Has anyone out there done it?
How much did it cost?
Did it hurt performance?
What is the cost per mile of driving?
Are you bifuel or CNG only?
With Natural gas at about $2 per gallon and we get it from Canada or the US it is starting to make sense to go CNG.
All the vehicles I have seen were converted for Gov or large fleets. I am not sure it is worth it to do it individually. But I sure would like to get out of paying these high prices for gas and at the same time stop sending my money to the Saudis.
George

 

$2 dollars a gallon!!! Here in UT it is .63 cents a gallon....Thats right, it is cheaper per mile for me to drive my E-350 (with the 5.4 v8) than a geo metro. (about 4 cents per mile)

They are converting all types of cars here....7 to 12 grand for a conversion...maybe 10% power loss for bi-fuel. UT has a one time tax credit of up to 3000.00 for alternate fuel vehicles. I am looking on converting my new dodge ram to bi fuel. For now I only have 3 factory ford dedicated CNG vans.

 

Tomerloy,
I lost out on a Dodge minivan that was CNG converted to a person in Utah. They could pay way more because Nat gas is cheaper there. I think you are on the right track and so is Utah.
Aside from less power is the system dependable? Does it hurt the motor in any way? Smog equipment?
Would you ever have a CNG only vehicle as opposed to bi fuel?
George

 

very dependable, doesnt hurt the motor. Actually it burns much cleaner and is better for the engine. Also oil stays very clean. I currently have 3 CNG only vans. I sold my bi fuel chevy. Will be converting the new dodge to bi fuel.

 

What cars can be converted to CNG?

My dad has a 79 F-100 with a 390 block. What would be needed for it to be converted to CNG?

What about a 92 Chevy Silverado with a 4.3L V6?

 

Crown Vic's, Camry's and Civics have been produced as factory dedicated CNG cars, so parts were made for those. Only the Civic is in current production. My brother just bought his second CNG Civic. The fuel is $2 an equivalent gallon in Los Angeles, but that is because of a monopoly on public refuel stations. The added bonus is that he is allowed solo in carpool lanes. New hybrids no longer qualify.

Jim

 

I thought you can get a refueling device from Honda for the Civic to fuel your car at home. They look like a central vacum unit and hook up to your house gas line.
This avoids any up charges from the refueling stations. Plus it is convenient.
George

 

you can. it is called the PHIL.

 

works quite well, our first super duty, a 03 v-10 was a great truck exept for the usual steering/exhaust/drive line problems. we had 2 home (fuelmaker.com fm4 refueling modules), took 7-12 hours to re-fill, @ night. we put 2-7 pound and 2-8 pound tanks on the bottom of the cab/box fully out of sight. the only thing i will suggest is to add a programmer to firm up the shift points and to help recover the 5-10% power loss in the city. highway.. no probs.
we towed our 10k fiver@75 mphs no probs. (a wee bit slower on steep grades). with 4 bottles, we got 320-360 kms out of a fill up. cost..well that depends on how many bottles/valves etc you wish to put on in. yearly pressure/leak test in manditory in ontario.
our install was $5300, and another $900 each for the vra`s (vehicle re-fueling appliances).
$600 for 110 feet 1.5 inch natural gas piping, and $200 for the 240 electrical service for power. not cheap to get in to, but will save in the long run. monthly gas bill was 160 and another for 49 for hydro, driving 2900 kms per month. we still have the programmer (99-04)-(05-08 if sent back for re-programing) ford v-10 if you are interested in it.

 

In the Los Angeles area, the numbers for PHIL just dont add up. With the initial cost, plus installation and permits, there is still the very high rates we pay for electricity to run it and natural gas itself.

My brother ordered one and then canceled when he added it all up.

Jim