Converting a car for use with gas or ethanol

Ethanol conversion kits are available from a range of sellers, and conversions are carried out by certain car repair shops. The requirements related to the approval of conversions are laid down in Traficom regulations ‘Auton ja sen perävaunun rakenteen muuttaminen’ (‘Modification of motor vehicles and their trailers’) and "Auton ja sen perävaunun rakenteen muuttamisesta annetun määräyksen 6.3 kohdan muuttamisesta” (‘Regulation concerning the amendment of section 6.3 of the regulation on the modification of motor vehicles and their trailers’) (both only available in Finnish).

Carrying out a conversion may affect your car’s warranty. Check with the car’s manufacturer if this applies to your vehicle.

As part of the modification inspection, a car commissioned before 1 September 2009 must pass the exhaust emissions test normally carried out as part of a periodic inspection. 

Approving the conversion of a car commissioned on or after 1 September 2009 is subject to the following conditions:

* The products installed on the vehicle for the purpose of the modification are compatible with the vehicle in question, as proved by a certificate provided by the manufacturer of the product.

* The vehicle features or has been outfitted with parts and components that are suitable for fuel composed primarily of ethanol and can withstand the continuous use of ethanol. This must be confirmed with a certificate issued by the party that carried out the conversion.

* In the modification inspection, the vehicle must pass the exhaust emissions test normally carried out in the periodic inspections of comparable cars equipped with a spark-ignition engine, based on the requirements applicable to vehicles commissioned over 10 years ago.

In the modification inspection, the car’s register data is updated to include a record that the car has been converted to run on fuel composed primarily of ethanol. 

See Traficom regulations TRAFICOM/194495/03.04.03.00/2019 and TRAFICOM/534395/03.04.03.00/2022 (in Finnish).

Certain vehicle repair shops carry out gas conversions. Gas conversions must be carried out in accordance with the relevant Traficom regulation (”Auton ja sen perävaunun rakenteen muuttaminen”, available in Finnish). Installations of natural gas systems must be carried out using components that comply with the requirements set out in UN Regulation No 110. Prior to the modification inspection, the installation of the gas system must be inspected as specified in chapter 6 of the Act on the Safe Handling and Storage of Dangerous Chemicals and Explosives (390/2005). For more information, see the Finnish Safety and Chemicals Agency website (External link).

In order to ensure compliance with emissions standards, it is sufficient that the conversion kit is intended for use with the car in question and compliant with the requirements of UN Regulation No 115.

Carrying out a conversion may have an impact on your car’s warranty. Check with the car’s manufacturer if this applies to your vehicle.

During the modification inspection, the vehicle’s register information is updated to indicate that it is powered wholly or in part by natural gas, typically “Petrol/CNG”.