Renault Espace (1997 - 2002) - 1997 2.2 Trafic petrol converted to lpg

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Thu 12 Jun 2008 10:44
1997 2.2 Trafic petrol converted to lpg - Bothwell_buyer
I've had some problems with the tappets closing on this engine, and also coolant loss. Replaced heater valve which was leaking 3 years ago. Found another leak on a hose joint 4 weeks ago which I fixed. However, the coolant is milky white indicating oil in the water. Oil level is down very slightly. The engine is tending to overheat and seems to be pushing coolant out from overflow. Runs ok on lpg but lumpy on petrol and tendency to backfire through inlet when using petrol...which i think may have wrecked air mass/flow meter. Any ideas where I should look for reasons for milky coolant? Head gasket? The oil in sump is a nice black, with the rockers also being nice and black. I know the engine is running rich as the lpg mpg is not as good as before....and successive auto-tuners have told me rich mixture but can't find why. Renault dealers won't touch it cos of the lpg conversion. Any help appreciated.

Edited by Dynamic Dave on 12/06/2008 at 11:33

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Thu 12 Jun 2008 13:58
1997 2.2 Trafic petrol converted to lpg - Screwloose

Some engines don't like LPG and this sounds like one of them - doesn't stop the LPG shysters taking your money....

It looks as though the LPG has eaten through the head gasket - quite a common effect on injected cars, which don't need heated inlet manifolds, due to ice building up inside the manifold.

If the tappets are closing; then you have valve seat regression too. Get a garage to remove the head and send it to a head specialist for a full rebuild with new, harder, valve seats and valves. They'll give it a light skim at the same time; but it's likely that it's only the gasket that has corroded through.

Does it have a MAF sensor; a J7T usually had a MAP sensor?
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Tue 17 Jun 2008 15:34
1997 2.2 Trafic petrol converted to lpg - Bothwell_buyer
Thanks - I'd had the head off about 2 years ago and re-ground the valves in. As you say, it probably needs harder seats.

I was guessing on the MAF - MAP . Its been to various engine tuners who all said the engine is running rich, but don't know why. The lpg system takes it lead from the petrol management system. From the backfires thro the inlet side, I was assuming that it would have damaged an air meter of some sort. I'll maybe try changing the MAP sensor then, once the head has been off.
Thanks very much!
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