propane fuel

[MT-2500]

Originally Posted by 534BC

I have years of experience with (our crude home-made chassis dyno) doing before and after tests of straight fuel and dual fuel conversions. I also same info on the mechanics who did conversions long before I did.

Most dual fuel conversions were somewhat of a comprimise between both fuels causing the gas hp to go down, the LP hp to go down and the mpg to stay the same on both fuels (the same as if it was straight fuel)

The next best conversions were the straight fuel conversions that allowed a lot of the emmision control stuff to be removed.

The next best conversions were the ones that engine mods had been done.

The best ones were ones that vehicle was built up from the ground knowing it was to be fueled by LP and allowed the engine and complet system to be designed for LP only.

Let me pick my brain a bit for specific vehicles.. it has been over 5 years since messing with any of it and the new electronics kits and such really should be able to do a lot better on both fuels. Last I seen the same old carb/convertors from 40 years ago were stil being used along with the on board computer controls.

An LP conversion in the 70's and 80's really used to be able to wake up a sick vehicle, but in the 90's it seems that the gasoline boys had really done thier homework and cleaned them up a bunch.

It also seemed that a small car that got great mpg when converted to LP would lose a much higher % or mpg than a larger 1 ton truck (or larger) would. Lots of those duallies in the 70's and 80 were real sick on power and mpg and they could even improve, but that was due to a sick performing big-block usually .

534BC
Thanks for the info.
Sounds like you have some hands on experiance with it.
When I was a kid on the farm wee used it a lot in farm tractors and gas or propane they had about the same power and fuel usage may or may not have been the same memory fails me a little.
But propane sure was a lot cheaper than gas back then.
Filling them tanks was a dangerous operation.
Dan stuff would freeze you and than burn you.
But it sure was a good weed killer. One shot would freeze up them weeds.
Small cars or vans and blazers do not leave a very safe place to put the tanks. And parking one in a inside garage could be dangerous.
I saw the roof blowed off of a repair shop after one was parked in it overnight.
Thanks MT

[wolfox]

Gasoline = 124,000 BTU's/gallon
Propane = 91,000 BTU's/gallon

Propane = less energy by given volume compared to gasoline. My former statement stands. You'll burn more propane to equal the same performance/energy of engine output as if it were on gasoline, therefore making the idea of costs savings a little foolish in our current energy economy. But one thing is certain and very favorable for Propane based fuel systems for vehicles - they are cleaner and typically a little more efficient, resulting in a pure, complete burn of fuel. Think about it - any indoor equipment for heavy use like forklifts and huge, powerful polishers burn propane as a fuel source - not gasoline. Propane's a bit more environmentally friendly and responsible when used as a vehicle fuel.

[Blue Bowtie]

Originally Posted by Ultrashock

E85 is more expensive that regular gas right now if im not mistaken........ Also I think newer cars (like the Silverado or Sierra) have options to be able to run propane, natural gas, etc.

I'm not sure of your location, but of the half-dozen or so ethanol stations I see around here, E-85 is about 30% less than E-10 "gasoline" in almost every instance. I got 87 octane "regular" for a couple vehicles at $2.99-9/10 and filled my half-truck with 105 octane E-85 for $2.33-9/10 Thursday. I can easily afford to lose almost 2 MPG at that rate and still be money ahead.

Newer "flex fuel" vehicles cannot run LP, CNG or other gaseous fuels without special conversion. Those vehicles you are seeing commonly advertised are strictly for gasoline or ethanol blends up to 85%.

[Ultrashock]

Originally Posted by Blue Bowtie

I'm not sure of your location, but of the half-dozen or so ethanol stations I see around here, E-85 is about 30% less than E-10 "gasoline" in almost every instance. I got 87 octane "regular" for a couple vehicles at $2.99-9/10 and filled my half-truck with 105 octane E-85 for $2.33-9/10 Thursday. I can easily afford to lose almost 2 MPG at that rate and still be money ahead.

Newer "flex fuel" vehicles cannot run LP, CNG or other gaseous fuels without special conversion. Those vehicles you are seeing commonly advertised are strictly for gasoline or ethanol blends up to 85%.

Your right its about the same price as regular unleaded here................. I was thinking biodiesel which is still more expensive than anything here