Mondeo - what do you reckon?

That all depends on how far you're planning on getting away..... for a quick dash through Europe without stopping for fuel and getting caught on CCTV, a V10 TDI would rock.

"SteveH in pro-diesel shocker"

Yeah, not in general, I just have a perversion for the V10 TDI Phaeton.

Well despite my love of the I5 TDI, I'd still *much* rather the W12 petrol. Regardless of any silly little factors like ful economy...

cops would catch you up at the next filling staion.

If you could make it that far. I'm not convinced that the W12 is suitable for runs as long as the average distance between two filling stations.

One thing I will say about diseasels, the range is good. The Mondeo I had as a loaner recently, when the 4xFord was having some extended fettling, achieved 650 miles to the tank, a bit over 50mpg. It did make me consider having one for the dash across Europe. However my desire to own one went away the first day I had to start it from cold. My tractor is actually quieter.

Agreed if the motor has an iron head , anything after the mid 1980's with an alloy head should be fine on lpg with out flash lube .

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correct as a rule, but there are exceptions, the black top (silver tops are fine) Zetec's being one.

If flash lube is not fitted, it'll already have had at least one valve job in its 150k life.

Tim..

way way too much money for that

Glowplugs? Who the hell has to wait for glowplugs these day? Not since DI engines.

Right, went to have a look at it today. The conversion was done in Poland so all the certificates etc are in Polish. He didn't know he had to inform his insurers when he had it converted (over the summer this year), so he doesn't know whether they'll accept the certificates or not. Assuming they wont, how much would it cost to get it looked at by an installer and get a certificate? Can you even get a certificate that insurers will accept retrospectively?

It was alright for 150k miles, but the MOT runs out in December so I've told him to get it another one and I'll go away and think about it. Only other problem was the rear bumper is rather mangled but that's only cosmetic. No fuel gauge for the LPG tank either, there is a warning light which is supposed to come on when the tank is running low but it's been calibrated wrong so it comes on at half empty. I'm guessing that could be corrected, if you really wanted to.

It _is_ the 1.6 litre zetec engine, so I'm assuming it needs the flash-lube. Didn't look like it had anything of the sort installed, and he'd never heard of it when I asked. It did have the valves replaced when the LPG conversion was done.

He'd have to come down a bit on the price though, even with 12 months MOT.

How's that work then?

u...

The properly correct method of converting the Black top for LPG is to buy the Ford supplied LPG head from a dealer- they take yours back in exchange. Its about 400quid for the head.

Flash lube kit is about 100 quid, but you do have to remember to keep it filled with lube.

Tim..

Right, cheers. You can get a flashlube kit from greenfuel.org.uk for about 40 quid cant you? Or do you mean 100 quid fitted?

If it's gonna need a new head I'm definitely best off leaving it alone, for that money. There's a laguna I might be looking at tomorrow.

What do you reckon about the polish LPG conversion certificate?

Wouldn't touch it with the proverbial. Who is the manufacturer of the gas system? Do they have suppliers/fitters in this country. Is software required to set it up and is it available? Not all insurers require a certificate. A UK installer will want anything between £50 - £100 to inspect, then you will be charged for any rectification to conform to UK Construction & Use Regs or LPGA COP11 which is the standard that many insurance companies recognise and insist on.

In message , Tom Robinson writes

Not worth the paper it's written on IMHO. How many insurance companies employ Polish translators?

If I liked the house I would. On the other hand if I was selling it would be better they rocked up in that than some big 7 series BMW.

Fraser

Ever driven a BMW 330 diesel....? Bloody rapid is the only apt description! Badger.

I'm not absolutely sure, but I think it's 'cos on the old indirect injection engines, the 'plugs were in the pre-combustion chamber, rather than the combustion chamber, and it took yonks to heat the whole lot up enough. In direct injection lumps, the 'plugs are in the actual combustion chamber. Most modern DIs don't even use the glow plugs unless it's pretty cold, and when they do they are only on for a second or so. It can still take a few seconds if it's like -15C or something, but your fuel's probably frozen by then anyway :-)