Diesel Conversion Viability

[ianj99]

I am surprised no one does an LPG conversion for marine petrol engines.

I suppose the problem would be the lack of places to fill up at.

 

[JKay]

I am surprised no one does an LPG conversion for marine petrol engines.

I suppose the problem would be the lack of places to fill up at.

They do conversions although the lack of places to refuel as you have said makes it a no go for most folk

 

[neale]

Was repower done by VP dealer?

Yes it was.

 

[neale]

I am surprised no one does an LPG conversion for marine petrol engines.

I suppose the problem would be the lack of places to fill up at.

LPG peaked in popularity around 2002. AT that point there were around 27 filling points. mostly on the South Coast but a couple on the east coast and an odd one in Wales and possibly Scotland.

Quite a few boats were converted back then, including mine. About 2004/5 Calor gas suddenly pulled out of the market taking their approved convertor and most of the fuel suppliers with them.

There are now around 5 places left to refuel.

 

[ulyden]

New engines in old boats makes little sense to me particularly if people talking Volvo Penta.

As to use of D3 cannot consider this a proper marine engine after what I have seen lately.

Kind of crosses over with parrallel thread on re-powering. People have been asking me for ages and in response I have been working on marine conversion of Cummins B engines out of DAF trucks for over a year. 180/220/260 Hp with the 180/220 ratings being turbo charged only, no pesky charge air coolers. Doing final dyno work on the 220 rating at the moment, none of your pansy/wishful Perkins Sabre 225 Hp either, 220 honest Hp.

These will be a professional job and any capable owner can have a pair of real robust mechanical marine engines for around 10K depending on what engines they are replacing.

Why this meanings of VP D3. Must be a bargain. CR, parentbore,VTG, uncooled tubocharger, alu block and high rating! Im sure its zero smoke.

How do you define real robust mechanical engine? Anything to do with durability or reliability?

What accuracy do you have on your dyno? (I'm interessted because of some rare EPA demands! 2% of lowest torque setting))

Honest Hp? Is this by 45deg air inlet temperaure air and 40 deg fuel?

What emissions level are these engines?

Who are buying these terrible engines with no electronics to help them troubleshooting?

(I thought I was the only one that had a demand for a simple mechanical engine that start when I turn the key and run as long as it get fuel. If i have to pay tax for the 3g eksta nox, I don't mind.)

 

[Latestarter1]

Why this meanings of VP D3. Must be a bargain. CR, parentbore,VTG, uncooled tubocharger, alu block and high rating! Im sure its zero smoke.

How do you define real robust mechanical engine? Anything to do with durability or reliability?

What accuracy do you have on your dyno? (I'm interessted because of some rare EPA demands! 2% of lowest torque setting))

Honest Hp? Is this by 45deg air inlet temperaure air and 40 deg fuel?

What emissions level are these engines?

Who are buying these terrible engines with no electronics to help them troubleshooting?

(I thought I was the only one that had a demand for a simple mechanical engine that start when I turn the key and run as long as it get fuel. If i have to pay tax for the 3g eksta nox, I don't mind.)

D3 is a chainsaw engine, similar concept to Yanmar BY marinised BMW LDA light duty automotive engine done by Magna in Austria, which if Yanmar sell for the next ten years they will never get a return on their investment. Likewise the D3 is a poor marinisation of a technically indifferent engine.

SWING VANE VG turbochargers are totally unsuited to marine duty cycles. VW marine another chain saw LDA engine also suffers from the same issues. The fact that they are all electronically controlled parent bore engines is meaningless. Chainsaw motors will never good service in a vessel whatever the color, Green, grey or white.

Emissions legislation is not retrospective in europe therefore you can re-power with what the hell you like. 180/220 actually meet RCD as base engine to Euro I will meet this piece of European nonsense legislaton.

Honest power..........Your weak kneed European Metric Hp is only worth .986 Imperial Hp, unrealistic 25 Degree test fuel, slightly dodgy fuel density, production tolerance as much a 7% for TYPICAL FULLY RUN IN ENGINE. Europeans started all the horse SXXX! Perkins were mug enough to follow Volvo, claiming a barely 190 Hp engine was actually 225. Thankfully CAT took them over.

Thankfully Americans stick to the concept of honest power.

 

[gsturgeon]

Engine prices

Having reread my original post, I notice that I had not included vat in the price of the conversion (apologies) so the situation is somewhat worse with a payback of 47 and 70 years.

There is a comprehensive VP price list on the Motortech Marine website.