LPG installation for a diesel engine, does it make sense?

According to many fuel-conscious drivers, there is no other, more cost-effective source of motive power than a diesel engine . Supporters of self-ignition engines recall the high efficiency of diesel engines, much higher than in gasoline units. An additional advantage of most diesels is low fuel consumption and high power and torque . That is why almost all campers and vans available on the market are equipped with diesel engines.

On the other side of the barricade there are supporters of simple gasoline engines . In fact, they do not have a lot of power or torque . Their biggest advantage is their simple structure, which enables a relatively cheap conversion to run on more than twice cheaper LPG . Thanks to the attractive price of gas, LPG is an extremely popular fuel, especially in Poland, Turkey and Italy .

For many years, work has been carried out to combine the advantages of the above-mentioned methods of supply. Finally, gas installations for diesel engines have hit the market, allowing for even greater use of the economical nature of this type of construction. There are three types of diesel gas installations , but the price and the low benefits may be a problem.

The two most effective types of installation are characterized by high installation costs: mono fuel and dual fuel . The first one allows you to run only on LPG. Unfortunately, due to the nature of the diesel engine - self-ignition - it is associated with serious changes in the construction of the engine itself , it is necessary to create an installation that ignites the air-and-gas mixture - known from gasoline engines.

The second option means a slightly smaller investment ( cost about PLN 10,000 ). In a dual fuel installation, the engine burns both diesel and gas at the same time - it is necessary to reprogram the engine control unit. Primary fuel - diesel oil is used for start-up and ignition , it accounts for 5-30% of fuel burned . The remaining fuel is LPG. In this case, savings of up to 40% of fuel costs .

The third type of installation - diesel gas - seems to be a compromise solution for the caravanner. The price of an installation for a four-cylinder engine oscillates around PLN 4,500 , which corresponds to a branded sequential installation for an advanced gasoline engine. In the diesel installation, diesel remains the main fuel , thanks to which the structure and software of the engine remain unchanged. LPG only adds 5 to 30% of the fuel burned . According to specialists, in this way we can save up to 20% of fuel costs .

However, the benefits do not end there. The participation of LPG in the combustion process noticeably increases the power and torque of the engine, improves the work culture, and prevents the deposition of carbon deposits and other substances. What's more, as research shows, the emission of harmful substances to the atmosphere is also lowering .