Liquid Propane, Please dont leave it out, Propane Motorfuel, I own a truck

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Permalink Reply by Dave on September 4, 2008 at 6:31pm

Thanks Mark,

Excuse my ignorance, but does your conversion kit burn LP and CNG, or just LP?

Dave

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Permalink Reply by DubleDeuce on September 8, 2008 at 12:06am

I BELIEVE it is illegal under the fire protection laws to run concurrent fuel types like CNG and LPG. The operting pressures at the tank are vastly different and any co-piping error or malfunction COULD cause a major rupture of the LPG tank.

The Deuceman

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Permalink Reply by DubleDeuce on September 8, 2008 at 12:16am

There is NO reason to INCLUDE LPG in this plan, at least not as a strategic part of the Plan.

Propane is, as you say, available and works in ICE powered vehicles. As you also point out, it is NOT the best performer under heavy loading because of the inherent heat content of the two fuels, gasoline at 121,000 btu and LPG at 87,000 btu's.

LPG is actually a BY PRODUCT or waste, from the refining of gasoline and as such, it is a contaminating fuel. As a heating or cooking fuel itis great because the impuritues are not a factor in its use. (To product heat by open flame) But use of propane in an ICE engine (including forklifts) requires a cleaning process which adds a service "tax" onto the fuel. All in all, it works, but that statement does not make it a desireable or efficient fuel.

It needs NO boosting here as it has had some 60 years of market trials to make its presents known. It is a known commodity and not one that even industry wants to embrace, save for that operating mode which demands it. (interior operations of ICEs with human presence?

The Deuceman

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Permalink Reply by William Engwer on October 13, 2008 at 2:31pm

I have to strenuously disagree with DubleDeuce on this. Just as the natural gas vehicle fuel infrastructure exists in every house that has gas piped in, the infrastructure to refuel with propane exists in many rural areas not served by natural gas. Recently, Atlanta was hit by a major gasoline shortage in the wake of the last Gulf hurricane, and had I not converted my Geo Metro to duel fuel gas / propane, I would have been walking. Most of the rest of Atlanta was. Propane is a damn fine fuel when nothing else is available. William Engwer

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Permalink Reply by Hugh Hemington on October 20, 2008 at 10:17pm

My father's electrical contracting company ran propane in the trucks from 1972 to 2005 when he retired.

It started out great, although going 12 miles out of the way to get it was a pain. It was cheaper and saved the engines, but over the years the price rose too close to gasoline. It also produced about 85% of the horsepower of gasoline, so it wasn't quite equal.

The problem with propane now is that we're trying to get away from petroleum-based fuels and propane is a by-product of the oil refining process. As we use less oil, the propane produced will continue to fuel space heaters and other portable appliances, but there won't be enough to make a dent in our motor fuel needs.

It's difficult to use propane with fuel injectors -- all our trucks had carbs. The liquid propane ran through a heat exchanger that used engine coolant to warm it up and it was fed into the top of the carb. Sometimes the heat exchangers would freeze up.

All the trucks had an adapter ring and cable assembly so that they could be switched back to gasoline when the propane ran out.

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Permalink Reply by Dave baragona on November 5, 2008 at 9:33pm

Unlike CNG, I don't believe that Liquid Propane is a 100% American harvested product.

In terms of the Pickens plan, I'm not sure how much LPG helps us move towards energy independence.

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