Thinking of Buying a 2010-2012 Falcon FG Ecolpi UTE - Good or bad idea?

• 

  Muzeeb on 14/07/2021 - 18:19

  +1

  10 year LPG inspection due soon or not required as factory fitted?

  • 

    websterp on 14/07/2021 - 19:00

    Good point. Both factory and after market conversions need to be recertified every 10 years. Some say this is a significant expense costing up to $800 but there are some references of owners being able to get this done around the $200 mark. Either way need to do my research on this too.

• 

  spackbace on 14/07/2021 - 18:31

  +6

  Rated to 13.9L/100km Combined, going up to 18.3L/100km for city driving…

  Don't just think LPG = cheap to run, because it clearly isn't. LPG is currently only around 25% cheaper than 91…

  It's a false economy

  • 

    RockyRaccoon on 14/07/2021 - 19:46

    Maybe out west, but locally 91 is $1.54 and LPG is $0.88

    To me how can we say if its a good idea, as it all depends on purchase price

    • 

      pegaxs on 14/07/2021 - 20:02

      +3

      And you burn almost 2x the amount of LPG as you do petrol, so 25% cheaper is probably being generous.

      • 

        RockyRaccoon on 14/07/2021 - 21:40

        Would the master mechanic care to point to data on this, traditionally it was 10-20% if it was what you claim, then Taxi’s wouldnt have been using LPG for years (falcons as well)

        There’s a handy calculator here

        https://www.elgas.com.au/autogas-lpg-cars/fuel-cost-savings-…

        • 

          brendanm on 14/07/2021 - 22:14

          +1

          @RockyRaccoon: Used to be 50% more with crappy old mixer systems, 25% in port injection systems like the ecolpi. Not sure where you get 10%, LPG has 25% lower energy density than petrol.

          Taxis used LPG as it used to be far cheaper than petrol, not the case now.

          • 

            pegaxs on 15/07/2021 - 13:46

            -1

            @brendanm: And taxis used it because it was $1.50 for petrol and about 40¢ for LPG. And over the amount if km a taxi does, the break even point using LPG comes a lot sooner time wise.

            Now that LPG is about the same as petrol to run, there is no real cost benefit to running LPG, or if there is, it's very small, so the pay back time increases to where it's just not worth it, hence the reason most suburban and inner city taxis are going hybrid. Harvesting and storing electricity through regeneration is basically free miles…

            As for 2x as much, this is what most older/cheaper LPG systems basically worked on. It wasn't uncommon to have a massive 120 litre LPG tank and still get less km than the cars standard 60~80 litre petrol tank. And like Brendan said, there is only about 75% as much energy in a kg of LPG compared to a kg of petrol

            • 

              Mad Max on 17/07/2021 - 17:32

              @pegaxs:

              there is only about 75% as much energy in a kg of LPG compared to a kg of petrol

              If you go by weight,
              1 Kg of LPG = 2L of LPG
              1 Kg of petrol = 1.33L of petrol

          • 

            RockyRaccoon on 15/07/2021 - 17:54

            @brendanm: I agree the the 10% was wrong, but so is the 50% as you said that was for mixer systems. The OP is asking about an ecolpi system, so the 25% is the more accurate figure.

            BTW the 10% I had in mind was accurate for a car I had LPG in they did, as they did a dyno test before and after. But that was a rare breed of car - Rambler Hornet. Interesting statistic was that LPG didnt go out of tune as fast as a petrol car in the old systems either.

            I am not pro or anti LPG but if we are to help the OP we should be giving helpful advice not using inflated numbers as some here are claiming. And the link I gave gave a calculator for the OP to use based on their usage.

            Like a friend who wanted to trade in their old petrol Hilux for a diesel, because of better consumption. Great in theory, but when we pointed out they only drove 5K a year at best, what was the point when the change over cost like for like was $4k and they knew their existing cars history.

            And again depending on where you live and the petrol price cycle, as I indicated before the price locally to me is around 45% cheaper

            As for 40c LPG while petrol was $1.50 as indicated by Pegaxs I have never seen that big a difference. Maybe Taxis had a special price but the bowser never reflected that

            • 

              brendanm on 15/07/2021 - 18:05

              @RockyRaccoon: I completely agree, changing cars for fuel economy gains is often very silly.

              The other problems with the ecolpi are getting people who have gas training to work on it, shorter range, and having to get the tank tested (which isn't that big of a deal).

              Fewer servos are selling LPG now, so it may be more of a pain to get. I simply don't see the point of LPG these days, unless you're doing it for the octane rating, even then it would be easier to go E85.

  • 

    rooster7777 on 20/11/2022 - 22:01

    How's that LPG false economy treating you?
    The "false economy" is treating me very very well!

    • 

      spackbace on 20/11/2022 - 23:06

      Did you really just come to a 1+yo post to comment that? 😂

      Side note, pretty well considering LPG is getting harder to come by…

      • 

        rooster7777 on 20/11/2022 - 23:16

        When googling on a particular subject sometimes the date of information isn't as relevant as what is written… No, I didn't come to this ozbargain subject for your post, but when I saw it I couldn't resist commenting.

        Well, I see you still on the same wrong track.
        Round my way LPG is 85c/L, and ULP is $1.65. So long as you haven't been complaining about the cost of fuel I guess all is well!

        • 

          spackbace on 21/11/2022 - 01:22

          @rooster7777:

          Rated to 13.9L/100km Combined, going up to 18.3L/100km for city driving…

          So you're using 18.3L/100km around town in an LPG car, where you could use a petrol car using less than 9L/100km and actually be saving money

          You know how many vehicles use less than 9L/100km? Lots 😂

          So yup, false economy…

          • 

            Hackney on 21/11/2022 - 06:29

            @spackbace: Mine was always around the 12L/100 mark.18L/100 is actually incorrect.This was city running.But, would I buy a gas powered vehicle? Not anymore.

• 

  pharkurnell on 14/07/2021 - 20:51

  Buy it and enjoy the sound and power…

• 

  hasselbladsnapper on 14/07/2021 - 20:53

  +2

  Spackbase is on the money, I had a LPG Falcon and while working at Ford, one of our factory mechanics said that LPG was not economic once the pump price reaches half of the ULP cost!. So to be an economic solution, under 2x there is a saving, once it is over 2x you are better off with ULP.

  Another factor was when I lived in Melbourne the LPG was a decent deal due to high taxi use. Later on I had a gas vehicle in South Australia with a much higher per litre cost,
  so if you plan much out of town or interstate trips the LPG cost will hit you pocket yet again!.

• 

  Oofy Doofy on 14/07/2021 - 22:44

  Get a van, you can do a lot more with them than a ute. It's just reality, lol.

• 

  Euphemistic on 15/07/2021 - 08:13

  Unless you live and move in an area that still has plenty of lpg options for refueling, just go petrol.

• 

  bhubb18 on 15/07/2021 - 08:48

  The ECOLPI is a good motor. iirc its stronger than the equivalent NA motor, makes more power too, while having substantially better economy then the old LPG systems.

  As long as LPG is still available, I would take one over a petrol equivalent.

• 

  Chris Topher on 15/07/2021 - 15:37

  Consider that if ever you run out of gas (LPG) you can't hoof it back to a servo for can of LPG.

• 

  Blokeinhisundies on 15/07/2021 - 21:44

  Check how many servos actually have LPG. I live on the Gold Coast and there are not that manyaround anymore. The tanks take up a heap of room as they are above ground and the number of customers is hardly worth the hassle.

• 

  [Deactivated] on 15/07/2021 - 22:23

  +1

  I love these things so I'll give you a lengthly reply… get youself a coffee. Gather around children…

  I was looking at these a little while back. Very practical work car. The ecolpi is quicker than the N/A petrol and will beat an XR6T from the lights out to about 100-200m apparently. https://youtu.be/yPewODeliBM

  This isnt the same engine as the EGAS, the bottom end isn't as strong and the compression is way higher. Regardless, that's doesnt mean it's worse. If you looked after it, it will go for a years or as long as LPG is available.

  One plus with utes is there is less suspension to service. That's the weak point of Falcons, all the rubber bushings (the diff bushings, ball joints etc). The Falcon ute Leaf sprung suspension in the rear is implemented well for a utility and will last with very little attention. (Commodore is not leaf sprung and tub and payload is smaller)

  The utes also have dual tanks, keep that in mind for re-certification. Some other states are yearly checks (lpg is becoming less desirable interstate because of this so might be able to grab a bargain if you can get there)

  Had 7 falcons in the family over the past 20 years, one lpg BA and a factory lpg AU one tonner. That AU did 635,000km until it got T-boned and written off. It still drove onto the tow truck like a banana.

  Ive also owned a 4L V6 petrol 2005 hilux 4x2. That thing DRINKS! Get an average of 18l/100 on the freeway, has no cruise control and drives like absolute crap. It lasts though, very little issues with it and it's never been looked after. Still going at over 500,000km. Actually pretty impressive how badly it's treated and it just keeps going. It's had a noisy top end for 4 years and it still does 160km/ day 6 days a week climbing 650m on the fwy. With that said, the falcons have done that too with a little bit more servicing. They're not as bare-bones as that hilux.

  If you're willing to do some servicing yourself, you can't go wrong. Just inspect it well first, a lot of these utes are run in and not cared for much as they've been business use only.

• 

  Hackney on 21/11/2022 - 06:28

  Had one of those.(FG MK11 XR6 Ecolpi ute) fantastic power.210Kw & 409Nm.Rocket ship comes to mind!Best gas system on the market.This & Toyota’s Hybrid system was part of the ‘Green innovation fund’ @ the time.Would I buy gas a again? Possibly not.Economy is not that great, mine was around the 12-13L/100.Buy a Hybrid.