When choosing a car, owners try to take into account various factors: comfort, capacity, power. But an important feature is the kind of fuel consumed by the vehicle. The types and cost of further maintenance depend on this characteristic, as well as the behavior of the car and the ways of its operation.
Most of the cars from the conveyors of automakers come with gasoline or diesel powertrains. Not many modern manufacturers put gas installations as a “native” fuel system. In the article we will look at the advantages and disadvantages of gas equipment (LPG), and also find out what to choose: gas or gasoline and what is better for the engine.
Content
- 1 Why choose gasoline
- 2 Device and operation of HBO
- 3 Structural changes in the car
- 4 The use of cylinders
- 4.1 Cylindrical
- 4.2 Toroidal
- 5 Multifrequency valve
- 6 Positive points from switching to gas
- 7 Negative moments of transition to gas
- 8 Rules of operation to obtain benefits from HBO
Why choose gasoline
Virtually any experienced driver can name the advantages of using gasoline. After all, many of them are well aware of the design of their own motor and can often fix many problems on their own. As a positive moment, it is worth highlighting a large number of filling stations, offering any driver to buy and pour at least into the canister, even directly into the gas tank, gasoline of different brands.
Even if something in the engine breaks, it is easy to find the closest service for servicing gasoline power plants. Most specialists at large stations have a narrow specialization and extensive experience working with different models of machines. Therefore, repair will often be fast and of high quality.
It is believed that cars with gasoline engines are safer.than those that use liquefied gas as fuel. Although these problems usually occur when installing HBO non-professionals.
Also, drivers prefer gasoline installations and because of their wide distribution. You can independently test and walk through the salons in search of cars with HBO or look through the pages of sites with car sales.
However, European concerns are engaged in the release of cars with gas equipment under the hood. And this is not only urban public transport, but also passenger cars. For them the question is not relevant: gasoline or gas, for and against.
Device and operation of HBO
Today's systems are fundamentally different from devices five or ten years old. Recently, several generations of HBO have been replaced.
HBO device diagram
The common thing is the absence of a fuel pump, because the gas in the cylinder is already under a pressure of 8 atmospheres. This is quite enough for self-fuel.
Structural changes in the car
When installing a new fourth-generation HBO, the connection of the reducer is carried out in the gap of the cooling systems, and a gas injector is inserted in the intake manifold.
In old HBO, an additional solenoid valve was installed to block the fuel supply.
No more structural change with the car. Therefore, the car can equally well use both gasoline and gas. If you wish, you can safely dismantle the add-in and return to the mono-fuel mode.
See also: What is the VIN-code of the carThe use of cylinders
There are two main types of cylinders: cylindrical and toroidal. You can choose the one that is more consistent with the design features of the car.
Cylindrical
Externally similar to a home gas bottle. The difference is only in length and diameter. It can be from 20 to 90 liters. Their installation is usually carried out behind the rear passenger seats, between the arches with the help of fixing tapes. Sometimes mounting is allowed under the bottom of the car.
The appearance of the cylinder in the trunk
Toroidal
Capacity is a bit like a big pill. Its size is usually comparable to the spare wheel. Mounting is also carried out instead of the spare wheel. You can remove a wheel from a niche completely, and carry a small “dokatka” instead of it in the trunk.
Multi-valve
To install the multi-valve each cylinder has a standard hole. The valve is divided into two blocks: to connect the filling equipment and for the flow in the cylinder block. Therefore, for refueling you do not need to dismantle anything. There is also recorded a float, indicating the level of filling the cylinder.
You can bring the testimony of the level of gas in the cabin, but it is rarely needed. After all, there is always gasoline in the tank, which does not allow to remain without fuel in the middle of the road. Refueling is desirable to carry out to the maximum allowable values. But do not pump. As this may lead to an explosion of the container.
Positive points from switching to gas
One of the main reasons for the transition to HBO is considered its financial efficiency. The ratio of prices for gasoline and gas has been maintained for a long time about 2 to 1.
At the same time, gas consumption by a car is comparable to the consumption of gasoline (about 1 l of gasoline per 1 l of gasoline).
With the average use of auto payback is obtained in a few months. With intensive driving much faster.
There are also advantages in operation:
- lack of detonation, since gas fuel has an octane rating of more than 100 units;
- wear of the piston group is reduced due to high-quality mixing of the mixture and uniform burning;
- oil preservation of its qualities for a longer time, unlike the use of gasoline fuel;
- smaller amount of soot;
- exhaust gas is cleaner than gasoline;
- mileage without refueling doubled.
Equipment for gas installation
Negative moments of transition to gas
When installing HBO on a new car, the vehicle loses warranty. The only exception is for some "Chinese", which allow installation of branded equipment, as well as for some domestic brands of cars.
The motivation in case of failure is the argument of the automakers that the machine was designed for liquid fuel, and when operating on gas, manufacturers cannot guarantee the quality of all systems.
Another disadvantage is the risk of fire. If the installation was carried out by licensed specialists and using branded components, the danger is reduced to a minimum, although not to zero.
When resolving the issue with the permitting authorities, it will be necessary to record the fact of new HBO in the documents on the car.
Therefore, it is desirable to place a car on the account after the installation of a gas installation, so as not to pay extra for the alteration of documents.
Read also: Selection of spare parts for VIN car code onlineThere is a minus and discomfort. Auto still slows down a bit in dynamics. Machine weight distribution changes, which may cause problems with handling. We have to constantly carry an extra few tens of kilograms. There is a free space in the trunk or the car loses the spare wheel.
There may be problems or technical damage in the operation of HBO. After all, the engine must be started using gasoline. Next, you need to warm up the car, and only then switch to gas. But this minus is leveled in the settings of the last generation. There everything is done with the help of automation.
Complete set with toroidal balloon
Incorrect adjustment of gas equipment can lead to serious damage in cars, up to physical damage to the intake manifolds.
Operating rules to benefit from HBO
Benefits from installing gas equipment can be obtained using 4th generation systems. Their cost is slightly higher, but this is offset by greater forethought in the design and management.
A characteristic feature of this HBO is that the engine always starts on gasoline.
Also in case of gasoline pump breakdowns or the lack of gasoline in the tank, it is possible to start on a planned gas. You can also change different types of fuel even while driving. For the machine, this process is almost imperceptible.
If the smell of gas in the cabin, you must immediately stop and turn off the valve. Next, you need to continue to move on gasoline to determine and eliminate the damage.
If early HBO systems are installed, then it will be necessary to drain condensate from a cylinder with a regularity of about 1,000 km.
For refueling, it is desirable to have an adapter between Soviet fittings and products of European standard. At the peripheral gas stations they may not be.