with prices now at £1 litre and due to go up a lot more , has anyone considered LPG or a modern engine transplant . I like the idear of a Diesel myself but havnt got the ability to do it and have been toying with the LPG for a long time . Any thoughts .
fuel prices
- Thread starter chrisby
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Justin & Muttley
Well-known member
I think the initial costs are quite high for installation - I guess you'd need to work out whether you do enough miles in your bus to justify the expense... after all, if it takes 15 years to see any financial benefit you'd be better off paying for the expensive petrol!
You also need to figure out whether you want to keep your bus stock or not - loads of people have gone the Turbo Diesel route so there's plenty of help out there (and the VW unit is easily tuned to 170BHP apparently!) - if you installed LPG you'd need to find somewhere for the tank etc and also cut a hole in your bodywork for the filler neck (!).
I'd be tempted with the LPG route but I suspect that the government will eventually raise the duty on that too, making the whole exercise a bit pointless!
On the other hand, the government no longer require you to pay duty on 'home-made' recycled diesel (chip fat) so that would make for very cheap motoring (20-30p/litre) - but do you want your van to sound like a taxi and smell like a chip shop???
Decisions, decisions...
You also need to figure out whether you want to keep your bus stock or not - loads of people have gone the Turbo Diesel route so there's plenty of help out there (and the VW unit is easily tuned to 170BHP apparently!) - if you installed LPG you'd need to find somewhere for the tank etc and also cut a hole in your bodywork for the filler neck (!).
I'd be tempted with the LPG route but I suspect that the government will eventually raise the duty on that too, making the whole exercise a bit pointless!
On the other hand, the government no longer require you to pay duty on 'home-made' recycled diesel (chip fat) so that would make for very cheap motoring (20-30p/litre) - but do you want your van to sound like a taxi and smell like a chip shop???
Decisions, decisions...
A friend of mine was considering LPG for his bus (which is his daily). I think he worked out that he'd have to do 14000 miles before he worked out better off.
So if you're doing 7000 miles a year in your bus, you're looking at a couple of years before you'd see the benefits, which isn't too sad I guess. However, if you only do 700 miles a year it's probably not worth the effort. :lol:
Like J says though, as more people start using it the Government are bound to whip up the tax on it. :x
So if you're doing 7000 miles a year in your bus, you're looking at a couple of years before you'd see the benefits, which isn't too sad I guess. However, if you only do 700 miles a year it's probably not worth the effort. :lol:
Like J says though, as more people start using it the Government are bound to whip up the tax on it. :x
Justin & Muttley
Well-known member
What does surprise me is the apathy from the public regarding the hikes in fuel prices - three or four years ago there was public outcry and fuel blockades and the price was much lower then!
Araon
Well-known member
True it is only a temporary measure the tax relief, but you also get off the congestion charge....
Is that true regarding veg oil use?
I thought they were still trying to claw back the tax....
As long as you filter the oil properly its fine smells no different its better for your motor too as it lubes as it burns. A mate of mine buys veggie oil from the super markets and pours it into his tank as long as you get a decent ratio of diesel to veg oil theres no need to thin / pre heat it.
Is that true regarding veg oil use?
I thought they were still trying to claw back the tax....
As long as you filter the oil properly its fine smells no different its better for your motor too as it lubes as it burns. A mate of mine buys veggie oil from the super markets and pours it into his tank as long as you get a decent ratio of diesel to veg oil theres no need to thin / pre heat it.
Justin & Muttley
Well-known member
Araon said:
The government dropped the duty early this year - but your mate is breaking the law if he's just pouring veg oil in - it's supposed to be processed first!!! Also worth noting that it doesn't work so well with very modern diesel engines...
A friend of mine runs his mk 1 diesel Golf on 50/50 veg oil/diesel with no problems. Later common rail injection systems cant handle it , so Ive been told.
LPG conversions cost approx £1100, Ive worked it out for me I would brake even after 2 1/2 years , then at present prices Id save 45p a litre .
Still cant decide :roll:
LPG conversions cost approx £1100, Ive worked it out for me I would brake even after 2 1/2 years , then at present prices Id save 45p a litre .
Still cant decide :roll:
THe local garage here is £1:07.9 per litre of diesel. That is just a rip off now. It will hurt me being a mobile mechanic, I try not to pass on too much expense to the customer, but a hike like this will just push up inflation.
I really need to look at bio diesel running chip fat. I have heard it is better (& cheaper) to run used cooking oil, I think rape seed was best when I last looked into it. It goes a bit gloopy in very cold conditions. Ze Germans do kits with a seperate tank & preheater to warm it up, so thinning it down.
As said above, it can be diulted with normal diesel or another thinner.
I will look into it again. I don't give a toss what is smells like if it is loads cheaper. I am selling my petrol bay window & keeping my diesel T25. Than can get a dose of veg oil too!
I really need to look at bio diesel running chip fat. I have heard it is better (& cheaper) to run used cooking oil, I think rape seed was best when I last looked into it. It goes a bit gloopy in very cold conditions. Ze Germans do kits with a seperate tank & preheater to warm it up, so thinning it down.
As said above, it can be diulted with normal diesel or another thinner.
I will look into it again. I don't give a toss what is smells like if it is loads cheaper. I am selling my petrol bay window & keeping my diesel T25. Than can get a dose of veg oil too!
Htotheunit
Well-known member
Tofufi said:Just until you all get LPG or diesels, use http://www.petrolprices.com
Daily updates 8) Sainsburys is the cheapest round here at the moment... still a rip off! i'm keeping my bus (Daily runner), and have no money for LPG (bloody poor students)
G
Guest
Guest
its a rip off alright when you consider that the price to produce and deliver one litre of petrol is about 17p, the rest is taxes 8)
i nip over the border into the republic of ireland and get it for about 85p a litre, i have 6 jerry cans that get filled as well 8) .
i nip over the border into the republic of ireland and get it for about 85p a litre, i have 6 jerry cans that get filled as well 8) .
I own a company car and have done so for about the 10 years or so.
Yes i pay tax on this but when it goes straight out of your wages you don't notice as much. I feel for the private motorist who has to stump the fuel prices to go about their day to day life.
Yes there are alternatives but in reality the level of investment and return of alternetive fuel don't stack up with new cars.
just another example of the cost of living going up and unfortunatly earnings in most case aren't.
I used to think i had a well paid job but after the usual monthly outgoings and expenses i don't think thats the case anymore.
Yes i pay tax on this but when it goes straight out of your wages you don't notice as much. I feel for the private motorist who has to stump the fuel prices to go about their day to day life.
Yes there are alternatives but in reality the level of investment and return of alternetive fuel don't stack up with new cars.
just another example of the cost of living going up and unfortunatly earnings in most case aren't.
I used to think i had a well paid job but after the usual monthly outgoings and expenses i don't think thats the case anymore.
It is getting a bit daft at the mo, the shame is that it will peak high, say 1.08/9, and then come down to settle at, say, 1.01, and well all be chuffed that its cheaper - forgetting weve now broken the £1 barrier and have stayed there
Its diesel for me all week, and just a bit of fun driving at the weekends in the petrol VW's. Kinda glad its winter and the camping/show trips mean that mileage can be kept down.
Its diesel for me all week, and just a bit of fun driving at the weekends in the petrol VW's. Kinda glad its winter and the camping/show trips mean that mileage can be kept down.
currylager
Well-known member
My company car is up for renewal next year, think i'm gonna get one of those really crappy ford fusion diesel things. The money i save on fuel and company car tax, i will then cane in my bus and tr6 :twisted: :twisted:
I filled up my wagon in sedgemoor services last night on the way home and it was 107p a litre!!!!!!! My gaffer will have a fit :lol: :lol:
Any other lorry drivers out there up for another protest??? :shock:
Any other lorry drivers out there up for another protest??? :shock:
Shaggy
Well-known member
I just drove to stockport and back its about 260miles round trip cost me about £75 in petrol...hmmmmmm it is getting a little expensive now, but it was to pick up a cheep ebay find so even with the price of petrol and the cost of the item i saved myself £300
I used to use my bus as a daily but now get a bus which saves me around £100 a month to spend on the bus....NICE!
I used to use my bus as a daily but now get a bus which saves me around £100 a month to spend on the bus....NICE!
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