Honestly that is the only reason I have ever used any form of alt injection or chem cooling...not to add power but to bring down the temps. That being said, I could see having a good meth system sitting there for those ime when you are doing a long mountain pull on a hot dry day...keep in mind humidity also plays a big role in cooling charge air this way...the more moisture the air contains before it is compressed the less cooling effect you will see. In my mind it is (and has proven to be) a great solution, but I dont believe in using it full time.

the thought is kind of like radiator misters on older busses....

 

ya, i dont need anything full time. just looking for about a 20 mile stretch im a 300 mile trip. we'll see..... i got my pyrometer probe in today, gonna install the gauge tomorrow so i can get a baseline egt on my trip, then after i install the intercooler i'll get another and see if i need anything at all.

 

I'd be interested in knowing what kind of propane injection kits you've researched? Dave mentioned the powershot 2000 kit that regulates based on boost pressure. I've done some research and found that most kits aren't even applicable for prePSD engines.I've got the superchips digital kit and I'd be willing to try it if it stated that the kit was designed for 7.3L IDI non turbo engines but mine doesnt. I bought it thinking that I might make it work but now after reading all these posts and others from other sites. I don't think I'll try it.

 

dave ran propane but didnt believe it was cost effective to run it.

 

How can it not be cost effective? propane here is mcuh cheaper than Diesel and it burns cooler and cleaner. This DPI kit suggested something like 30% increase in mileage and more than that on HP. I read one article claiming that the duramax 6.0l had an increase from 26MPG hiway to 37MPG. I'd have to see it to believe it but I've already put my money behind it.

 

other then having triple overdrive units on your rig i dont ever see a full size diesel getting 37mpg.

 

That could happen... if it was just idling along while being towed by a Ford.

 

I knew that would get a good laugh

 

With a 5% improvement in mileage, is it cost effective? I mean there is a cost of the propane or is that already taken into account? $ per mile is the real measure in this case.

 

I read one article claiming that the duramax 6.0l had an increase from 26MPG hiway to 37MPG. I'd have to see it to believe it but I've already put my money behind it.[/quote]

If it would realistically do that everyone that owns a duramax would own one, I mean think about it no one would ever buy a small car or pickup.

 

as far as cost effective you have to factor the cost of the propane.how much injection would it take to get the result you want.if your filling tanks all the time there is not really a cost effective reason to install the kit.
people can CLAIM whatever they want but if i told you i got 50 mpg by putting cattle feces in my tank with the diesel creating a methane injection would ya believe that?some people would im sure.articles are articles not facts and they dont tell you their fuel costs go up when you include propane they just state the increase in mileage and power but dont tell you how much was spent on propane

 

No cattle feces for me thanks. as I stated, I'd have to see it with my own eyes to believe an 11MPG gain in fuel mileage. I can believe that it is a cost effective benefit to your fuel system and I believe that more propane should be used in the US. We don't import propane from foreign sources, theres plenty right here in the states. Propane is much cleaner than diesel fuel both in the engine and for the environment.

 

I kinda like diesel in mine.

 

if i was to run anything it would be water/methanol for keeping egts low.and i doubt i would ever do that.alot of companies make alot of claims of better mileage and more power and a few are right on with the claims but 90% are way out there.as far as running propane when you can over fuel the motor with a stock ip why inject more fuel?

 

I think the big misconception on how fast it pays for itself comes down to figuring out the ACTUAL numbers....yes, there is an MPG benefit (good luck finding an acutal number your extra HP is worth), but then figure the cost of propane, the cost of the system itself, and then the depreciation of the motors overall lifespan....it seems a well maintained 6.9/7.3 on straight diesel will easily see 300k...if propane drops that to 200k how much did you just lose?

There are plenty of ways to just make extra HP...as was stated earlier, ether injection would be great, you could get so much power it would really go boom. From experience run a motor on what it was designed to be run on, or build the motor to run on something else. Again, I am all for alt injection, but in this case only to keep from melting pistons...you cant just start throwing other fuels into a motor (at least not if you want it to last long).

I know as I am building my personal rig I will be adding a water/meth system, but to be honest the only time it will get used is when I am doing my cali runs and am crossing the grapevine or the grade on 8 into san diego on 100* days with a heavy load or something similar to that.