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Health and safety matters have arisen over dual-fuel technologies
Page 19
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I AM WRITING in regards to the recent diesellLPG dual-fuel test conducted in CM (30 October 2008), featuring a Scania equipped with the GSPK dual-fuel system.
While Scania has neither tested GSPK's technology nor been privy to its research or development, a series of similar technologies have come to our attention that have raised concerns that range from health and safety (notably the flammability of LPG in the event of a collision) through to additional operational costs and potential component damage within customers' vehicles, and, ultimately, with regards to the law.
First. regarding warranty Scania's position is clear. The adding of this, or any other technology, doesn't nullify the manufacturer's warranty, but, of course, any primary or consequential problem that may be attributed to the added technology would always be at the operator's own risk.
It's worth notin g the remo va I or re placement and recalibration of any such equipment while undertaking normal servicing or repairs is unlikely to be included in an operator's 'repair and maintenance' contract.
The potential additional expense should, therefore, always be taken into account when making decisions to fit such equipment.
Scania also has concerns over the shortand long-term effects such technologies may be having on the engine. We are seeing a growing number of incidents where it is believed the washing effect of LPG entering the engine has removed some of the critical lubrication, which can lead to excessive wear and subsequent failure of components.
These are expensive failures which, of course, also increase vehicle downtime.
At the present time, the precise long-term effects of these technologies on engines are unclear. Scania, for one, currently has investigations underway into a number of other unusual engine failures on vehicles fitted with such equipment.
In terms of the law, an additional question mark hangs over the consequences of using LPG injection because we are unable to say whether a vehicle's emissions will continue to remain within legislative guidelines as the engines are being used outside of their design parameters.
We would pose the question that if truckmakers believed in this type of dual-fuel technology, and had fully researched its effects, would they not have seen the opportunity and be offering it themselves? James Armstrong Aftersales director Scania (Great Britain) Milton Keynes
GSPK is producing significant savings
THE GSPK system has been developed over the past six years and has been installed on more than 400 trucks, many of which have covered high mileages.
We are producing significant savings by substituting UKproduced LPG for expensive, imported diesel. We have seen no more problems than would be expected on a similar number of unconverted high-mileage trucks.
We offer a secondary warranty and Alliance & Leicester guarantees the warranty and RV on their LPG contract-hire vehicles.
Graham Keddie OBE Chairman GSPK Multifuel