News

LPG Injection Servicing

Smithy’s LPG and Automotive Services have been established for over 22 years.

As part of our business model and culture we have chosen to use only the high end range of products for our clients and to this end many of these conversions from 20 years ago are still in service.

iWith the necessity to have better control of fuel delivery to help minimise exhaust emissions on or after 2004 vehicles many vapour injection systems appeared on the market.

Smithy’s once again made it our business to only use leading brand and nationally supported products. We also have the programs and software to service, tune and maintain other injection systems and conduct repairs.

IMPCO
BRC
TARTARINI
PRINS
OMVL
DREAM
EMER
EUROGAS

BILKO
KME
EASYJET
SPRINT GAS
PARNELL
ELKO
LANDI RENZO

And systems previously fitted by EZY Gas.

Industry Data

Petroleum Gas (LPG) is the generic name for mixtures of hydrocarbons (mainly propane and butane). When these mixtures are lightly compressed (approx. 800 kPa or 120 psi), they change from a gaseous state to a liquid. LPG is colourless, odourless and heavier than air. A sulphur based chemical (ethyl mercaptan) is added to give it a smell like rotten cabbage, so that even a very small leak can be easily detected.LPG burns readily in air and has energy content similar to petrol, which makes it an excellent fuel for heating, cooking and for automotive use.

The LPG industry began in Australia in the early 1920s with product imported in cylinders from the US.Australian production began at the oil refineries in the 1950s, although it was largely classified as a waste product. Seeing the hidden potential to make money out of the unused product, a number of companies started to market LPG for cooking and heating. By the 1970s, propane and butane became available in substantial quantities when Exxon Mobil (then Esso) and BHP opened the Bass Strait Oil and Gas Fields. Although developed for oil and natural gas, it produced LPG in quantities far greater than the demand. The surplus LPG was exported.

Increased Australia's overall demand as more taxis and fleet vehicles adopted the cheaper alternative fuel. During the 1980s and 1990s, further naturally occurring fields were developed in Central Australia and the North West Shelf. The oil refineries also gradually increased their output and are continuing to do so. LPG occurs naturally in crude oil and natural gas production fields and is also produced in the oil refining process. Australia has five sources of naturally occurring LPG - Bass Strait (1,050) kilotonnes (kt)), Cooper Basin in Central Australia (410 kt), North West Shelf (810 kt) Kwinana in Western Australia (330 kt) and Surat Basin in Queensland (16 kt). Refinery production is from seven refineries, Bulwer Island (BP) and Lytton (Caltex) in Queensland, Clyde (Shell) and Kurnell (Caltex) in New South Wales, Altona (Exxon Mobil) and Geelong (Shell) in Melbourne and Kwinana (BP) in Western Australia producing 670 kt.

Australia produces currently about 3,300 kt of LPG annually. Of these volumes, 80% is naturally occurring (i.e. extracted from oil and gas production) and 20% is extracted from crude oil in the refining process. Australia's production of LPG is projected to grow to 5,024 kt by 2020. Australia currently consumes about 1,907 kt of LPG each year. We use around 47% of all production and export the remaining 53% (predominantly butane) which is surplus to our requirements. The automotive industry uses nearly 65% of the total Australian consumption.

Other uses include, recreational (barbecues, caravans, camping stoves, marine), residential (heating and cooking) and commercial/industrial (as a fuel). More than 500,000 Australian motorists run their vehicles on LPG. The traditional market has more than 1 million customers and there are approximately 7 million barbecue and camping cylinders in circulation in Australia. With easy access to ample local supplies, Victorians are the largest consumers of LPG accounting for 44% of total national consumption. (See also in Publications: Liquefied Petroleum Gas Supply & Demand Study 2001 and ALPGA Information Paper 1 - Supply Research Study 2000 - 2020

NEW LPG & Vehicle Service Schedule

After listening to the feedback we have received we are pleased to announce the launch of our NEW Service Schedule.

The purpose of this change is to reduce the amount of time you have to take out of your busy lives in order to maintain your vehicle whilst keeping your vehicle in peak condition.

We hope this will help to make LPG and Vehicle Servicing of your vehicle more convenient for you

Alternate 10,000km Service Schedule

The Service Requirements detailed in the Vehicle Service Manuals are the BASIC Service Requirements for standard driving and for driving under many other driving conditions extra services are necessary to keep your vehicle running well.

These exceptions include the following:

• Dust, dirt, loose road material
• Muddy and wet areas
• Cold weather
• When normal journeys are under 5km
• Stop-start driving, excessive idling or low speed e.g. experienced in inner city driving
• Caravan or trailer towing
• Extended heavy load high-speed operation in temperatures above 35 degrees.
• Driving long distances or more than 250,000 in 5 years
• Driving on LPG

Here at Smithy’s LPG & Automotive Services we are constantly striving to improve our services to you, our customers and we recognise that driving in Australia will most probably incorporate at least one of these special conditions.

Environmental and Economic reasons to save LPG subsidy

Promoting LPG use in Australia’s vehicle fleet has a clear benefit to the environment and to Australia’s balance of payments, Victoria’s peak automotive industry body, VACC, said today. “LPG is a clean, efficient energy source and produces amongst the lowest of life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions of all commercially-available automotive fuels. LPG produces extremely low particulate emissions during combustion and insignificant levels of sulphur dioxide emissions, which are the main causes of acid rain,” VACC Executive Director, David Purchase, said.

“In addition to this, LPG is less damaging to soil and water in the event of accidents or spillage compared to oil and petrol, and there are minimal releases of volatile emissions when refueling. “It is also around half the price of petrol and diesel. When you take into account the cost savings at the pump, the increase of life to your engine and reduced noise levels (compared with diesel), then LPG wins every argument hands down.

“Despite clear support from the public, the Federal Government is rumoured to be considering axing the LPG subsidy of $2000, paid to motorists who convert their family cars to run on LPG, in the up-coming Federal Budget.

“Since the LPG Vehicle Scheme was introduced in August 2006, the subsidy program has assisted more than 116,000 motorists switch to more affordable LPG. On average, nearly, 6000 vehicles are being converted nationally, per month. The figures speak for themselves. To stop this momentum in its tracks makes no sense,” Mr David Purchase, said.

Nationally, the retro-fit industry for LPG turns over $350 million per annum with thousands employed in the industry - there are more than 600 accredited LPG conversion businesses in Victoria alone. It also supports a service industry of component suppliers, equipment manufacturers, and retail infrastructure.

“Australia is virtually self-sufficient in LPG with huge national reserves. So why, with oil hitting a record US$120 a barrel and with our massive trade imbalance being swelled by our dependence on imported petrol, would you not want to use locally produced LPG? “The subsidy must be retained, even if only to assist our balance of payments problems and reduce inflationary pressures,” Mr Purchase said.