At a time of record petrol prices, many small businesses have no choice but to pass on increased fuel costs to their customers. Switching to Autogas means you don’t have to pass on the price rise, which could make all the difference when it comes to winning business.

Autogas is typically at least 50 percent cheaper than unleaded petrol (ULP), meaning you will save money at the pump from day one.

Here are three typical examples:

• If over the course of a year Autogas averaged $0.55 per litre, while unleaded petrol averaged $1.40 per litre, a Holden Commodore driver traveling 30,000 kilometres during the course of that year on Autogas would save $2,301 – the equivalent of $44 per week.
• Using the same comparative fuel prices, a Holden Rodeo utility traveling 40,000 kms a year on Autogas would save its owner $3,562 a year or $68 a week.
• Mitsubishi Express van which traveled 60,000 kilometres on Autogas during a year would lower its annual fuel bill by $4,274 or around $82 per week.

Obviously, the higher your vehicle’s mileage, the greater the savings.

To work out your potential savings, use the PAYBACK CALCULATOR on the right hand side of this page.

Typical conversion costs range from $2,500 to $4,500 depending on the type of vehicle and the licensed installer you select. However, the costs can be recouped in as little as 18 months thanks to the savings made at the pump every time you fill up. Of course, once you recover the initial conversion costs the savings mount quickly.

To calculate how quickly Autogas can put you into the black, use the PAYBACK CALCULATOR on the right hand side of this page.

There are several reasons for this:

• In cold starting the vehicle does not require a choke cycle to warm up
• Autogas does not wash the protective lubricant from cylinder walls
• Autogas significantly reduces the build-up of carbon on internal engine components, reducing engine wear
• There is no sludge formation in the engine

As a result Autogas-powered vehicles require:

• Fewer oil and filter changes
• Have longer exhaust system life
• And cleaner spark plugs that require replacement less often

On Autogas, torque is available at lower engine revs, which aids driveability – particularly in stop/start city driving. In some cases total torque is actually increased.

The power output of engines with Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI) is, when converted to run on Autogas, usually only slightly lower than on petrol. Where possible, the Autogas system is interfaced with the original EFI computer. While top speed may be marginally reduced and acceleration times cut by fractions of a second, most drivers would be unlikely to detect the difference.

The fuel economy of Autogas-powered vehicles depends on a range of factors but on average, vehicles running on Autogas use approximately 30 percent more fuel than petrol-powered equivalents. Remember, however, that this is more than offset by the much lower cost of Autogas, which is typically half the price or less than unleaded petrol.

Dedicated Autogas systems are an advantage for small fleet operators who want to ensure their drivers always fill up with much more inexpensive Autogas rather than petrol, thereby controlling costs.

If, for example, you are driving from Sydney to Brisbane via the Pacific Highway, there are 109 Autogas outlets on the way. That means that on average, you would pass an Autogas filling station every 9km and the furthest distance between stops is just 72km. To find out more about the spread of Autogas outlets, use our TRIP PLANNER.

Autogas systems fitted by an installer after new vehicle purchase are generally warranted by the installer. The terms and conditions of the warranty vary so you should check these before purchase. Extended warranty period options are now available through some installers.

If you choose to have an Autogas system fitted to your vehicle, use only a licenced LPG Autogas installer. To find the one closest to you use our INSTALLERS feature.

Your insurance company should be informed of the modification to Autogas, and you should ask them to revise the sum insured to reflect the replacement cost of the Autogas system.

Modern Autogas engine systems are designed to be safe in use, safe to repair and safe in a vehicle accident. All LPG tanks are rigorously tested and much stronger than conventional petrol tanks. In a crash, they can withstand enormous impact forces without deforming.

Other mandated safety features include:

• Two electronically controlled shut-off solenoids (on cylinder and under bonnet) which stop the flow of gas to the engine if the engine stops for any reason
• Pressure relief valves for the tank and the system, to prevent any pressure build up that may damage the system, or be hazardous
• Double back-check valves to ensure gas tight filling
• Sealed compartments and venting around valves and pipe-work to ensure no LPG enters the interior of the vehicle.

Graham Schorer, Managing Director, Golden (one of Melbourne's largest courier companies)

"I photograph real estate so I travel between 50,000 and 70,000 kilometres a year. Originally I converted my four company cars to save money - but now both of the V8s seem to run better on autogas than on petrol. I'm trying to convert a mate of mine. He's got a new Landcruiser that he's done 28,000 kilometres in, but he thinks it would be too expensive to get it converted. I told him if he had it converted to autogas in the first place it would have paid for itself by now."

Bill Riley, Manager, Auction Photography

"Having pondered the decision to convert to autogas for over eight months, my only regret is that I didn't do it straight away. It is now an obvious economic decision that means greatly increased profits for my business. Prior to having autogas installed on each of my cars I was spending around $7,000 a month on petrol. Now, even while I am paying off my conversions through the gas company scheme, I am still paying less for my fuel. Being long distance couriers, the extra capacity of fuel has meant we can travel much further than ever before without stopping and it was quite a surprise to find just how many stations actually sell autogas. Autogas is one of the best decisions I have ever made."

Les Midson, All Hours Couriers, (Burpengary Qld)