We put HBO on a car

Gasoline prices, though slowly, but go up. The cost of gas also tends to increase, but still it is much lower than the usual AI-92. Therefore, car owners who have to constantly operate their car (especially if it belongs to the category of commercial vehicles such as Gazelle) transfer their equipment to blue fuel. Such a decision will be doubly financially justified if everything is done independently.

Kit selection

The simplest solution is to purchase a branded kit designed for a specific make and model of car. These kits have everything you need:

• ✅ nozzles
  
• ✅ valves
  
• ✅ reducer
  
• ✅ electronic module (already calibrated at the factory)
  
• ✅ tubes
  
• ✅ fasteners, etc.
  

All equipment is designed to be fixed in the most suitable places. The electronics are already configured in such a way as not to "conflict" with the standard ECU. And if HBO is installed in a certified center cooperating with a dealer, then the car will remain under warranty. However, when buying branded equipment, you need to be prepared for the minuses:

• ✅ high cost of the kit and services for its installation in case of contacting specialists
  
• ✅ lack of choice (only a few types of components for a particular brand of car are available)
  

There is another way - the purchase of a universal kit, which is much cheaper. Here you can already select any element: from the filling cylinder to the nozzles. When purchasing a universal set, you need to take into account the number of car cylinders, engine power, the presence of a turbine, the type of injection (injector or carburetor). And also do not forget about the negative points:

• ✅ many fakes, marriage
  
• ✅ will have to carry out additional installation work
  
• ✅ deprivation of a guarantee for a car (if the installation was not carried out in a certified technical center)
  
• ✅ the need to configure electronics
  

Below are options for various kits available for sale.

LOVATO Smart ExR

A complete set of gas equipment for installation on cars, trucks, special equipment equipped with a direct fuel injection system. The kit is designed for three- or four-cylinder engines. LOVATO Smart ExR includes a new generation of electronics that allows you to control the functioning of both petrol and gas injectors. Moreover, the algorithm of the latter is automatically changed if necessary. There is a self-diagnostic system that detects the malfunction of each piece of equipment. The electronic unit provides for automatic calibration in any operating mode of the power unit. This simplifies settings and reduces blue fuel consumption.

DIGITRONIC MAXI-2

The electronics kit is designed to be integrated into the HBO system on a Nissan Titan, but will also fit other cars of the same class with four cylinders. Includes a 32-bit microprocessor with higher performance than previous generations. Included:

• ✅ CU in a plastic case
  
• ✅ vacuum fitting
  
• ✅ contact for gas valve
  
• ✅ temperature, vacuum, pressure sensors
  
• ✅ fuel type switch with sound notification
  
• ✅ wiring
  

The kit does not include a reducer, nozzles, they will have to be purchased separately. It is advisable to buy products from the same manufacturer.



If you have at least minimal locksmith skills and know how to handle tools, installing HBO does not cause any particular difficulties. Where to begin?

Installation of nozzles and ramp

These are the most difficult operations. To perform them, you need to dismantle the intake manifold: remove the air filter, disconnect the pads with wires and other parts. At the next stage, mark the holes for the nozzles with a core. Observe the distance: from the plane of contact to the cylinder head, you need to retreat by 10-70 mm.



The next step is threading the injectors. The ramp is also mounted on the intake manifold. Although there is an option - a valve cover. For installation, you need to make landing grooves with a drill: you cannot drill through.

Installing the gearbox

It is important to remember here that this assembly is best mounted on the body, but not on the engine, in order to avoid unnecessary vibration. It is necessary to place the gearbox parallel to the movement of the vehicle. The best option is slightly below the valve cover. The process itself is simple: find a suitable place, drill holes for fasteners (it is recommended to treat them with a lubricant, for example, cannon fat, to avoid corrosion). It is also advisable to use lock washers to prevent spontaneous loosening.

Cylinder and lines

The container can be selected cylindrical or toroidal. In the first case, it is conveniently placed behind the back of the rear seat. In the second, it is worth using a spare wheel niche. Installation is simple - you just need to fix the cylinder in accordance with the instructions. If it has a valve, bring the pipe from it out.

Electronics and Leak Test

For calibration, it is recommended to turn to professionals, because you will need special equipment. You can test the tightness of the joints yourself: just lather the joints and open the bottle. If there are leaks, they will be visible as bubbles.

Legalization of HBO installation

At the initial stage, you need to contact a certified laboratory (there are 17 such organizations on the territory of the Russian Federation) in order to obtain a document indicating the possibility of installing gas equipment on this brand of car. To do this, it is enough to provide a photo of the car, identification plates, engine compartment by e-mail. With a paid (from 3 to 4 thousand rubles) document, you can go to the MREO and apply there. Today, all this is done through e-mail. When you receive a positive response, you can install HBO. Next, you need to pass a technical inspection and receive a diagnostic card with the changes made to it regarding the fuel system (from 0,5 to 1,2 thousand rubles). Then the document is submitted to the same certified laboratory (you can send a letter with a photo where you can see the mounted HBO), where they issue the corresponding document (800 rubles). TS made changes (850 rubles). If everything is done through the State Services, it will be cheaper.

Features of driving on gas

You can immediately switch to blue fuel and go only if you have a fifth-generation HBO, where propane-butane enters the intake manifold in liquid form. In other cases, first the car (including the gas reducer) will have to be warmed up on gasoline to a temperature of 50 ° C. After that, the transition to blue fuel will occur automatically or you need to do it yourself using a special button installed in the cabin. The rest of the ride on gas has no special features. Unless a slight decrease in engine power becomes noticeable.

How to fill

Do not try to use the gas that you have at home: such a "solution" can lead to a fire, in the "best" case - a malfunction of the entire HBO system. Arriving at the gas station, do not fill the tank to the end: you need to leave a free space. This is due to the fact that when heated, the gas will expand, and in the case of cooling, it will contract. Therefore, in the cold season, the balloon is filled by 85%, in the hot season - by 70%.

About security

Methane and propane-butane initially have no smell, so they add substances that “make” the fuel smell. This is done for safety reasons to immediately notice the leak. The smell of gas in the car can appear in two situations. This is when the sealing of nodes, HBO lines is broken, or if the catalyst is removed.

Conclusions

The use of HBO in a car is a justified solution that will help save money spent on fuel. especially if you have to travel often and far. However, the greatest efficiency is achieved if the installation work is carried out independently. For a car enthusiast who is fluent in a drill and wrenches, installing a gas system on a budget category car will not be difficult.