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Posted by Ivan Vegvary on May 4, 2008, 1:18 am
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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
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Posted by 42 on May 4, 2008, 1:33 am
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> 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
>
Ivan,
If you're thinking of filling up your truck from a larger propane storage
tank that you have such as one for a home furnace or stationary generator,
beware. That isn't legal in to do Oregon, without paying the motor vehicle
fuel tax. I checked into doing just what you propose a number of years ago
and it just wasn't worth all the hassle (to me). The feds take tax evasion
real seriously.
YMMV, Paul
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Posted by Steve W. on May 4, 2008, 2:02 am
Please log in for more thread options 42 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
>>
> Ivan,
> If you're thinking of filling up your truck from a larger propane storage
> tank that you have such as one for a home furnace or stationary generator,
> beware. That isn't legal in to do Oregon, without paying the motor vehicle
> fuel tax. I checked into doing just what you propose a number of years ago
> and it just wasn't worth all the hassle (to me). The feds take tax evasion
> real seriously.
> YMMV, Paul
>
>
Also you will notice a BIG difference in mileage. One of the local
propane dealers converted his service trucks to run on propane. I talked
to him about 6 months later and found that he had pulled the conversions
off. The trucks were getting about 15 MPG on regular gas and that number
dropped to less than 13MPG on propane. He also said that they had less
power.
I also know a guy who did a conversion on a Silverado with the 5.3. He
also took it back off because it was hard to find places that could
legally fill the tank and the tank itself was in the way a lot, plus he
noticed a 4 MPG drop in mileage.
--
Steve W.
Near Cooperstown, New York
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Posted by azotic on May 4, 2008, 5:08 am
Please log in for more thread options
>
>
>> 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
>>
> Ivan,
> If you're thinking of filling up your truck from a larger propane storage
> tank that you have such as one for a home furnace or stationary generator,
> beware. That isn't legal in to do Oregon, without paying the motor vehicle
> fuel tax. I checked into doing just what you propose a number of years ago
> and it just wasn't worth all the hassle (to me). The feds take tax evasion
> real seriously.
> YMMV, Paul
Just pay the tax and be legal, its less than gasoline.
http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/policy/ohim/hs04/htm/fe21b.htm
Best Regards
Tom.
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Posted by RoyJ on May 4, 2008, 1:46 am
Please log in for more thread options You have two issues:
The BTU's are what drives the vehicle, the BTU's per gallon are vastly
different between gasoline and propane. Lots of web pages, here are several
http://www.yamaha-propane-natural-gas-generators.com/fuel_consumption.htm
http://www.pgworks.com/majoraccounts/facts/definitions.htm
http://www.farmdoc.uiuc.edu/manage/newsletters/pdf/112901.pdf
Net: propane is a fairly low density fuel, it's cost per btu is right in
line with gasoline or diesel (historical diesel prices), your fuel
economy is based on Btu's.
Gasoline and diesel for road use are heavily taxed with transportation
taxes. Your propane prices don't have those added in. Not paying those
taxes gets you a high probability of a visit from some folks that play
at least as rough as "Guido" when you don't pay your bookie promptly.
Ivan Vegvary 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
>
>
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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
>