Things To Know Before Opting For A CNG Kit For Your Car

As the prices of the fuel continue to surge, opting for a cheaper alternative has become essential for many of us. With this scenario, comes into play an environment friendly and cost-effective option like CNG, which seems to be an ideal alternative for a lot of commercial drivers, yet for car owners, there are a few important things to keep in mind prior to converting a car to run on CNG.

Things To Consider Prior To Opting For a CNG Kit For Your Car

Although the CNG kit has a lot of benefits, it also has a few disadvantages, read on below:

1. Compatibility With Your Car

You need to make sure that your car is compatible with CNG use as just petrol cars can be put together with a CNG kit. However, even all petrol cars can also not be considered as compatible contenders. To check whether your car model is ideal for CNG use, go through the prescribed list of CNG approved cars by your state’s registering authority. Also, you need to get your documents officially changed to legally use the CNG kit.

2. Maintenance and Installation Cost

Although, purchasing and installation cost of a CNG is significantly high yet it is not a futile investment. As CNG offers lesser running costs and higher mileage, the initially invested amount can be recovered within some time. However, the cost of maintaining a CNG car is a little on the higher end as compared to petrol/diesel-fueled cars.

3. CNG Availability

CNG fueling stations, when compared with petrol pumps, are less. Therefore, prior to fueling your car with CNG, make sure to check the availability of CNG fuel stations near your hometown. Also, at times the lesser number of CNG stations leads to standing in long queues.

4. Increased Insurance Premium

A car insurance premium is dependent upon a variety of factors such as car model, the insurance policy you purchase, fuel type of the car, etc. Therefore, after switching your car fuel to CNG, at least expect an 11% rise in your premium rate. Also, it is contingent upon your present car insurance policy and car model.

5. Price vs Performance

You can avail the benefits of greater fuel efficiency after switching to CNG yet the biggest drawback is that your car’s performance suffers. Moreover, frequent servicing for cars might be required due to degrading performance levels.

Precautions to Take While Using A CNG Car

CNG is a safer and economical fuel type when compared to petrol and diesel. However, if you have a CNG fitted car, you should exercise a few precautions to ensure the safety of your car and passenger. Here are some common precautions which you should take with a CNG car:

1. Never Use Unauthorised CNG Kits

Although it is recommended to purchase a factory-fitted CNG car, many people attempt to transform their petrol cars into CNG cars by getting the kit installed in their cars. On this note, every car owner is advised to not get the installation done by any roadside car mechanic to save money otherwise it can result in leaking which may end up in a mishap. Therefore, you should never install unauthorised CNG kits in your car.

2. Always Start the Car on Petrol

If you own a CNG car, you should always start it on petrol and switch to CNG only after running the car for at least a kilometer. This is the most advised approach that will keep the engine of the car lubricated and prevent wear and tear for a longer time. 

3. Do Not Smoke Inside the Car

The owner of the CNG car should never smoke inside the car as smoking can result in a fire in the CNG car that can have devastating consequences. You should not smoke even at the CNG filling station while the gas is refilled, otherwise, it can lead to fire or even an explosion. 

4. Be Cautious at Gas Station

Whenever you are at the gas station to refill the gas, ensure that the car engine is off and the key is turned to the ‘OFF’ position before getting the gas-filled. It will prevent any spark in the engine of the car, which will avoid any fire. Also, do not use mobile phones or any electronic gadget at the gas station. While getting the gas-filled, you must ensure that cylinder pressure is not more than 200 bars to prevent overfilling that may lead to leakage. During the summers, the CNG cylinder should not be filled with more than two-thirds of its total capacity.

5. Park You Car In Covered Area

You must try to park your car in a shaded or covered area to avoid direct exposure of the car to the sunlight as it can heat up the car that can lead to a fire. To avoid any mishap due to heat, you should always find a covered portion before parking the car and park the car under it. 

Also Read

Ways To Get Your Car Insurance Policy Number

Things To Keep In Mind After Facing A Road Accident

Bottom Line

After going through each of the factors that comes into picture, once you switch to a CNG, fueled car, we can surely say that whatever fuel you choose to run your car on, it is highly recommended that you should get a comprehensive car insurance plan that will protect your car from any kind of damage/loss and you from the financial crisis during the time of need.

Disclaimer: This article is issued in the general public interest and meant for general information purposes only. Readers are advised not to rely on the contents of the article as conclusive in nature and should research further or consult an expert in this regard.