hey yall! what all do i have to do to run propain? like timing, comprestion,
what is the MPG on it is it ok to run all the time? i heard it was like 97 octain? is that true? well thanks for the help!

 

Not that bad a conversion. Try a search on this site using the word propane.

 

Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) is 130 and Propane is 118 octane. As far as timing goes you can advance it because of the high octane. The mileage will depend on what your gonna put it on. If it was an old carb engine it will get worse milege because it has less BTU's than gasoline. The modern fuel injected setup will get it closer to what gasoline gets. And finally it is ok to run all the time, it will extend your oil change interval also, warehouse forklifts run propane all the time. Unless you have easy access to propane it's not real practical as a gasoline replacement. And above all have trained people do an install, it's not a DIY job.

 

Check out 4x4 magazine, I read an artical about it in an (april?) issue last year.

 

I got about 8.6 miles per US gallon in a F350 crew cab w/460, no load and about 5.5 mpg after I put a huge camper on it; total weight with the camper was 8000 lb.

Propane systems are very simple, there's a tank, a hose, a vacuum operated propane lock, a regulator, and a feed hose which will go to the air cleaner or throttle body.

My 460 is also fuel injected so it has a feed hose that runs to the air cleaner whereas a carbeurated unit will probably run a propane throttle body. My truck was converted before I bought it so I didn't do the conversion but a friend of mine did his own conversion; he's also very mechanically inclined.

There shouldn't be any electrical involved at all unless you are going to run dual fuel and the propane safety lock is vacuum operated so there is no flow if there's no vacuum. Well maybe the fuel guage wire will have to be hooked up. Some systems use a box to trick out the stock computer so you don't get CEL coming on all the time. Doing an install on a carbeurated engine with no ECM would be the easiest.


If you're building an engine to run propane I would go 9.5 - 10 perhaps even 10.5 compression to get the power out of the high octane fuel and you can easily run 15 BTDC timing probably more without any knock.

I've seen a lot of propane trucks at the wrecker, one could easily snag a complete system off one of them and make install it in their own vehicle.
this goes without saying but if you decide to do an install yourself make sure you test all connections with soapy water looking for leaks..

Propane has jumped 12 cents a liter here in about 10 months, Canada eh.

 

So it isnt any cheaper huh? i was hoping u could run the propain and it would last longer, like um say i put 20 dolloars in it at like 1.89 here would i go further on the 20 on gas or propain? i know it would b easyer on the motor, my dad works on fork lifts hes got a bunch on lp stuff around here but i dont think the 1 bbls that r around here r gonna lol be very good performance wise lol i got a 360 in my F-250, and a 1bbl aint gonna cut it so i got a vaporiser and ragulater of a fork lift what all else do i need i can leave the gas carb on it? i know a little about the lp setup but i wanna know what all u guys done ya know been there done that DONT DO THAT LOL! well thanks for all the advise lookin forward for some more!!!...............

 

Hmm, there are different systems for different size engines. I'm not sure if the one off a forklift will flow enough fuel to run a 360. I guess I forgot about the carbeurator, mine's a little different, it sits on the right side of the engine compartment, the air cleaner attaches to it, the feed from the vaporizer attaches to the top and there are two large rad type hoses that supply the throttle body from there. You'll need to replace your carb with a propane throttle body.