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Propane, which kit and why?

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Old May 26, 2004 | 05:01 PM
  #16  
LuLuGoin2ADiesel's Avatar
LuLuGoin2ADiesel
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Quad,
Are you always running the propane or just some of the time? How long does a tank last you?
 
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Old May 26, 2004 | 05:23 PM
  #17  
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Lulu-
Once the truck warms up for the day, I flip the switch and turn the Powershot system on. That doesn't mean the propane is flowing all the time, however. I've got my "trigger" set at 3.5psi boost, so only when I'm at that level, or higher, does the propane flow. Once my boost level drops below 3.5psi, it shuts off the propane. Around town, the gas never flows, since my boost levels in traffic are too low to reach 3.5psi. On the freeway at 70mph, I'm producing 3.0psi boost, so the propane only flows when there's a rise in the road, or I'm pulling out to pass.
My tank holds 8 gallons of liquid propane, and will last me about 2000-2500 miles.

johnsdiesel said:
Propane is one thing, IMO, that is simply not worth doing yourself. There is too much room for failure and damage unless you really understand propane injection.
I agree 100%. As Dale Isley told me, "With propane, there are no little mistakes.
 
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Old May 26, 2004 | 05:35 PM
  #18  
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LuLuGoin2ADiesel
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From: Spring City, Pennsylvania
Thanks for the info Quad. The system is making a lot of sense now with your in depth explanations. Sounds like one of the most practical and "best bang for the buck" mods out there. How safe do you feel with the propane tank practically underneath you? I don't mean to ask negative questions, but do you feel it's safe? (God forbid that somebody with a propane set up got T-boned)
 
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Old May 26, 2004 | 06:23 PM
  #19  
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johnsdiesel
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Originally Posted by LuLuGoin2ADiesel
How safe do you feel with the propane tank practically underneath you? I don't mean to ask negative questions, but do you feel it's safe? (God forbid that somebody with a propane set up got T-boned)
I don't know if this helps answer your question, but I found this information when researching the Powershot 2000 system:

Powershot 2000™ Propane Injection Kit requires the use of a DOT approved, certified VAPOR Propane Tank only!
I would imagine that a DOT certified tank has to meet higher safety standards than your typical LPG tank. In addition, I highly doubt it is legal to use LPG tanks if you build your own setup.
 
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Old May 26, 2004 | 08:51 PM
  #20  
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No worse than sitting on a quarter tank of gasoline

Hey you are already running around with a gasser thats 1/4 full how many sticks of dynooooooomite is one gallong of regular unleaded gas???

I have read articles from 18 to 27 sticks, hum thats a 18 gallon tank, half full 9 x 27=243 down to 162 sticks of dynooooomite.

LPG rates
Combustion Data:
Ft3 of Air Required to Burn 1 Ft3 of Gas: 23.86
Flash Point: -156 deg F
Ignition Temperature in Air: 920-1020 deg. F.
Maximum Flame Temperature in Air: 3595 deg F
Limits of Inflammability, Percentage of Gas in Air Mixture:
At Lower Limit: 2.4%
At Upper Limit: 9.6%
Octane #: Over 100

LPG has a BTU Combustion rate of 9500
87 Octane unleaded gasoline rate of 11000
Diesel is down at 7500.

So these figures pull from google. shows that Propane is far safer than gasoline.

I do know when a car or truck is Propane powered its slower to start, and usually needs an additional spin to fire the engine.

These states shows its safer than gas by a long way and then with the even lower diesel rates, is far far safer to be hualing propane than gasoline.

JOhn
 
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Old May 26, 2004 | 08:53 PM
  #21  
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Very good research Trail Rider II!
 
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Old May 26, 2004 | 08:55 PM
  #22  
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Originally Posted by johnsdiesel
After reading what Quadzilla and others have said when I eventually add propane to my truck I plan on getting the Powershot 2000. Propane is one thing, IMO, that is simply not worth doing yourself. There is too much room for failure and damage unless you really understand propane injection.

As Quadzilla said:


I would imagine that this applies to a lot of do-it-yourself systems that are installed without understanding the possible problems with propane injection design.

There is nothing wrong with a homemade one, all they do is sell you something for $800 and say that it is something special. You have a tank, line, a switch, and a flow valve, heck the kits don't even come with a flashback fitting, you can add one to a homemade one.
 
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Old May 26, 2004 | 10:29 PM
  #23  
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I now have 160k on my truck and it's been on pane the whole time. I have a 26gal tank and it can last as long as 3500 miles on the low setting or as short as 1200 miles on high. It comes on at 2psi and you can feel it with every touch of the pedal , it's GREAT

GENE
 
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Old May 26, 2004 | 10:34 PM
  #24  
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Gene, what kind of HP/torque are you putting out?
 
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Old May 27, 2004 | 12:04 AM
  #25  
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I put down a 380 rwhp on my early 99 with stock turbo and injectors.
I will dyno again on June 6th should be a little better with the H2e turbo that I just installed. Hope to get some torque numbers this time.

GENE
 
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Old May 27, 2004 | 12:23 AM
  #26  
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Originally Posted by WeWeld
I put down a 380 rwhp on my early 99 with stock turbo and injectors.
I will dyno again on June 6th should be a little better with the H2e turbo that I just installed. Hope to get some torque numbers this time.

GENE
Cool. You have to give me something to shoot for!
 
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Old May 27, 2004 | 04:36 AM
  #27  
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Lulu asked:
How safe do you feel with the propane tank practically underneath you? I don't mean to ask negative questions, but do you feel it's safe? (God forbid that somebody with a propane set up got T-boned)
To get a tank design certified, it has to be dropped 100' onto a concrete slab, three consecutive times, and not show any signs of rupture. Knowing that, and knowing the relatively low volatility of propane as shown by Trail Rider II, it isn't a major concern.

WeWeld- what are your settings on your system? How much line pressure are you running, etc.
 
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Old May 27, 2004 | 10:12 PM
  #28  
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I run my pressure at 12 psi and spraying 3 adjustable nozzles.

GENE
 
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Old May 27, 2004 | 10:26 PM
  #29  
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What kind of fuel mileage improvement can you get with propane? I assume it's from better combustion of the fuel in the cylinder as well as not running as much diesel through the system since propane is being added. Can anybody shed light on this?
 
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Old May 28, 2004 | 12:11 AM
  #30  
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My mileage increase has been between 2-3 mpg better.
Normally a diesel burns about 70% to 80% of the fuel injected , but with the addition of propane it now burns about 95% of the fuel injected. Better burn means more power and more power means it takes less pedal to get it going and keep it going. But remember the mileage only increases if you drive it normal which is hard to do with the new found power.

GENE
 
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