Conversion from CNG to LPG?

smokie · 18th February 2013, 18:02

Hi,

I own Maruti Alto LXi CNG. I bought it in Delhi. I have now shifted to Bangalore where there is no sign of CNG, but there is LPG here.

My daily running is not that high - 30km with a few highway runs to Hyderabad, etc monthly.

I would like to know if it's possible to convert my car from CNG to LPG. What would the benefits and drawbacks be? Can any of the CNG components be reused? My CNG kit is factory fitted from Maruti.

Is it better to sell the car in Hyderabad, which is now seeing a few CNG stations? My car is DL registration. Will that be a problem?

Or is CNG available in bangalore that I don't know about?

Or just run the car on petrol?

Please advice and thanks in advance for your time

.anshuman · 18th February 2013, 18:28

None of the major CNG components can be reused with LPG kit. Removing the OE CNG kit is a bad idea, this car has good resale value in Delhi NCR, sell this car off there and get another car if you want to go the LPG route. I feel the total depreciation on CNG Kit and extra investment for a new LPG kit will prove more expensive than running the car on Petrol.

Using/Re-registering the car in Bangalore will mean paying good amount of tax to Karnataka government.

smokie · 18th February 2013, 18:42

Thanks Anshuman.

The car is already in Bangalore, as I had it transported here. There was no time between the shift, and I needed a vehicle in Bangalore.

Is it possible to sell it in Hyderabad? Would the used car dealers, etc. even look at this? I have to buy a new car to replace this in a few months, so can I exchange this car in Hyderabad.

I have no address problems in Hyderabad, as my father lives there, and so I can buy the car in his name.

revintup · 19th February 2013, 12:41

For just 30kms a day, selling and buying could prove to be an even more expensive option than running purely on petrol.

Firstly lpg conversion doesnt save as much as a cng conversion as far as FE is concerned.

Also keep in mind that the lpg modification might not work out too well.

I have a M800 with a retro fit LPG. The car has always given me problems with lpg and mileage was also very poor that all I could save was 50p/km even after countless hours at the service centre tuning, re-tuning and then even more tuning until I just got fed up.

Needless to say its been more than 3 years since I have filled in lpg.

The best option for you would be to sell the cng at hyd, and get a KA regd. diesel.

aka_iitd · 19th February 2013, 13:53

Today in TOI there was a news that soon Karnataka/Bangalore may have CNG option for auto.
Better to wait for some more time before you take decision as 30KM commute is not a big one
Check @ http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/c...w/18567433.cms

smokie · 19th February 2013, 13:54

Thanks revintup. Looks like selling the CNG in HYD is the best option as of right now. Will not get into the CNG to LPG conversion, etc.

deehunk · 19th February 2013, 13:57

The road tax to be paid on your Alto will be very high in Karnataka. There is nothing called as OE fitment of CNG/LPG kits, if you carefully look at the black plate near LPG filling valve, the details of kit installer is provided. It will be a third party installation only. What type of CNG kit is in your car? There is no point in using a closed loop kit on an Alto, there will be big drop in performance. The cost of a high performance sequential injection kit like Lovato and BRC is in the range of 35k to 47k which will not be a VFM for you as you also have to pay a minimum of 20K to 25K as road tax in Karnataka. There are different slabs for road tax based on age of your vehicle and lesser the age more will be the road tax. The natural gas pipeline was inagurated in Bangalore yesterday by Veerappa Moily, so Bangalore now has CNG supply for industrial use but there is no definite information on when it will be made available for automobiles.

smokie · 19th February 2013, 14:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by deehunk

The road tax to be paid on your Alto will be very high in Karnataka. There is nothing called as OE fitment of CNG/LPG kits, if you carefully look at the black plate near LPG filling valve, the details of kit installer is provided. It will be a third party installation only. What type of CNG kit is in your car? There is no point in using a closed loop kit on an Alto, there will be big drop in performance. The cost of a high performance sequential injection kit like Lovato and BRC is in the range of 35k to 47k which will not be a VFM for you as you also have to pay a minimum of 20K to 25K as road tax in Karnataka. There are different slabs for road tax based on age of your vehicle and lesser the age more will be the road tax. The natural gas pipeline was inagurated in Bangalore yesterday by Veerappa Moily, so Bangalore now has CNG supply for industrial use but there is no definite information on when it will be made available for automobiles.

I got the Alto with CNG already fitted by Maruti. It's fitted by Maruti under the "Green" moniker. Will look at the plate and see what it says, and post a pic here. They have made some modifications such as beefed up rear suspension, and moved the spare tire to below the tank, so it's accessible through the back seat and the valve is accessible by opening the petrol lid from inside.

Here is the link to my review of the car - http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/test-d...green-cng.html

I guess I will just have to live with it and drive it in petrol. How long can I drive it in bangalore without registering it?

18th February 2013, 18:02	#1
smokie BHPian Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: New Delhi Posts: 83 Thanked: 17 Times	Conversion from CNG to LPG? Hi, I own Maruti Alto LXi CNG. I bought it in Delhi. I have now shifted to Bangalore where there is no sign of CNG, but there is LPG here. My daily running is not that high - 30km with a few highway runs to Hyderabad, etc monthly. I would like to know if it's possible to convert my car from CNG to LPG. What would the benefits and drawbacks be? Can any of the CNG components be reused? My CNG kit is factory fitted from Maruti. Is it better to sell the car in Hyderabad, which is now seeing a few CNG stations? My car is DL registration. Will that be a problem? Or is CNG available in bangalore that I don't know about? Or just run the car on petrol? Please advice and thanks in advance for your time
	() Thanks

18th February 2013, 18:28	#2
.anshuman Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Good-Gaon Posts: 7,763 Thanked: 11,124 Times View My Garage	re: Conversion from CNG to LPG? None of the major CNG components can be reused with LPG kit. Removing the OE CNG kit is a bad idea, this car has good resale value in Delhi NCR, sell this car off there and get another car if you want to go the LPG route. I feel the total depreciation on CNG Kit and extra investment for a new LPG kit will prove more expensive than running the car on Petrol. Using/Re-registering the car in Bangalore will mean paying good amount of tax to Karnataka government. Last edited by .anshuman : 18th February 2013 at 18:29.
	(2) Thanks

18th February 2013, 18:42	#3
smokie BHPian Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: New Delhi Posts: 83 Thanked: 17 Times	re: Conversion from CNG to LPG? Thanks Anshuman. The car is already in Bangalore, as I had it transported here. There was no time between the shift, and I needed a vehicle in Bangalore. Is it possible to sell it in Hyderabad? Would the used car dealers, etc. even look at this? I have to buy a new car to replace this in a few months, so can I exchange this car in Hyderabad. I have no address problems in Hyderabad, as my father lives there, and so I can buy the car in his name.
	() Thanks

19th February 2013, 12:41	#4
revintup BHPian Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Ktym Posts: 433 Thanked: 470 Times	Re: Conversion from CNG to LPG? For just 30kms a day, selling and buying could prove to be an even more expensive option than running purely on petrol. Firstly lpg conversion doesnt save as much as a cng conversion as far as FE is concerned. Also keep in mind that the lpg modification might not work out too well. I have a M800 with a retro fit LPG. The car has always given me problems with lpg and mileage was also very poor that all I could save was 50p/km even after countless hours at the service centre tuning, re-tuning and then even more tuning until I just got fed up. Needless to say its been more than 3 years since I have filled in lpg. The best option for you would be to sell the cng at hyd, and get a KA regd. diesel.
	() Thanks

19th February 2013, 13:53	#5
aka_iitd BHPian Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Bangalore Posts: 637 Thanked: 52 Times	Re: Conversion from CNG to LPG? Today in TOI there was a news that soon Karnataka/Bangalore may have CNG option for auto. Better to wait for some more time before you take decision as 30KM commute is not a big one Check @ http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/c...w/18567433.cms
	() Thanks

19th February 2013, 13:54	#6
smokie BHPian Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: New Delhi Posts: 83 Thanked: 17 Times	Re: Conversion from CNG to LPG? Thanks revintup. Looks like selling the CNG in HYD is the best option as of right now. Will not get into the CNG to LPG conversion, etc.
	() Thanks

19th February 2013, 13:57	#7
deehunk Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Bangalore Posts: 2,032 Thanked: 3,251 Times	Re: Conversion from CNG to LPG? The road tax to be paid on your Alto will be very high in Karnataka. There is nothing called as OE fitment of CNG/LPG kits, if you carefully look at the black plate near LPG filling valve, the details of kit installer is provided. It will be a third party installation only. What type of CNG kit is in your car? There is no point in using a closed loop kit on an Alto, there will be big drop in performance. The cost of a high performance sequential injection kit like Lovato and BRC is in the range of 35k to 47k which will not be a VFM for you as you also have to pay a minimum of 20K to 25K as road tax in Karnataka. There are different slabs for road tax based on age of your vehicle and lesser the age more will be the road tax. The natural gas pipeline was inagurated in Bangalore yesterday by Veerappa Moily, so Bangalore now has CNG supply for industrial use but there is no definite information on when it will be made available for automobiles. Last edited by deehunk : 19th February 2013 at 14:00.
	() Thanks