How to cut petrol use in LPG car in winter?

© gazeo.comWhile a rail heater won't make the switchover much quicker, it can prevent engine stalling from contaminated injectors

Using additional interior heating
Fitting an aftermarket water heating may also result in cutting down on petrol consumption in the warm-up phase, especially in bigger cars featuring high-displacement, fuel-thirsty engines. In order to heat up the car's interior, the device uses petrol (unfortunetely, LPG-powered solutions aren't available) to heat up the engine's coolant, which is then used to warm up air blown into the cabin. The heating device can start automatically at a preset time or be started with a remote control or telephone. 30 minutes of its work heats the coolant to 50° C, meaning the interior is cosy and warm and the engine ready to switch over to LPG almost immediately after start-up. The amount of petrol consumed should not exceed 0,2 l.

Proper engine heating
Some drivers prefer to warm up their cars while they're still parked and idling. They use the time to remove snow and ice from the roof and windows. Others don't start the car until they remove snow and ice. From a legal perspective, the latter do the right thing, while the former don't. That's the situation in some countries at least. Warming up the engine while driving is definitely faster as the motor works under load. Moreover, fuel is used effectively – for moving the vehicle as well as heating, not just the latter purpose. Arguably, an idling engine uses very little fuel, but still uses it pretty much in vain.

© EberspächerAdditional heating systems use a little less petrol than regular warm-ups, plus they make interiors cosy and warm

To reduce the time required to warm up the engine, it's worth considering to cut down on interior heating use (if possible – we don't recommend driving with windows fogged up). Switching to closed loop air circulation and switching off the heating entirely closes air circulation in the heater (through which coolant usually flows). This way coolant is not cooled by air and the engine warms up quicker, sooner becoming ready to switch over to LPG.

Smart Hybrid
Scientists from the Silesian College of Technology (Politechnika Śląska, Poland) have developed a system to improve warming up of autogas system components, thus creating the Smart Hybrid, which allows engines to start immediately in autogas mode, with no petrol warm-up necessary. This way not only is petrol use reduced, but so is the use of autogas, especially in the warm-up phase.