Tips to Maintain a CNG Car

As prices of petrol and diesel in India go on increasing, demands for less expensive alternatives go on increasing amongst car buyers. In such a scenario, where newer and better options are being sought, CNG is emerging as a potential candidate. CNG cars are getting increasingly popular with every passing day, and hence it is very important for today’s buyers and owners to be aware of the necessary measures that need to be taken to maintain their CNG car in a good condition and obtain as impressive performance figures as possible. So, here are a few simple tips that CNG car owners will definitely find immensely useful.

At the Filling Station

Until and unless the user’s manual of a CNG vehicle prescribes the use of nothing but a high octane fuel for proper functioning of the vehicle, use of premium fuel should be avoided. That is because although a high grade fuel costs much higher than lower octane fuels, it does not really introduce any exceptional boosts in vehicle performance in comparison to them.
Every time the CNG tank is refilled, it must be ensured that the gas lead is closed tightly shut and that there are no leakages there or anywhere else that might result in unnecessary loss of fuel or maybe even a mishap.
Also, it should be understood that overfilling the CNG tank would not provide any additional supply of fuel; it will only result in unwanted seepage of excessive gasoline causing wastage of both fuel and money.

While Parking

For CNG cars, it is always advised that the vehicle is parked under a tree or a similar spot with proper shade where direct sunlight cannot reach it so as to avoid any possible evaporation of gasoline. Anti-sunlight windscreens can also be bought and installed in the car to reflect the sunrays away and prevent them from causing any evaporation.

Proper Tyre Pressure is Important

Improper or insufficient air pressure in tyres has long been recognised as a cause for lower fuel-economy for all kinds of vehicles including CNG cars.

Tyre pressure lower than what is prescribed in the user guide results in increased strain on the car’s engine. That’s the reason why it is advised that air pressure in tyres is checked every month and maintained within the proper limits.

Minimise Use of AC/Heater

The air conditioning and heating systems of a car exert a lot of pressure on its engine thereby resulting in a higher rate of fuel consumption. To obtain better fuel-economy from CNG cars, it is advised that the use of AC and heater units is kept to a minimum.

Make Regular Use of Petrol

Petrol stored in a CNG car’s fuel tank can get contaminated if not used for long, which may result in choking of essential mechanical parts such as petrol injectors and catalytic converters or even in serious damage to the car’s fuel pump. To avoid such problems it is recommended for CNG vehicles by auto-experts to cover 5% of the daily travelling distance on petrol. Also, it is considered much better for the health of a CNG car if the car is started on petrol everyday, allowed to idle for a little while and driven on petrol for at least a kilometre before switching to the CNG mode. This practice proves to be very useful for proper lubrication of the engine and its protection against wear and tear.

Check the Spark Plugs Regularly

To prevent any misfirings that tend to result from insufficient spark generated by the spark plugs, it is very important that the spark plugs are checked on a regular basis and replaced with new ones after every 13,000-15,000 kms.
Also, the performance of a CNG car can be greatly improved if instead of continuing to use spark plugs meant for a petrol car, users opt for spark plugs specially designed for a CNG vehicle.

Servicing is Essential

In order to ensure proper functioning of a CNG car and to avoid any possible mishaps, it is very important that thorough check-ups and proper servicing are involved in the daily routine. Following are a few simple practices that, if adopted by CNG car owners, can go a long way in keeping their cars fit and fine:

1. Perishable parts like air-filters tend to wear out sooner than others and hence it is extremely important that they are cleaned thoroughly after every 5,000 kms and replaced with new ones after every 10,000 kms.

2. A proper check-up of the CNG kit is very essential after every 5,000 kms that the car travels. However, it must be ensured that any diagnosis or tuning of the CNG kit is performed only at an authorised service centre by a trained specialist and not by any unqualified mechanic, otherwise problems like increased engine vibration, irregular acceleration and the likes might occur.

3. Hydraulic testing of the CNG tank for possible leakages, cracks and other damages after every 5 years is heavily advised by experts.

4. For oil change, an interval of 10,000 kms or less (if idle running is more) is advised if a good efficiency is to be maintained.

5. To prevent any accidents from occurring, a careful check of parts like CNG pipelines, CNG cylinder mounting and wiring for loose fittings, leakages and damages from time to time is also very important.

Never Drive on Low Pressure

As a car’s CNG tank runs out of fuel, the gasoline pressure inside it goes on decreasing. In situations where the CNG cylinder is almost empty of fuel and its pressure drops to extremely low levels, the risk of valve bursting increases tremendously. It is therefore advised to always maintain proper pressure in the CNG tank and never drive the car when the pressure is extremely low.

When Leakage is Detected

If, even after taking all the necessary precautions, a leakage is detected in a CNG car, there is no need to panic at all. All the owner/driver needs to do is close the CNG cylinder valve to cut the gas supply, open all the doors, roll down all the windows and remember not to start the car in any condition. Later, a trained mechanic can be called to take a look at and repair the faulty system.