anyone running propane on thier
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VT Chapter Ldr
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Orange, Vermont
anyone running propane on thier
Curious on price of kit, how much it helped diesel mileage and how many miles before needing propane refill? We just bought a 01 excursion 7.3 4x4 with 114000miles. thanks.
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Rather than using short phrases that don't help the OP at all why don't you explain why and your experiences? 
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Parker, CO
I'm not a fan of propane, and haven't been. Now with that said...
In very very small quantities, it's fine.
The problem is people that get greedy with propane will ultimately blow a head gasket or send a rod through the block.
Propane is a fuel, and since it's introduced into the combustion chamber with the air, there is really no control over when it detonates. There is always a spike in CP's when propane is involved. You can never get rid of it unless you shut off the propane, but you can limit it by cutting back on the pane, as well as retarding the timing (SOI).
That's pretty much all there is to it.
Fuel delivery through the injectors is much easier to manage through tuning, propane not so much. For example... which motor would last longer? A PSD running stock injectors (with a stock bottom end) and reaching 400 hp with propane? Or a PSD running no propane, but reaching 450 hp with a stock bottom end and hybrid injectors?
It's all in the fuel delivery, and controlling the SOI.
In very very small quantities, it's fine.
The problem is people that get greedy with propane will ultimately blow a head gasket or send a rod through the block.
Propane is a fuel, and since it's introduced into the combustion chamber with the air, there is really no control over when it detonates. There is always a spike in CP's when propane is involved. You can never get rid of it unless you shut off the propane, but you can limit it by cutting back on the pane, as well as retarding the timing (SOI).
That's pretty much all there is to it.
Fuel delivery through the injectors is much easier to manage through tuning, propane not so much. For example... which motor would last longer? A PSD running stock injectors (with a stock bottom end) and reaching 400 hp with propane? Or a PSD running no propane, but reaching 450 hp with a stock bottom end and hybrid injectors?
It's all in the fuel delivery, and controlling the SOI.
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Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Gulf Coast of Florida
I seriously considered running propane about 2 years back when I had a 110 mile roundtrip drive to work, and what I found is this:
unless propane is less than half the cost of diesel, the "numbers" don't add up. What I mean is that the extra expense of the propane is not offset by the resultant increase in mileage. So not only do you never recover the initial cost of the necessary equipment (propane tank, lines, flow control system, etc.) you also are effectively paying more per mile as well.
Can you get better mileage? Definitely.
Will you ultimately end up spending less? Definitely not.
I have not investigated CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) but the other major drawback (for me) in either of these systems is the tank. I have a shortbed and am not willing to give up any room in the bed. Hope this helps.
unless propane is less than half the cost of diesel, the "numbers" don't add up. What I mean is that the extra expense of the propane is not offset by the resultant increase in mileage. So not only do you never recover the initial cost of the necessary equipment (propane tank, lines, flow control system, etc.) you also are effectively paying more per mile as well.
Can you get better mileage? Definitely.
Will you ultimately end up spending less? Definitely not.
I have not investigated CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) but the other major drawback (for me) in either of these systems is the tank. I have a shortbed and am not willing to give up any room in the bed. Hope this helps.
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VT Chapter Ldr
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Orange, Vermont
yea, that helps. My goal isn't so much for power generation as it is for mileage. In Diesel Power mag when they do thier truck challenge, there is usually 1 or 2 running propane who usually get the highest mileage.
I just ran some numbers and if I could go from 15mpg to 30 (probably a big dream) at $2.90/gall diesel and guessing 500miles on a propane fill up and driving 20000 miles/year, saving would be approximately $1400/yr.
The excursion in my wife's primary car now but she is still driving like it is a car, if she modified her driving style, the mileage would probably get up to 17-18 for her normal daily driving trip.
I just ran some numbers and if I could go from 15mpg to 30 (probably a big dream) at $2.90/gall diesel and guessing 500miles on a propane fill up and driving 20000 miles/year, saving would be approximately $1400/yr.
The excursion in my wife's primary car now but she is still driving like it is a car, if she modified her driving style, the mileage would probably get up to 17-18 for her normal daily driving trip.
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Joined: Mar 2004
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From: Illinois
You'd be lucky to get 20mpg. I've run propane for over a year and never seen anything better than 19. My milage only increased 2-4 mpg over stock.
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VT Chapter Ldr
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 96,118
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From: Orange, Vermont
Thanks whitewhale, this is the info I was hoping to get more of, real world numbers. What size propane tank do you run and how many miles before fill up? My 96 get 16-18 running my normal route and can get 20-21 on longer drives.
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