MALAYSIAN GAS HYBRID VEHICLE

Price & Value Guide

to
Natural Gas Vehicle (NGV)
Conversion
Price-Value Assessment
Safety Features
Ease of Maintenance

Written By Dr. Xander Thong

Momoweb MoG Sdn Bhd
(email: xander@mog.com.my)
Tel: 603-62742133 Fax: 603-62744633

is a trademark of Momoweb MOG Sdn Bhd.

Copyrighted 2003@Momoweb MoG sdn Bhd

Online Registration

www.ngv.com.my

Is Using Natural Gas Safe?

Natural Gas is an environmentally clean, plentiful, low-cost and domestically produced fuel in
Malaysia. It is a naturally occurring fuel which requires very little processing before use.
Chemically Natural Gas normally consists of over 90% methane with smaller amounts of ethane,
propane, butane, carbon dioxide and other trace gases. The high methane content gives natural
gas its high octane rating (120-130) and clean-burning characteristics, allowing high engine
efficiency and low emissions in pollution.
As with all vehicle fuels, natural gas can be used safely if simple,
common sense procedures are followed. In fact, natural gas has safety
advantages compared to gasoline and diesel: it is non-toxic, and has no
potential for ground or water contamination in the event of a fuel
release. An odorant is added to provide a distinctive and intentionally
disagreeable smell which is easy to recognize. In Malaysia, our
Natural Gas smells like a Durian has gone sour, or bau masam.

My Friend Andrew & Durian D-24

From the Petronas Malaysia gas field to our vehicles engine, natural gas requires very little
processing to make it suitable for use as a fuel; unlike, petrol and diesel must be processed from
crude oil in large and complex oil refineries. After water vapor, sulfur and heavy hydrocarbons are
removed, natural gas flows by pipeline (Gas Malaysia Bhd pipelines) or Petronas NGV Tube
Trucks directly to the Petronas fueling stations where it is compressed for our refill. At Petronas
Compressed Natural Gas fueling station the gas is compressed again before being pumped in our
NGV vehicles at 3,000 to 3,600 psi. These pumps deliver a fast fill to our vehicles within
4 minutes or less.

Fuel Saving vs Long Term Value of Conversion

We found that the long-term value of conversion comes from (a) Fuel cost savings, (b) maintenance
(oil change intervals) and (c) extremely smooth engine performance. These beneficial values are
best felt by outdoor based NGV users, in such profession as sales and field service personnel.
Nevertheless, office-bound NGV users can expect to gain from the NGV conversion in terms of
savings, and/or long-term investment protection from ever-increasing petrol prices. However so,
Safety Features and Ease of Maintenance should ALWAYS be the value-basis on consideration
issue on conversion cost.
2006

1st Week
(RM)

2nd Week
(RM)

3rd Week
(RM)

4th Week
(RM)

Total
(RM)

Office Based Users

CNG/Petrol

1,200km
(RM)

Petrol Only

216.00

Mileage Comparison (km)

300

340

300

260

1,200km

CNG + Petrol

96.00

CNG + Petrol (RM0.68 pL)

24.00

27.20

24.00

20.80

RM96.00

Savings

120.00

Petrol (RM1.92 pL)

54.00

61.20

54.00

46.80

RM216.00
CNG/Petrol

3,000km
(RM)

Petrol-Only

540.00

Outdoor Based Users

Mileage Comparison (km)

680

700

820

800

3,000km

CNG + Petrol (RM0.68 pL)

54.40

56.00

65.60

64.00

RM240.00

CNG + Petrol

240.00

122.40

126.00

147.60

144.00

RM540.00

Savings

300.00

Petrol (RM1.92 pL)

Based on Proton Iswara NGV (1.500cc Auto Transmission) with CNG + Petrol driving modes

Address: 15A, Jalan KIP 1, Kepong Industrial Park

52200 Kuala Lumpur Malaysia
Tel: 603-62742133
Fax: 603-62744633

Online Registration

www.ngv.com.my

Price Vs Value of NGV Conversion: 3 Pricing Model Available

We have interviewed and surveyed the Malaysian NGV conversion market for over 1 year now.
Typically, there are 3 models of NGV conversion cost in Malaysia now. The third pricing model is
recently introduced on the strict requirement of imposing high levels of Safety Features and Ease
of Maintenance.
Price Models of NGV Conversion
There is 3 pricing models in NGV conversion for Malaysia. Each pricing model has its strengths
and weaknesses, depending on your demand on safety , expectation on ease of maintenance, and
personal budget.
Model A: Extremely Cheap NGV Conversion (RM2,600 to RM2,900 - Cash Only)
Advantage
: Magic word - Cheap .
Disadvantage : You may stand a chance of being installed with expired/ 2nd hand NGV kits and/or
old CNG gas cylinder tanks. There will be no warranty. After sales service will
surely be poor and on per-charge-basis. Your vehicle may experience underpower
performance (due to poor NGV equipment conditions). This option is suitable for
consumers who deemed vehicle safety and ease of maintenance as non-essential.
We strongly recommend against you being lack of safety conscious. Think of your
wife, children who will be travelling in your vehicle. Any future rectification cost
will be high (and our past experience shown that it is above RM800).
Model B : Missing AccessoriesNGV Conversion Price (RM3,000 to RM3,200 - Cash only)
Advantage
: Lesser - Priced.
Disadvantage : You will stand a chance of being installed with New NGV Kit and gas
cylinder tank. However so, you may experience a non-standarised conversion
design, varying from each vehicle to another. Your vehicle maybe installed with
major items from the Manufacturer NGV-Kit-In-A-Box, except several accessories.
There is a possibility that some Installers retain these accessories to be resold as
spare-parts to other customers. The level of safety and ease of maintenance can
pose a problem to you later on.
Model C : Quality NGV Conversion (Market Price at RM3,400 - Credit Card Facilities)
Advantage : You can expect the following Satisfaction and MBB EzyPay 0% Interest Installment.
(a) Pre-Installation Engine Tests (Compression Test, Cooling System Test, Visual
Floor Plate Inspection, Carburater Unit Test).
(b) Brand new NGV Kit (from the Manufacturer NGV-Kit-In-A-Box) with all
accessories installed and addition with 3 inches rear spring bushings, new air
filter, engine tappet adjustments, rear brake inspection and servicings.
(c) JKKP Approved Gas Cylinder Tank (57Liter) comes with Anti-Tearing floor
bracket and Anti-leakage safety clips with insulation tubings.
(d) MOG Conversion Design Standard (MCDS) for Proton vehicles to facilitate
vehicle reliability, safety and ease of maintenance.
(e) Record Entry into MOG NGV Websystem Management Database for automatic
reminder to you on the next cylinder inspection date (36 months
after initial conversion).
(f) Record Center for future 2nd Vehicle Sales (for verification on NGV Condition)
(g) NGV Warranty for 50,000 km with the Equipment Manufacturer.
(h) Rectification parts and labour for Radical Engineering Changes.
(i) Complete with Puspakom Inspection and JPJ NGV-Status Endorsement.
Disadvantage : Market price, no cutback on safety features and ease of maintenance.

www.ngv.com.my

Address: 15A, Jalan KIP 1, Kepong Industrial Park

52200 Kuala Lumpur Malaysia
Tel: 603-62742133
Fax: 603-62744633

Potential Problems in Model A & B (Case-Study)

We frequently meet NGV users who have converted their vehicle with Price Model A & B. These
are issues encountered by them. We suggest that you take extra care in choosing your NGV
Installer, conversion costs and after-sales warranties. More importantly is that you must explicitly
demand for the highest level of safety features installed, which safeguard you against any
insurance claim difficulties (in event of an accident). Ease of Maintenance should come second.

1.0 CNG Gas Cylinder Tank Issues

1.1 Old (Reused) CNG Gas Cylinders Issue
We met a Nissan AD Resort owner who came asking about where to
have his CNG Gas Cylinder Tank be re-Inspected at end of this
2006 . It is an unusual enquiry that we have come across thus far.
Here is the details for your knowing.
Cost of NGV Conversion (Model ACheap)
Mr AD Resort has converted his vehicle for a cost of RM2,850.00 (excluding Puspakom Inspection
and JPJ Endorsement services) in April 2006. He was interested to know where and how to get his
CNG Gas Cylinder Tank be re-inspected at the end in December 2006.
The answer to his question is that you can have your CNG Gas cylinder tank re-inspected
(Durability Test) for every 5 years interval, at Tractor Malaysia (Puchong) and Petronas Malaysia
(?). For us, why does he needs to re-inspect (or have a Durability Test) within 9 months from his
newly installed NGV conversion?
Upon visual inspection of his vehicle and NGV equipment, the reason was crystal clear.
Mr AD Resort has been installed with a 2nd Hand (or reused) Gas Cylinder Tank and old NGV kit.
And most surprisingly, he knew about it!
Mr AD Resort knew that his NGV equipment must be re-inspected (for durability test) as the gas
cylinder tank will expire by December 2006. If found to be unsafe, he need to purchase a new gas
cylinder tank (at an estimated cost of RM1,500, if not more). There is a strong evident that it will
not be approved for another 5-years lifespan as it has signs of minor damage (as above). Water was
allowed to sip through the carbon-fiber wrapping, and rusted the metal surface.
Mr AD Resort insist that his deal was a good one, as he managed to bargain it for a RM2,850. But we strongly
believe that he will need to change to an new NGV Kit and gas cylinder tank (for RM3,400) for all safety reasons
& ease of maintenance. The life-span in his current NGV equipment is limited to 2006.
For Price Model A, you may also thought that this is a great
bargain at RM2,850. Our opinion is that you can get an allbrand new equipment for a RM3,400.00 (lasting 20 to 25
years) with excellent safety features and ease of maintenance
warranties, for an extra RM600.
The choice is yours to make. We will always choose Safety &
Ease of Maintenance (MOG).

Address: 15A, Jalan KIP 1, Kepong Industrial Park

52200 Kuala Lumpur Malaysia
Tel: 603-62742133
Fax: 603-62744633

Online Registration

www.ngv.com.my

1.0 CNG Gas Cylinder Tank Issues

1.2 Gas Leakage & Small Dose Methane Poisoning Issue
We have received a telephone call from a Proton Iswara Areoback
owner asking about how to detect a CNG gas leakage?
Natural Gas Poisoning Symptoms
Continuous inhaling natural gas reduces the blood's ability to carry oxygen or medically term as
Asphyxiation. Although there is no fever, the initial symptoms associated with dangerous levels
of natural gas exposure are similar to flu-like illnesses. These symptoms include:

Dizziness (or some people, sleepiness);

Fatigue (or some people, flu-like tiredness);
Nausea (or some people, feeling of vomiting);
Headache (or some people, migraine); and/or
Irregular breathing (or some people, breathing difficulties).

AND CNG WILL NOT EXPLODE IF THERE IS A LEAK AND A LIGHTED CIGARETTE.
Sour Durian Smell or Bau Masam
The Malaysian CNG has a very distinctive sourish smell. We prefer
to use bau masam or a durian gone sour as the best
descriptions. For newly installed vehicle, we strongly recommend
that you remove your car fragrance for a week, as it often
camouflages the smell of CNG if there is a leak.
You can clearly smell any CNG leak when turning on the air-conditioning unit. If the initial air
rush carry some sour smell, you probably has a leak. Kindly wind down your window, and bring
your vehicle immediately to our MOG office or installation clinics.
CNG Gas Leak Soap Bubble Detection (Do-It-Yourself Approach)
This is a simple, time-tested gas leak detection method. Use water and soap (or laundry
detergent), you can place the soap bubble at all the gas pipe joints or couplings. The sign
of leakage is ballooning soap bubbles.
CNG Gas Leak Detector (Digital Approach)
At Puspakom NGV Inspection centre, the NGV inspectors use a special CNG Gas Leak
Detector. This detection method is very accurate. Unfortunately, most NGV Installers
may not have converted your vehicle based on MOG Conversion Design Standards
(MCDS), started by Momoweb MoG Sdn Bhd. A complete digital approach detection can
be difficult and will not be an ease of maintenance (in this case, detection).
MOG Advisory # 1
We caution owners of NGV vehicle with joint passenger cabin and
rear boot space, any gas leak will be a unhealthy situation. If you
are driving such vehicle, it is very important that you read the
case-study on CNG Leakage Problem in a Proton Wira Aeroback
we have encountered and assisted.

www.ngv.com.my

Address: 15A, Jalan KIP 1, Kepong Industrial Park

52200 Kuala Lumpur Malaysia
Tel: 603-62742133
Fax: 603-62744633

1.0 CNG Gas Cylinder Tank Issues

1.2 Gas Leakage & Small Dose Methane Poisoning Issue
We have received a telephone call from a Proton Wira Aeroback
owner asking about what happens when there is CNG gas leakage?
For your vehicle, your mileage will be low, and for the passengers,
they will suffer from small doses of methane poisoning (non-lethal).
Mr Wira A\B mentioned that after a week of using his newly converted NGV (RM2,950), he and
his family became sick, like having flu. Visiting his doctor and treated with antibiotics did not
help. Breathing difficulties was a major health problem for him. He suspected that there is a CNG
leakage with his newly installed NGV kit. We requested him to come to our office, and did several
gas leakage test and as follows:
Step 1: Start Air-Condition Blower and smell for sourish odor.
Step 2: Place Soap Bubble on gas pipe couplings (inside vehicle).
Step 3: Use Gas Leak Digital Detector (MOG Office only)
Bonnet Side: Commonly, it will not be as harmful as internal gas
leakage. External leakage will evaporate into the air.

Diagnosis And Fault Area

No Proper Receptacle Sealing Tape
We have found that his NGV Installer did a very amateur job on all the pipe
couplings. Each gas pipe receptacle did not have the gas-tight sealing taping
(similar to the water pipewhite-coloured seal tape). At a pressure storage
of 3,000 3,600psi, it will be likely that gas will force it way out at the
smallest unseal gaps. The fault area is that most price Model A & B NGV
conversion will experience incomplete installation, unless you have engaged
an ethical installer, by personality.

No Anti-Leak Tubing and Tube Fastener

For Mr Wira A\B, it is essential for his vehicle to has Anti-Leak Tubing and
Tube Fasteners to ensure that any gas leak is vented out of the passenger
cabin. In event of any leak, the Anti-leak Tubing will channel the CNG gas
out through the vent-out hole (or the hole for gas pipe inlet to gas cylinder).
The Tube Fastener will make certain that no gas leak escapes to the
passenger cabin.
Inset: The design of this vent-out hole is likely to be damaged by a golf bag
or luggage as it should be placed directly behind the rear seat.

Address: 15A, Jalan KIP 1, Kepong Industrial Park

52200 Kuala Lumpur Malaysia
Tel: 603-62742133
Fax: 603-62744633

Online Registration

www.ngv.com.my

2.0 CNG Gas Pipeline Routing Issues

2.1 Rattling Sound During CNG Gas Refilling Issue
For my own Proton Iswara NGV, there is a rattling sound (as if the
gas pipelines are banging against my vehicle body) during every
CNG Gas refilling. It rattles much louder when the CNG Refill
station has a good pressure, above 200 Bar or 3,200 psi.
My Story : Proton Iswara NGV Conversion
My name is Dr. Xander Thong, and had converted my Proton Iswara 1,500cc (Automatic
Transmission) at a cost of RM3,000 with a Batu Caves Installer. Unlike other private car owners,
I am very much willing to pay higher conversion price for the Premier Safety Features and best of
Ease of Maintenance. I have always known that NGV Taxi are converted at the least cost; thus,
they are made to forgo almost all of the NGV Safety Equipment & NGV Electronics. I want all the
Necessary Safety Equipment (as my family my wife, my toddler son, parents, in-laws often ride
in it) and Ease of Maintenance when I travel outside Kuala Lumpur in my as-it-is primary
household car. Yes! My Proton Waja 1600cc (AT) and thirsty Proton Putra 1,800cc (AT) became
more of household items in my front porch these days.
Causes of My Rattling NGV Refill
1. My vehicles CNG pipeline was installed without
following the petrol fuel line design. As supplied in the
NGV kit, the CNG pipelines are very hard and strong (to
withstand high pressure). It needs a lot of effort to mould
it to the petrol line route (way). Here, you can see a
Overlapping on my vehicles CNG pipe (white) and petrol
fuel line (black).
2. Routing the CNG pipeline alongside with the
manufacturer petrol pipeline is the best and safest.
Proton has engineered this fuel line routing with ample
protection. The Batu Cave Installer did not bother to use
the spare fuel line guard or placing any emphasis on
Best-Protected Route.
3. Another Overlapping at the rear side fault area: Lack
of professionalism, no safety attitude, and poor quality
control.
4. The Primary cause of the rattlinghigh speed banging
between the CNG pipeline and the air condition pipeline.
5. The Secondary cause of the rattlingNo pig tail
configuration between Master Shut-off value\Pump Inlet
and NGV Regulator unit.
Our Advice to all NGV Vehicle Owners
Kindly jack-up your vehicle and take a visual inspection as soon as
possible. Any contact with the road or speed breaker, your CNG
pipeline can be severed.

www.ngv.com.my

Address: 15A, Jalan KIP 1, Kepong Industrial Park

52200 Kuala Lumpur Malaysia
Tel: 603-62742133
Fax: 603-62744633

2.0 CNG Gas Pipeline Routing Issues

2.2 Other CNG Pipeline Problems
We have found that many newly converted NGV vehicle in Malaysia
has inherited the following dysfunctional disease from their
respective installers. Most of these pipeline problems are hidden
from the vehicle owners, perhaps due to lack of awareness or
experience. Here are some of the knowledge that you need to have.
On the right, the CNG Gas pipeline routing is based on our MOG
Conversion Design Standards (MCDS), deriving from my personal
experience. By the way, CNG pipeline rectification costs about
RM400.00 for Proton Iswara, inclusive parts and professional installation labour.
MOG Conversion Design Standard

Installation Differences:
a. Using all parts included in the NGV Kit;
b. Proper Installation Tool set;
c. Installed based on MCDS with Technical
Dimensions and Gas Lines Best Protection

Address: 15A, Jalan KIP 1, Kepong Industrial Park

52200 Kuala Lumpur Malaysia
Tel: 603-62742133
Fax: 603-62744633

Gas Line Safety Clips

(Included in NGV Kit)

New CNG Gas Pipelines

(with PVC jacket)

Possible Price Model A & B Installer

Possible Installation Differences:

a. Withholding some parts (for spare part sales) ;
b. No proper Installation Tool set (by hand);
c. Individual preference for Technical Dimensions

Online Registration

www.ngv.com.my

You Need More Information: Where to Go Next?

You may want to contact us or access our Public Login for us to email more information about
NGV WebSystem to you. We are happy to advise you on your NGV Conversion or converted
problems.
Remember, the present NGV Conversion market operates on a Caveat Emptor or Buyer Beware
basis. You may need to be careful in selecting your NGV Installer and conversion cost. A rule of
the thumb is that a Low Conversion Cost is often means Low Quality Installation, without AfterSales Service.
Go for Higher Conversion Cost, as it will be full of Safety Features and Easy of Future
Maintenance.

Saving your Environment, Savings for You too!

Our contact: 603-62732133 or email our President: drxander@mog.com.my

Address: 15A, Jalan KIP 1,

Kepong Industrial Park
52200 Kuala Lumpur Malaysia
Tel: 603-62742133

www.ngv.com.my

Address: 15A, Jalan KIP 1, Kepong Industrial Park

52200 Kuala Lumpur Malaysia
Tel: 603-62742133
Fax: 603-62744633

Address: 15A, Jalan KIP 1, Kepong Industrial Park

52200 Kuala Lumpur Malaysia
Tel: 603-62742133
Fax: 603-62744633

Online Registration

www.ngv.com.my