My CNG conversion

[Adawang]

thats hydrogen refilling station

[Gilbertaue]

Correct. Hydrogen BP station set up for Worldwide DaimlerChrystler SMART Hydrogen car trials. Plan is to run the station until sometime next year. What happens after that anyone's guess.

[Trex101]

Cannot gap manually risk damaging the fine wire electrode. Reducing the gap is better on CNG systems to reduce the load on the ignition system. Petrol is 12-15kV, CNG needs 20-35kV.

 

Gapping is easy, i can do it for you if you want.

[Genie47]

Easier on the regular plug. Not so easy for a fine wire. Using the feeler gauge already risks damaging the fine wire.

[Genie47]

Get Thule roof mount system after CNG (more money )

[Genie47]

OK had my first CNG fill-up yesterday. The details of the adventure.

 

Drove in, went to the Citibank drive-in ATM so that my car can actually get to see the real owner.

 

Filled-up with petrol at the BHP station next door. Drove down opp Menara AA for a wash. Then drove to Jln Datin Halimah NGV. Was very disappointed. The queue was extended all the way to main road (Datin Halimah).

 

Headed to Tampoi Utama NGV. Queue here is shorter. All the taxi drivers were staring at this red car wondering if it was a taxi. Cost me MYR7.60 for the fillup. Actually MYR7.62 on the meter. On the meter it shows 11.14L (I know it is actually kg). Considering all things the pressure isn't that bad as described. So the cylinder's actual capacity is around 12kg if my guess is correct since the system won't let the cylinder empty to 0bar.

 

I went home and checked the cylinder. It was really hot from adiabatic compression.

 

Didn't use the gas until this morning. Just to go to work, one LED dropped off.

[Gilbertaue]

Genie, just to let you know that you should be able to fit a bit more into your cylinder (close to RM9). Probably due to the fact that Tampoi is a daughter station and not a piped (dedicated) station - like Dtn Halimah.

[Genie47]

I've seen the taxis achieve MYR8.50 while queuing. The queue at Datin Halimah is daunting. According to sources, 5-6am is the best time for it.

 

Anyway, how can I get a Jurong Island pass?

[Gilbertaue]

Dtn Halimah is fine at any time except afternoons and early evening.

 

JI pass. Issue to resolve with NEA / JTC / SembGas. Trying hard to get something rolling. Basically it is an issue of who "sponsors" these drivers and the "security risk" that the respective company who sponsors them will have if one of the CNG drivers turns out to have 'other motives' of going onto Jurong Island - apart from filling up CNG.

 

Anyway, working hard on it.

[Genie47]

I was at Datin Halimah 11:30pm and the queue was really long. I'll try 9-10pm the next time. Fill up first on both petrol and gas then go for the wash.

 

Well, forget Jurong Island.

[Genie47]

Bifuel Aveo will make it's appearance at MCF Meetup today. Those who wish to see the car can come. Maybe I can let your test drive.

 

http://www.mycarforum.com/forum/gforum.cgi?post=1852323

[Vtim]

Get Thule roof mount system after CNG (more money )

with Thule on roof, cannot go more than 140kmh ley

[Ml2spin]

Thanks for all the info about the conversion on friday night - let me know by PM about what we discussed...

Edited April 29, 2007 by Ml2spin

[Snookium]

Currently in Bangkok, i was told that it only cost ard 10K++Babt(less than SDG$1000) to fit in CNG kit. How i wish i can fit this price in singapore too....

[Genie47]

I also wish. BTW, Thais like to use the mixer system instead of the SGI kits. Might explain the low cost. Most of these mixer kits are made in Thailand itself. Even the cylinders are made in Thailand.

[Snookium]

if i drive to bbk and fit it. Must i inform LTA???

[Genie47]

Doesn't work that way.

[Genie47]

Here are the pictures.

 

The boot or what's left of it.

 

The fibreboard shield lowered to reveal the cylinder.

 

The injectors, fill port (with red cap) and pressure gauge.

 

 

 

The pressure gauge. The 12 o'clock position is 200bar. The highest it should achieve. The green thingy obscuring it is the electronics that feed back to the cabin LED indicator. Needle points to just slightly above 100bar (half tank).

 

Control unit strapped next to the battery.

 

 

 

The fill port, pressure gauge and injectors again

 

 

The in-cabin LED pressure display and control switch.

 

 

The green CNG sticker at the back. Another one is in the front but who wants such a sticker. -5bhp.

 

OK some other findings.

 

Went to pump in the mother-daughter station at Tampoi Utama. Price is MYR7.50

Over the weekend, I traveled up to Melaka and used the station along Ayer Keroh. Even though it is a mother-daughter station, the compressor must be really good. MYR7.97 worth of gas.

 

On the return trip, I visited The Jln Datin Halimah fill station. Direct gas pipeline. MYR8.50 worth of gas!

 

1kg of gas is MYR0.6835 and I would say I can understand why the JB taxis queue up for it at Datin Halimah.

 

OK The trip up north along the NSH. The fuel loves it at high revvs. 3.5kRPM and there is no stress on the engine. You feel as though the car is cruising at 90kph. I was travelling at 135kph. Because I used some of the gas in SG. The Tampoi Utama fill up lasted me 190km. When it switched over to petrol, I can't feel it did. Only the beeping revealed the switch.

 

OK Pedal to the metal. Nope! No can do, the car refuses to move above 135kph. Maxed out completely! Guess the green CNG sticker really -5bhp.

 

With the Ayer Keroh fill up, it lasted 170km with those speeds. My car drew a lot of onlookers in Ayer Keroh fill station. 2 Malaysians in with CNG Protons came out to see this SG car with CNG. Ayer Keroh fill attendant even say good to save money. Petrol best leave it to rich people with too much money to burn.

 

The Jln Datin Halimah fillup is good. Now LED indicator is 2 green. Slightly more than 100bar pressure left. I have covered 120km with it. The car drew a lot of onlookers at the Datin Halimah station as well.

 

Lots of hesitation in urban traffic especially at 1.5kRPM to 2.2kRPM with 40% throttle. Could be due to the old spark plugs. I might change them out today. No harm doing it. It will be more complete with another round of proper tuning with these new plugs should I install them.

Edited April 30, 2007 by Genie47