VZ with LPG - overheating problem cured

[Benboy]

Any vehicle that I might own that has LPG fitted and develops engine related problems would generally go straight to an LPG Specialist. Such systems have their fair share of problems. To expect a 'general automotive' mechanic or worse still a Radiaator Specialist to be able to readily identify the problem is unrealistic and naieve. Glad to hear you managed to get matters resolved without too much unnecessary expense.

 

[TwoUpTourer]

Any vehicle that I might own that has LPG fitted and develops engine related problems would generally go straight to an LPG Specialist. Such systems have their fair share of problems. To expect a 'general automotive' mechanic or worse still a Radiaator Specialist to be able to readily identify the problem is unrealistic and naieve. Glad to hear you managed to get matters resolved without too much unnecessary expense.

Well I really wonder about that. Never having had any LPG problems before, and I suddenly get an engine overheating, then my, and Electro's, first thought is to see a mechanic. My second thought is a cooling specialist, as I have an overheating problem.

Unless you have some prior experience with these things, there is nothing at all that immediately makes such an obvious tie to LPG when it is the engine overheating. Well not to me, or Electro, nor 3 of the mechanics I saw nor any of the mechanics Electro saw, and even some of the LPG guys he saw. I do expect a cooling specialist to be broadly across the topic of the possible causes of overheating, because it is his field, even more so than the general mechanic.

But that's just me, and probably Electro, who spent a pile of unnecessary money pursuing the source of this issue.

 

[Electro]

Hi TwoUpTourer,

Swapped the converter over today - all went well as expected - everything is very tight and it's a pain but all done. I ended up putting a VE commodore converter in which is a little different to the VZ one but fits fine and I think is a bit better the way the temp sender fits in as the sender doesn't enter the coolant but gets heated through the aluminium.

Pulled the old converter apart and found multiple coolant leaks into the screws that hold the converter together, plus a perished and holed rubber membrane which was undoubtedly the original problem There was no sign of corrosion so a seal kit may have been fine. The new converter was only a few more dollars ($275 versus a seal kit for $200) so I'm still happy. Checked the screws that held the NEW converter before installing it and found three that were loose. I recon the rubber membranes compress over time and the screws need to be nipped up. The OEM LPG booklet that comes with the car says this in fact but it doesn't appear in the service schedule so it doesn't get done plus its a real pain to get to.

Cost to take the heads off and put new chains and guides in...$1500. $500 to get two heads surfaced and crack tested, $600 for a complete chain kit with guides, sprockets and new oil pump .... bought it from the USA on ebay...same kit as a Cadillac SRX 3.6 but a fraction of the AUS price, $300 for a set of Cadillac SRX gaskets ... complete top end and front cover gasket goop and seal kit including valve stem seals. The rest was new head bolts and other bits and pieces. Also cost me 3 days of my life and a lot of swearing.

Replacement engine was $1500, so $3K all up because of a misdiagnosed LPG converter problem - could have been worse but I just hope even one other person can be saved from going through this path by reading this.

So, I now have a completely sound second LPG engine with new chains gathering dust. The replacement engine was very low KM but is a not a factory LPG engine, not that it makes much difference according to most.

Live and learn.

Regards

 

[TwoUpTourer]

Live and learn.

Regards

Makes me cry reading this. It could have been me. I also anticipated several days to strip down to the block etc, and really really did not want to do it. The only thing I wanted to do even less was winching a new motor in. And then finding the problem was still there.

Interesting re the seal kit. MegGas on OG Rd only charged me $87, so dunno how you got quoted $200. I'm aiming to sell my VZ now, not because of this episode, but because I'm after a campervan, so at 140k its time to do it.
cheers
John

 

[sammydamag3]

thank you for this. my VE over heated a few months ago and blew coolant all over the place and it I happend again after a service. then it was fine after switching to ULP though. I was told the hot weather was to blame until today when it started to over heat again after a 10 min drive.
got home and checked engine. corroded coolant in all the wrong places (not that there is a right place).
topped up with water an hour later and It took heaps.
then found this thread.
going to a lpg specialist first thing tomorrow. hopefully it's the same issue