Q: Why should I convert my vehicle or equipment to run on an alternative fuel?
A: There are a number of GOOD reasons to convert to an alternative fuel such as:
     - Reduced fuel costs.
     - Reduction in environmentally damaging emissions.
     - Reduced maintenance costs.
     - Reduced dependence on foreign oil.

Q: Are LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) and CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) the same fuel?
A: LPG and CNG are quite different fuels, LNG is a high-pressure gaseous fuel that always stays in
     gaseous form. LPG is a low-pressure fuel which is stored as a liquid. Above a certain
     temperature LPG becomes a vapor fuel which the engine then runs on.CNG is compressed to a
     high pressure while LPG is stored at a much lower pressure.

Q: What' is a "Fumigated/Aspirated/Pneumatic or Carbureted" system as opposed to an "Injection
     System"?
A: The terms "Fumigated/Aspirated/Pneumatic or Carbureted" are widely mis-used but for simplicity
     sake, the "Fumigated/Aspirated/Pneumatic or Carbureted" type systems rely on vacuum created
     by the rushing intake air (typically through some sort of venturi) such as a mixer or carburetor to
     draw the fuel into the air stream, "Fuel Injection" type systems inject PRESSURIZED fuel into the
     air stream. The "Fuel Injector" is a nozzle or valve (a fuel metering device) independent of air flow,
     the power to inject the fuel comes from further back in the fuel supply.

Q: How many vehicles run on LPG?
A: There are over 9,000,000 vehicle world wide and approx. 400,000 in the USA and Canada.

Q: Is LPG safer than gasoline?
A: Like gasoline LPG is flammable, but has a much narrower range of flammability. LPG has a
     much higher ignition temperature of 920-1020 degrees vs. 80-300 degrees for gasoline. LPG
     will only burn with an air-fuel ratio of between 2.2% and 9.6% and will rapidly dissipate beyond
     its flammability range in the open  atmosphere, making ignition unlikely.LPG tanks are tested
     to a minimum 4 times normal operating pressures and are 20 times more puncture resistant
     than gasoline tanks.

Q: Is LPG cleaner than gasoline?
A: "50% less carbon monoxide, 40% less hydrocarbons, 35% less nitrogen oxides (NOx)
     and 50% less ozone forming potential compared to gasoline"

Q: Is CNG safe?
A: Natural gas has one of the safest records of any transportation fuel. There are two primary
     reasons: the physical properties of natural gas (natural gas is lighter than air!), and the
     structural integrity of the natural gas vehicle storage system.

Q: LPG or CNG, which should I choose?
A: Both are great choices BUT.... LPG is the fuel of choice if greater vehicle range is required. LPG
     is stored as a liquid fuel so has a greater density than CNG, providing much more range. LPG
     is a low-pressure fuel so conversion costs are usually less.
     CNG is stored as a high pressure gaseous fuel and will provide limited range, so if you are
     close to a refueling center (as many delivery fleets are) CNG is a good choice even with higher
     conversion costs because the fuel itself is very economical.

Q: What is the difference in "energy content" in CNG and LPG as compared to gasoline?
A: CNG has 64% of the energy in gasoline, LPG has 73%, of the energy in gasoline.

Q: What kind of mileage can I expect from LPG or CNG.
A; Typically with a pneumatic LPG system you will see a reduction in mileage of from 6~13%,
     SVIS LPG applications can vary from almost nothing to 10%. With CNG you will typically
     loose about  15~25% of the mileage you got on gasoline.

Q: How about power loss?
A: You will typically notice very little if any power loss on LPG, some users report a power gain.
     On CNG you may experience a loss of 15-25%.

Q: How much maintenance will my LPG or CNG system require?
A: Thats' one of the great features about these kits, once installed and tuned it requires no
     maintenance other than particulate filter changes for years to come. At some point in the future
     (normally 10-15 years) you may want to change the diaphrams and gaskets to ensure "like-new"
     performance and fuel economy.

Q: Are  LPG and CNG harmful to the environment?
A: NO. as approved, alternative clean fuels listed in the Clean Air Act and the National Energy
     Policy. LPG and CNG are some of the cleanest burning of all alternative fuels. LPG is is non-toxic
     and is not harmful to soil or water. Tests conducted by the U.S. Environmental Agency show that
     LPG  and CNG vehicles produce 30-90% less carbon monoxide than gasoline engines and
     about 50% fewer toxins and other smog producing emissions. Ever wonder why almost all
     indoor use equipment from forklifts to the Zambonis' at your local ice rink run on LPG indoors?,
     now you know why.

Q: Are all LPG and CNG conversion kits the same?
A: Absolutely not. There are many levels of technology and many more levels of quality in
     component parts. Different countries manufacture their products to different standards and
     safety codes. Cheap basic conversion kits obviously do not include the highest quality parts and
     in most cases do not include all the parts required for the PROPER installation of the kit.
     Installers are forced to "make up" or modify parts that didn't come with the basic kit. This can
     lead to unsafe installations, poor performance and higher costs for the installation due to time
     spent "making" parts that didn't come with the basic kit. In many cases these basic kits end up
     costing more than a complete kit! Some basic kits on the market today are still using the same
     component parts and technology from the 1960's when they were designed!
     Many of these cheap basic kits will not allow the vehicle or piece of equipment to run properly,
     so you lose fuel economy and clean emissions. A "cheap" kit can cost you more in lost fuel
     economy and power in a few months than a premium system would have cost in the first place!

Q: Where does LPG come from?
A: Approximately 88% of LPG in Canada and the USA come from our own sources. Of this, 70%
     comes from processing natural gas. The USA, Canada and Mexico have extensive natural gas
     reserves. LPG is an odorless, non-toxic product that is produced as a byproduct of in the oil
     refining process. LPG is the USA is the third largest motor fuel and has been fueling
     automobiles, trucks and industrial equipment since 1913!

Q: Is refueling difficult with LPG?
A: No, not at all, refueling is quick and simple. LPG's pumping rate, 10-12 gallons/38-45 liters per
    minute, is comparable to that of gasoline. To refuel a simple screw-on connection is used, so
    there is no worry about "spilled fuel" as the delivery system is "sealed". If you are refueling a very
    large tank or multiple vehicle, gloves are sometimes worn as the connections can become
    quite cold due to the fuel flow.

Q: What are the "mechanics of a conversion"?
A: With a few modifications to the engine, virtually any gasoline engine can be converted to run on
     LPG. Vehicles can be equipped to operate solely on LPG (dedicated conversion) or to switch
     between LPG and gasoline (dual-fuel conversion). The "under hood" components of the LPG
     system when correctly installed are almost indistinguishable from the factory components
     under the hood.
     LPG tanks fit compactly into car trunks, or in some cases where the gasoline tank has been
     removed, the tank(s) can be mounted where the gasoline tanks were previously. In trucks and
     Vans, LPG tanks can be installed inside the cargo bed or under the vehicle.

     LPG is stored as a liquid, usually in one or two tanks, at a pressures dependent upon ambient
     air temperature (e.g. at 70º F, the pressure of LPG would  be 127 psi; at 100º F, the pressure
     would be 196 psi). In an LPG engine, the liquid travels from the tank to a vapourizer/pressure
     regulator (also called a converter), which converts the liquefied LPG into a gaseous form.
     From the converter, the vapour goes to an air/fuel mixing device where it is is mixed with filtered
     intake air before being fed to the engine on demand, or in the case of sequential injection LPG
     systems the fuel is fed directly into the intake manifold via fuel injectors.

     A complete conversion system includes ALL the "under-hood" components, the fuel controller,
     valves, actuators, brackets, hoses, all hardware, wiring and electronics and any software
     needed to convert the vehicle to LPG operation.

Q: What are "open loop and closed loop"systems?
A: An "open loop" system does not contain control electronics and no feedback is provided to the
    controller on how well it is performing. The controller uses prior calibration to determine what
    to do.
    A "closed loop" system incorporates electronic sensor(s) that provide continuous feedback to
    the fuel controller on how well it is performing, thus the "closing the feedback loop". "Closed
    loop" conversions are generally more efficient (and more expensive) than "open loop" systems.

Q: How can I identify which Technocarb system I have on my vehicle?
A: Compare the major system components on your vehicle with the pictures shown in the
     Products/System ID Pictures on the HOME page of this site.