Hello,

I was referred by one of my fellow members on the Dutch Jaguar forum regarding ths subject.

I am considering to buy a XKR from 1998 for daily use. This choice is driven by the simple fact that it is a great car but also due to the fact that the fiscal regime on cars >15yrs is less nasty compared to cars <15yrs if it s a company car (I won't bother you with the details....)

Since I will driving >30.000km er annum running the car on LPG is significantly more cost efficient compared to petrol. Price difference is 1 Euro per liter.

I am aware a lot of people consider gas only to be used for cooking, so please keep these comments from this thread.

So, I am looking for someone who has experience running a supercharged V8 (XKR OR XJR) from that timeperiod and would like to share these. I was pointed out to the user deuce2000 who has an XKR with LPG so hope you are reading this threat.

Thanks for your elp!

Duncan

 

Hi,
yes, i have a XKR with LPG system by Imega Evo.
My car with LPG go fast like petrol and i'm happy of it.
In Italy, with LPG system, we have a discount on stamp ( 400 euro ) , we can go everywhere, even in the city closed to traffic pollution, as it has become in effect a green car.
of course you spend a lot less (about 10 € to 100 km here), when you check the oil, this even after 20,000 km is always clean!
LPG works at temperatures slightly higher and that is why I installed a thermostat that keeps the engine more cooler, an electric front fan at radiator of the intercooler to cool the incoming air .
But I also made a lot of upgrades that perfectly match the GPL.

you will find the list of changes in my Garage:

Jaguar Forums - Jaguar Enthusiasts Forum - Garage Portal

my advice is to install the best system: liquid injection VIALLE.

when I did the installation, VIALLE not produce a system for a car so powerful. But perhaps now yes!

my only doubt is that your XKR is therefore a 1998 4.0 and not 4.2 as mine.
Version 4.0 may have the cylinder liners in NIKASIL and I do not know if this is perfectly compatible with LPG operation. You need to inform of this

let me know your experience...

 

I am actually very tempted myself (already for some years), not just for the cost saving piece, but thehigher octane and cooling due to the liquid injection it ;-)

Am talking now with acompany that will be able to make the Vialle system to work, they can customizethe injector size, and also the combination of injecting LPG and normal fuel atthe same time at high boost. Haven’t made any decision yet, though would liketo dig further.

 

It should be doable from what we have discussed, all I need to know now if they have big enough injectors for my application, then I will be close to do it...

 

Unfortunately they can't handle more than 350 to 400 bhp with the Vialle system. Once the system detects max injector opening, it will switch seamlessly to normal fuel again, so it’s possible to install the system of course.

This is a slight bummer, so now I am in doubt again if I should do it or not.

 

@deuce2000, thanks for sharing your experiences! In the meantime I learnt that the NIKASIL cylinder lining is not affected by the LPG. Basically the NIKASIL is affected by sulfur in the fuel. Apparantly LPG does not have this, or better said negligible quantities in it, so no negative effects. Note that I am simply repeating this from someone who mentioned this on the Dutch forum who, I hope, is knowledgable on this subject. I am definately not

@Avos, for normal use the LPI system would then be just perfect right? Using all 360 horses is not something one does permanently, just occasionally. Using gasoline those few times should not be a problem, right? Or are there any other things to take into account?

Duncan

 

Yes, no problem, and as said it will seamlessly switch over to normal fuel if it reaches its maximum, but 360 will be ok on lpg itself.

If I proceed, I will modify the heads and install stronger valve seats (and maybe slightly bigger valves while I'm at it). You could also install the valve protection lube kits (not cheap though), but I prefer than the head modification.

 

Hi Avos, could you tell with what GPL installer you are talking? In case you do not want to post it here, could you send me an email: duncan.hobeijn@hotmail.com?

And roughly how much would a total kit cost when setup using the preferred setup like you say?

Thx, Duncan

 

Hi DuncanH, I am an LPG installer, in the north of Scotland. My current car (XK8) has not been converted due to me only doing a relatively low mileage with it, but my last car (Chrysler 300c, 5.7 Hemi) was converted, so I have first-hand experience of big V8's on gas.
Firstly, I have only and will only ever install OMVL systems as I believe they are the best value for money with the best aftersales support. An OMVL Dream 21N based system with the correct injectors will give a maximum of around 350bhp, regardless of what other claims may be made. This is a practical real-world limit based on experience, not some calculated limit theoretically based on flowrates and pressures. The beauty of the Dream system is the ability to add a percentage of petrol over a certain rpm or injector flowrate, to compensate for the gas system's power limitations. The added benefit of this is the slight cooling effect of injecting a vapourised liquid into a gas stream, especially under maximum load conditions!
It might be worth you seeking out an installer who works with OMVL and having a chat with them..?

 

What is LPG?

 

Liquified Petrolium Gas is basicly Propane and or Butane, usually a mix of both, the exact makeup depends on where it comes from.

In the UK its aroung £0.74 a litre (£3.36 Gal UK) for LPG but Petrol is about £1.32 (£6 Gal UK).

So even with a 5 to 20% drop in efficency its worth converting if you do the milage.

regards

 

Hi smoggyx100, just thought I'd add - continental LPG (Autogas) tends to be a mix of Propane/Butane, but the UK stuff is pure Propane, there's no Butane in it.