L.P.G. for cars ‘chaotic’

Press, 28 April 1980, Page 5

L.P.G. for cars ‘chaotic’

PA Masterton A chaotic situation is developing in the gasrfuels conversion field, according to a Masterton fuel specialist, Mr Allan‘"Simmonds. Dozens of companies were offering such a variety of equipment, that they totally confused the customer without regard to the availability of fuels, particularly liquefied petroleum gas, he said. “In Auckland alone. 30 cars are being converted to L.P.G. each week yet supplies of the fuel are still limited,” he said. Some car owners who

had had their vehicles converted might face a long wait before they actually drove on the fuel. Supply problems were likely to continue until the mid19SOs.

Mr Simmonds expressed concern about the efficiency of some of the conversion kits being offered, especially some of the cheaper ones. There was a wide variation in the performance of various kits and he suggested that an independent body such as the Automobile Association or the Consumers’ Institute run comparative tests on those offered.

Mr Simmonds was also concerned about the quality of some conversions.

"Just the other day we had a main feed line blow off a car while we were filling it. It went off with a huge bang: it hadn’t been screwed up properly.”

Mr Simmonds said that not only professionals were to blame. Any handyman could rig his car to run on gas: all that was needed was a caravan gas bottle, “but you would probably kill yourself and anybody else about.”

L.P.G. tanks were supposed to be bolted on to a

vehicle's chassis with fastenings capable of withstanding 20 times the force of gravity. He had seen a tank mounted on a piece of 4in by 2in timber and another one fastened to i..e floor of a boot with selftapping screws. Gas lines had been secured with plastic-bag ties and fuel lines had been placed next to exhaust pipes.

The industry was beeont mg increasingly concerned but apart from refusing to supply fuel to such vehicles and advising their owners of the dangers, there was little it could do.