Under Australian Consumer Law, all brand-new cars sold here must come with a factory warranty, but it’s up to the manufacturer where to set the time and distance limits for that model. But even the most generous car-maker isn’t going to apply a warranty to a car that is now two decades old and has covered goodness knows how many kilometres.

For reference, most new-car warranties now cover a vehicle for between five and seven years. You will sometimes find a manufacturer will help out with some of the cost of repairs if the vehicle is only slightly out of warranty (and then, usually on a pro-rata basis). And that will only ever happen if the vehicle is question has an absolutely perfect service record.

If your engine has multiple problems, the best advice might be to look for a good, tested second-hand engine and replace the whole thing.

There are three main types of LPG systems: the mixer/venturi system that was very successfully used for many years and which is like a carburetor on a regular petrol engine; the vapour-injection system that operates like the fuel-injection system that's fitted to your car; and the latest liquid-injection system that injects the LPG into the inlet manifold in liquid form. It's claimed that the liquid-injection system is the most efficient and delivers the best outcome, but vapour-injection is claimed by some to be almost as efficient and well proven. Either liquid or vapour-injection from a recognized brand, like Eurogas or IMPCO, is your best bet.