Ford Problems

THE dealer's so-called explanation is rubbish. The belt is either installed incorrectly or the mechanism is faulty. Take it back and have them either correct the installation or replace the belt.

TOO many differences to detail here, but in a quick summary: the XR8 V8 was uprated from the standard engine to 170kW at 4500 revs and 398Nm at 3000 revs; the suspension was retuned and lowered 35mm, with revised rate springs, revised shocks, bushes and roll bars; and, of course, there was the external styling changes and an interior makeover with sports seats et cetera.

KITS are available from the main LPG suppliers. I have driven a Tartarini injection system from Global Autogas Supplies. It drove well with no apparent problems. Other firms have similar systems available. There is one issue: the LPG tank usually goes inside the car, reducing interior room and eliminating the third seat.

YOU can convert your Falcon to LPG. Several quality systems are available, but the best system is a gas-injection one. It will cost more, but it will drive, perform and run better than the other systems. You could expect to pay $4000-$4500 for an injection system, compared with $2500-$3000 for an older mixer/venturi system. If it's set up correctly there won't be an impact on the life of your engine. For an installer, it's best to talk to the system manufacturers and get their recommendation.

IT SOUNDS like a fuel-supply problem, so check that first. The LPG mixer is most likely the culprit.

THE idea that your ute isn't suitable to be taken on to a building site is ironic given that it's a work vehicle designed to do just that. It suggests a flaw in the design.

I WAS surprised Ford didn't use the new model to update its LPG technology to the current gas-injection system. It says its customers aren't prepared to pay the higher price. If it had updated to an injection system it would have been able to have electronic stability control, but it can't have it because the old technology doesn't allow the control of fuel flow to individual cylinders required to make stability control work.

IT REALLY depends what your priority is. If it's having fun in a ute, go for the Commodore or Falcon. My recent experience in the new FG Falcon was that the six-cylinder gave about 12.0L/100km on average, but that the XR6 Turbo was a little better on fuel and was heaps more fun to drive. If you need a ute for work and fuel economy is important, I would go for a diesel. But you also need to remember that hauling all that four-wheel-drive equipment around is soaking up fuel and you'll probably find the diesel four-wheel-drive isn't much more economical than a petrol six-cylinder ute.

THE Australian LPG Warehouse has a kit. There is a problem with the spare wheel, though. It has to be relocated to accommodate the LPG tank under the vehicle. The solution most owners accept is to leave the spare at home and take a puncture repair kit.

THEY don't suffer the diff problems that affected the XR6, most likely because their drivers aren't so hard on the gas pedal. Overall they're OK, but Falcons of that era appear to suffer from problems with the automatic transmission cooler, rusted panels and other build-quality issues.