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1.6 Ecoboost van, 90% ready to pull the trigger


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What is the wrap material like and is it heat formed . I would like a few more Pictures . The Roof seem color is very nice.

I know it is summer for a while but you need to look at the owner's manual and learn the procedure for switching the Traction Control off. It will surprise you the first time it engages. It is not a pleasant surprise.

Edited by G B L
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Good info. I don't think I have noticed a Trac off button anywhere.

The vinyl is Avery Supreme wrapping film, gloss black metallic. It has a brown subtone instead of the usual blue in black metallics. It is pressure sensitive, bubble free and heat formed. The roof is made with 3M 1080-series wrapping vinyl, gloss black, no metallic.

I have more pics and I'll make an album once I get to the computer. iPad is useless for that.

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Thanks, The Traction control is controlled through the information center and the left button set on the Steering wheel. It takes several button pushes to Scroll to the Traction Control . Figure it out before you need it . If there were a button it would be much more convenient . I do not have access to the EU owners Manual.

Here is what My Manual says

Page 125 2014 TC owners manual.rtf says

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Yeah, I have noticed the info display being a bit confusing. I'll look it up. The manual (at least the translated one) is a bit plain, not as much info as there used to be a decade ago.

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Go to Ford.com the USA site and download the US Manual most of it should be the same and it might have more data.

Here is the link to the outfit that I purchased the factory manual for my rig. Very complete and cheap not sure if it will work for you but it is Vin Based and should work . Let me know if it works.

http://fordtransitconnectforum.com/topic/4402-does-anyone-have-access-to-a-2014-transit-connect-repair-manuel-pdf/?view=findpost&p=12396&hl=%2Bfactory+%2Bmanual

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The other cars I have had the Trac off is a button. If you make a habit of turning it off it is not a big deal, however when you are in a situation is is nice to have a dedicated button that you do not have to look for.

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  • 6 months later...
  • 5 weeks later...

So, your van is Propane powered?  I noticed you have "1.6 LWB '16 (LPG)" listed under your name.  Here,  LPG (Liquified Petroleum Gas) is Propane  -  Same thing over there?

How do you like the LPG?  How does the mileage compare with gas? Where did they mount the tank?  How long does it take to refuel?

Don

Edited by Beta Don
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Out fuel prices as of today: €1.1/L (€4.20/US al) gasoline (was 1.8 a few years back when the oil prices were up), €0.50 LPG. We have just gotten a socialist government and they have announced a new propane tax.

 

Edited by mrtn
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Here gasoline is around $2 per gallon while propane is about $2.75  -  At least that's what I pay when I buy it in 200 gallon increments for home heating.  Motor fuel propane isn't universally available  -  You can buy it in larger cities (many fleet vehicles use it) but if you were traveling cross country, it could be a bit hard to find.  Not a very practical conversion over here

Don

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29 minutes ago, Beta Don said:

Here gasoline is around $2 per gallon while propane is about $2.75  -  At least that's what I pay when I buy it in 200 gallon increments for home heating.  Motor fuel propane isn't universally available  -  You can buy it in larger cities (many fleet vehicles use it) but if you were traveling cross country, it could be a bit hard to find.  Not a very practical conversion over here

I forgot to write that these are liter prices, multiply by 3.8 to get gallon price. LPG is actually a cheap product to manufacture as it's a byproduct of gasoline and diesel fuel.

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mrtn the new tax is because they are all jealous of your cool rig.  i have found that the price of gas and diesel and propane is all mixed up in the relative voodoo of life.  Here Propane is cheapest in the mid west, and more available.
 You are required to pay the road tax if you use it.

How close is the cost to the diesel TC.

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3 hours ago, Beta Don said:

 

Sure wouldn't work over here  -  

Don

Don, 

 

As I recollect, about 10 years ago when fuel prices were double what they are today, everyone was looking for a way to save $$$ on fuel.  E85 & bio-diesel were options on a lot of vehicles.   E85, LPG & CNG conversions were huge.  There were kits all over the marketplace.  Bio-Diesel required no conversion, but a lot of trucks were stalling due to clogged fuel filters.  Electric and Hybrid were more or less The Prius.  The biggest drawback to most of those was availability.  At the time, the infrastructure simply did exist  to support the consumer.  

 

Now, 10 years down the road, our local utility PG&E has installed CNG fuel stations at their facilities......meaning you have to go to the PG&E yard to purchase fuel.  I still don't see LPG readily dispensable.  E85 & Diesel HPR are now at very few Propel brand pumps.  In my area, Propel brand is only available in The Suburbs.....not actually available in The City where it would make sense.  A lot Prius were sold, and now they are everywhere.  Electric charging stations have started cropping up in parking garages and shopping malls.  

Our company cars are Flex Fuel Fords.  On mine, I run E85 only, and I pass smog with flying colors.  But as I look around when I'm at the pumps, there are a lot Flex Fuel vehicles filling up with 87 octane gas......because it's too much trouble to drive an hour to buy cleaner fuel for less money.  The same goes with bio-diesel.  Every truck could use it.  But nobody really does, because you just have to fuel up wherever you are at.  You can't afford to detour an hour out with a full load, just to protect the environment and save ten cents.  If it were easily accessible, more people would use the product.  But it's not.  That's why my personal vehicles are simply gas operated.  Until such time that alternative fuels are everywhere, I will continue to operate gasoline engines........even diesel is hard to find, with only 1 out of every 7 or 8 stations willing to install a separate tank and pump to dispense it. 

If you're interested, I think those conversion kits are still out there.  Perhaps, even at a discount since nobody is buying them.  

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Until the alternate fuel prices make the switch attractive people will use gasoline.  The cng is a hard choice .Unlike propane for automotive use is is stored as a high pressure gas.   This results in limited range and large pressure tanks on the vehicles.  If you are in the mid west E-85 has a slightly better price, but it is still  not enough with the power reduction to make the switch a obvious choice.

In mrtn's  case the Gasoline cost vs Diesel cost make Propane a very smart choice.  The availability of a fuel follows the demand if people want it some one will sell it.  Propane is available around the US at the hardware store to refill the Barbecue tank at a premium price. 

There are lots of kits around . Lots of industrial machinery  uses propane. It is very clean emissions wise.  If you have a home aux generator then propane is the obvious choice due to the fact that stored propane does not spoil over time.     

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Good information, The CNG people  wrote the comparison it would have been a different bias if the Propane people had been doing the writing.  

The way your conversion was handled was Ideal because of the low pressure of the Propane fuel. The tank has a much better design and location.

The range versus gallons consumed keeps Propane  very competitive with Gasoline and Diesel.

If emissions is the top priority then CNG is the best.  The infrastructure involved with CNG is the hardest of the fuels. 

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