are in close contact with the car manufacturer on pricing. In the meantime, authorized dealers are also entering the used car market and trying to achieve higher prices for manufacturer-inspected vehicles with so-called "approved service guarantees.

independent car dealers

Independent car dealers are dedicated to a wide range of tasks and offers, for example, there are dealers who only deal in vans or motor homes or just trucks. Depending on your requirements, you can find a specialized provider after a little research. Also car parts are partly offered by independent car dealers.

export car dealers

Export car dealers are independent car dealers who buy cars to export them to the world. Often repairs and overhauls take place beforehand in order to increase the sales prices and increase the value of the car. export car dealers are usually also active in the online trade of used cars. autoankauf online is also such an export car dealer.

Advantages in the cooperation with independent car dealers and. independent garages.

If you have bought a car and you are not under the obligation of a leasing contract, you are usually free to choose your service points for the maintenance and repair of your car. Free car dealers or. independent garages offer a much more attractive price-performance ratio than authorized dealers. This is due to the fact that often cheaper master hours are charged.

It is also the case that independent dealers are not bound by the price targets of the major car companies and are not commissioned by them.

in a concrete example, it could be stated here that the independent car dealers and garages will only replace your alternator if it is really broken and not if only one cable is loose. commission models can have a negative effect on the price for authorized dealers. Reputable independent workshops weigh rather in the sense of the customer, what is worthwhile and what not.

independent dealers also score points in vehicle ratings

Even if you want to sell your vehicle, you can trust independent dealers rather than those contractually bound to car manufacturers.

The background here is that authorized dealers often always act with the aim of pursuing the most profitable business for them, the purchase of a new vehicle.

The likelihood that a bonded auto dealer will tell you that your used car, with a few inexpensive repairs, is still good for 100.000km runs is rather rare. And that even if such a diagnosis would be obvious to professionals.

Retaining automotive professionals throughout the vehicle life cycle

For car owners it is therefore of particular importance to find a car dealer they can trust. If you have built up a long-term business relationship with a dealer, you can be sure that you will not be cheated, because there is a long-term relationship of trust with mutual benefits. Faithfulness and loyalty are here the links of the business relationship.

Buying spare parts and wear parts from the same dealer for the life of the car ensures predictable and sustainable sales. the probability that the dealer endangers such a relationship by a possible cheating is extremely small

Photos, text, contract – how to sell your car for the biggest profit

Generally speaking, anyone who sells a vehicle within Germany is required by law to notify the registration office immediately of the sale

Generally speaking, anyone who sells a vehicle within Germany is required by law to notify the registration office of the sale without delay

millions of cars change owners every year. According to the German Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA), around 7.2 million vehicles were registered in 2019. Experts from the auto club europa (ACE), ADAC and autoscout24 give ten tips for selling a car.

First of all, car owners should consider how they want to sell their vehicle. Some method is more convenient, some can bring a little more.

"the simplest way is the trade-in at a dealer. A direct sale at an independent dealer is also quick and uncomplicated," says Jochen Kurz from the autoscout24 portal. As a rule, sellers achieve a higher profit by selling via an advertisement on the Internet or a classic newspaper ad – provided that they have good negotiating skills.

"sellers should study the market before placing an ad and set a price for their car that is as realistic as possible," says kurz.

1. Car refurbishment

A well-maintained car increases the price. "if you clean it thoroughly beforehand or have it reconditioned, you will achieve a higher price. The investment usually pays off," says marcel muhlich of the ACE.

It is also important to "thoroughly inform yourself about the current technical condition of your car and to collect all documents such as vehicle documents, invoices and MOT certificates," says ADAC spokesman Johannes Boos.

2. Take photos of the car

In the morning or evening light, the car is nicely displayed. all sides are photographed from a crouching position (looks more dynamic), so that interested parties can see that the car has no damage. "A photo taken from the back seat shows the entire cockpit," says muhlich.

jochen kurz also considers good photos of all sides, a clean and empty interior and important equipment details to be important. "a quiet and tidy background on the photos makes a better impression than a photo on the street with a bumpy background", so briefly.

3. Write the text of your car ad

A neutral text describes the car best. It should include the exact model name, year of manufacture, mileage and engine variant. "interesting details include distinctive equipment such as a trailer coupling or sunroof, as well as accessories such as tires or a roof rack," explains boos.

Defects, accident-free status, and the number of previous owners must also be included in the report. "this information must be correct, as it will be part of the purchase contract. This also applies to errors in the advertisement if these errors are not explicitly corrected in the contract."

Volkswagen,VW automobiles stand on stockpile and wait for buyers. Because of the Corona crisis, car sales are collapsing worldwide. VW models are on stockpile and waiting for buyers. Automobiles,export,exports,used car center,used ,like new cars,used cars,car buying,buy,car dealership,cars,offer,cars,oversupply,young used.car

But sellers should not list all the repairs in the past. This suggests that the car was often defective – and reduces interest. "only costly repairs such as a new timing belt should be mentioned," explains muhlich.

For jochen kurz, transparency when creating the ad creates trust and success. As far as the text is concerned, he recommends emphasizing the special features of the car. In his opinion, fuel consumption data is becoming increasingly important: "An honest average fuel consumption can be a selling point."

4. Pricing

To find a price that is as realistic as possible, sellers look for comparable models on car platforms, for example, and compare their ideas with them. Sometimes the platforms automatically show an appropriate price when the ad is created.

5. Advertisement

Sellers find more readers and thus also interested parties if they advertise the vehicle on as many platforms as possible, for example mobile.De, autoscout24.De and ebay classifieds.De

6. Provide contact details

"if you don’t want to be woken up by interested parties at five o’clock in the morning, you should only enter your e-mail address as a contact on the sales platforms, but not your telephone number", advises marcel muhlich.

7. Price negotiations

dubious interested parties like to negotiate prices already on the phone. On the saying "what is the last price?" sellers should not talk on the phone and should not let themselves be put under pressure. "serious buyers look at the car first and negotiate the price at the object", says muhlich.

8. Car inspection and test drive

Four eyes see more than two. If an attendant is present at the sale, he or she can serve as a witness in case of later disagreements. A test drive is part of selling a car. Before the start of the journey, the salesman checks the driver’s license of the test driver and notes down the data of the identity card or takes a photo of it. Of course the salesman rides in the car, in corona times with FFP2 mask.

"it also makes sense to discuss the length and period of the test drive in advance and to fill out a "test drive agreement", because the test driver is liable for all accidents for which he is responsible. For higher-value vehicles, a deposit is also advisable," explains johannes boos. Tip from autoscout-man briefly: "sellers inquire before the test drive how the car is insured in case an interested party causes an accident."

9. Contract of sale and payment

If both parties agree, only the contract of sale must be signed and paid for. in the contract all important data like chassis number, mileage, accessories and possible accident damages have to be mentioned. In addition, the personal details of seller and buyer.

a photo of the identity card can help with later problems, as can the exact time of sale. Detailed sample sales contracts such as those from ACE, ADAC or autoscout24 exclude liability for material defects for private individuals.

"if these are not excluded, private individuals must provide some kind of warranty," says marcel muhlich. You are then liable for defects in the car, regardless of whether they were known at the time of sale or not.