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Posted by Bruce in Bangkok on May 4, 2008, 6:02 am
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wrote:
>Engine in question is a 5.3 liter Chevy Vortex (Silverado truck).
>
>Outfit in Canada has a conversion package that allows you to use propane and
>petrol to run your vehicle. Automatically switches to petrol if propane
>pressure runs low, or you can manually switch (while in motion) back and
>forth. Supposedly exceeds EPA clean air requirements.
>
>Since I am already buying propane, and, have a wet hose by which I can fill
>extra tanks, this seems to be an excellent way to beat the cost of petrol.
>Right now I am paying $ 2.40 for a gallon of propane. Petrol (here in
>Oregon) is running $3.55 per gallon currently.
>
>At a savings of $20 ± per tankful, this might have a payback within, say, a
>2 year period. Downside would be the tank I would have to lug around in the
>back of the truck. However, the savings would allow me to take more trips
>with the 5th wheel.
>
>Has anybody in this group tried this, or know somebody that has? I am going
>on the assumption that there will always be a large price differential
>between these two energy sources, especially since you pay a heavy tax on
>the petrol.
>
>All comments appreciated. If you tell me that I am stupid to consider this,
>please tell me why!!
>
>Ivan Vegvary
>
I can't comment on costs in N. America but nearly all taxi's in
Bangkok run on LPG. They use a conversion that allows them to use
either LPG/Propane or gasoline by manually switching valve settings.
Based on Bangkok prices the taxi drivers tell me that using LPG their
daily fuel cost is about half what it would be using gasoline.
The first LPG/cooking gas/Propane conversions I saw were Japanese
taxi's at Yokota Air Force Base in the early 1950's and conversations
with various operators, over the years, all mention the same subjects.
Slightly lower power, but acceptable, a cleaner engine and cheaper
fuel costs.
Bruce-in-Bangkok
(correct Address is bpaige125atgmaildotcom)
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Posted by Larry Jaques on May 4, 2008, 8:54 am
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On Sun, 04 May 2008 05:18:33 GMT, with neither quill nor qualm, "Ivan
>Engine in question is a 5.3 liter Chevy Vortex (Silverado truck).
IIRC, from working at Flynn's Frame and Collision in the 80s, the
Chevy tow truck with a (350/propane) got worse gas mileage than the
F-600 with the big (460?) gasoline engine. It also had a stinky
exhaust. Newer engines would probably burn it better, but you also may
have the problem of finding refueling stations. That big propane tank
was at least twice the weight of the original gas tank, too.
Given my experience, I probably wouldn't convert. YMMV.
P.S: I wish I'd had the option for a hybrid Tundra last October.
--
Those who flee temptation generally leave a forwarding address.
-- Lane Olinghouse
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Posted by Bob in Phx on May 4, 2008, 11:03 am
Please log in for more thread options MY experience is second hand.
My ASS^*LE of a neighbor received a very nice older Chevy truck from his
dad. The truck had both propane and gas. Here in AZ, if you have an
alternative fuel vehicle, you get special plates and are allowed to drive in
the car pool lane, which is a great luxury in Phoenix. So, what did the fool
next door do... He got the special plates then pulled off the system. He
gets to drive the car pool lane and does and then gloats about screwing the
system. Two years latter, when the tags and inspection are do, he puts the
system back on. Once he passed, off it came again. He has since sold the
truck, minus the conversion and then threw out the conversion in the trash
(I don't know what he did with the tank???). I truly dislike folks who break
rules for their own gain. It took all I had not to drop a dime on this
Idiot.
Bob in phx
> On Sun, 04 May 2008 05:18:33 GMT, with neither quill nor qualm, "Ivan
>
>>Engine in question is a 5.3 liter Chevy Vortex (Silverado truck).
>
> IIRC, from working at Flynn's Frame and Collision in the 80s, the
> Chevy tow truck with a (350/propane) got worse gas mileage than the
> F-600 with the big (460?) gasoline engine. It also had a stinky
> exhaust. Newer engines would probably burn it better, but you also may
> have the problem of finding refueling stations. That big propane tank
> was at least twice the weight of the original gas tank, too.
>
> Given my experience, I probably wouldn't convert. YMMV.
>
> P.S: I wish I'd had the option for a hybrid Tundra last October.
>
> --
> Those who flee temptation generally leave a forwarding address.
> -- Lane Olinghouse
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Posted by Wayne Cook on May 4, 2008, 11:00 am
Please log in for more thread options wrote:
>Engine in question is a 5.3 liter Chevy Vortex (Silverado truck).
>
>Outfit in Canada has a conversion package that allows you to use propane and
>petrol to run your vehicle. Automatically switches to petrol if propane
>pressure runs low, or you can manually switch (while in motion) back and
>forth. Supposedly exceeds EPA clean air requirements.
>
>Since I am already buying propane, and, have a wet hose by which I can fill
>extra tanks, this seems to be an excellent way to beat the cost of petrol.
>Right now I am paying $ 2.40 for a gallon of propane. Petrol (here in
>Oregon) is running $3.55 per gallon currently.
>
>At a savings of $20 ± per tankful, this might have a payback within, say, a
>2 year period. Downside would be the tank I would have to lug around in the
>back of the truck. However, the savings would allow me to take more trips
>with the 5th wheel.
>
>Has anybody in this group tried this, or know somebody that has? I am going
>on the assumption that there will always be a large price differential
>between these two energy sources, especially since you pay a heavy tax on
>the petrol.
>
>All comments appreciated. If you tell me that I am stupid to consider this,
>please tell me why!!
>
Used to be real common around here but nobody does it anymore. Even
the local propane supplier quit using it to run there trucks. Back
when propane was $0.45 a gallon it made a lot of sense. You get less
mileage, slightly less power, hard to find places to fill up, and a
few other negatives most of which have been covered by other people.
One positive side is longer engine life. It just runs cleaner and
doesn't wash the oil film off the cylinder walls.
One interesting fact. Propane tractors used to have more HP than the
gas equivalent. The reason was that they had a higher compression
ratio.
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Posted by RAM³ on May 4, 2008, 3:38 pm
Please log in for more thread options
> One interesting fact. Propane tractors used to have more HP than the
> gas equivalent. The reason was that they had a higher compression
> ratio.
Are you _sure_ that they were running Propane and not Butane? <g>
FWIW, the diesel-engine hot-rodders have turned to Propane injection to
achieve the same kind of boost that the gas-engine hot-rodders get with
Nitrous Oxide injection. <grin>
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>
>Outfit in Canada has a conversion package that allows you to use propane and
>petrol to run your vehicle. Automatically switches to petrol if propane
>pressure runs low, or you can manually switch (while in motion) back and
>forth. Supposedly exceeds EPA clean air requirements.
>
>Since I am already buying propane, and, have a wet hose by which I can fill
>extra tanks, this seems to be an excellent way to beat the cost of petrol.
>Right now I am paying $ 2.40 for a gallon of propane. Petrol (here in
>Oregon) is running $3.55 per gallon currently.
>
>At a savings of $20 ± per tankful, this might have a payback within, say, a
>2 year period. Downside would be the tank I would have to lug around in the
>back of the truck. However, the savings would allow me to take more trips
>with the 5th wheel.
>
>Has anybody in this group tried this, or know somebody that has? I am going
>on the assumption that there will always be a large price differential
>between these two energy sources, especially since you pay a heavy tax on
>the petrol.
>
>All comments appreciated. If you tell me that I am stupid to consider this,
>please tell me why!!
>
>Ivan Vegvary
>