A Mean, Green Road Machine

'Green' is no longer just a colour; it's a way of life. In these days of high fuel prices and global warming, offsetting your carbon footprint and reducing the damage to the environment is high on many people's priorities.

The Government is pushing for more and more filling stations in the UK to offer an LPG pump alongside the usual petrol, diesel and (in some areas) leaded fuel pumps. LPG,polo ralph lauren, an acronym for Liquefied Petroleum Gas, is a high octane fuel distilled from propane and butane. Currently LPG is a UK export (petrol is one of the major imports) but more people are waking up to the fact that running their cars on this cheaper alternative to petrol is a good idea.

Having a petrol car converted to run on LPG involves installing a second tank, usually inside the spare wheel storage space,air max, and fitting a separate nozzle to the side of the car for refuelling. Most LPG cars will start on petrol and switch to burning LPG once the engine gets warm, or at 2,500 rpm. Therefore, it's a good idea to keep some petrol in the tank as well, as a back-up.

Aside from the environmental factor, there are many benefits to driving an LPG car. Firstly, and perhaps the deciding factor for most people, is the cost. Although the initial conversion can be expensive, around ?￡2000 in most cases, it's worth asking around if there are any grants available in your area to help with the cost. Even if there isn't, the amount you'll save after running a car on gas will far outstrip the initial outlay.  LPG is less than half the price of petrol at most filling stations, and can result in a smoother, quieter drive with a longer engine life. The resale value of a converted car tends to be higher too, as they are fast becoming more sought-after.

Road tax is another thing to consider. On newer cars, those registered after March 2001,tiffany, the road tax payable goes by the CO2 emissions rather than the engine size; LPG cars and other alternative fuel vehicles emit less polluting gasses and therefore are cheaper on the road tax. If you live in London you can also escape the congestion charge with an LPG car.

An LPG car is also seen as being safer; the gas is stored in an airtight tank completely separate from the petrol tank and,manolo blahnik, in the event of a crash, is less likely to be a fire hazard. The engine is also less likely to go wrong mid-drive as LPG actually conditions your engine, making it run better.