What do you think about running your truck on propane? (pics on pg 2)

I've been running my old truck (93 Silverado 2x4 5.0) on propane for about two years and noticed no ill effects to engine parts or sensors. My oil changes were further apart (about 700 miles further) and the oil was cleaner (using 5 30 regular oil)

Granted it is better to tow and haul stuff using gas and the fuel economy on propane is lessened (mine was 13% more propane to go the same distance as gas using the antiquated tbi). But ya can't beat the prices 1.58 a gal for propane compared to 4.50 a gal for gas.

I will be running propane through this truck also, my propane installer said the Toyota 5.7 takes to propane as well if not better than my old Chevy 5.0.

All that being said... has anyone any thoughts about this?

 

Propane has been done for years like 30 plus to years in gasoline engines not to add to it but turbines engines too.

Propane is a cleaner burning fuel than ron fuel (gasoline). The only down side is the btu are less and propane is used abit more but thats a offset.

As for propane running on the 5.7 it will run just fine. Dont expect big hp gains its not going to happen.

Oil changes(dino oil) and injectors life increases by 2 to 4 times longer do to the cleaner burning fuel. Look at the forklifts for example.

The only thing I recommended and I strongly about this only use AIRCRAFT propane tanks or hot air ballon ones ONLY. Yes they are big but if you get into a accident and the rear gets hit the tank is deisgned to keep propane under pressure. I know all about propane and 3 degree cold burns or worst exploding tanks. I just to haul it and know the dangers of it but it is safe if you know what your doing.

 

I will be getting the propane installed by a reputable company that will provide the proper certification as is required by the Ontario Ministry of Transportation. This will be happening by the middle of *October.

This will be a "dual fuel" conversion which means I will have the means to run either gas or propane. I hope I can have the same switch enabling me to choose one or the other as I do in my current truck, but that remains to be seen.

I am also very interested in comments.




(edited; incorrect month, the conversion will happen by the middle of October not march)

 

As for your duel fuel system.

They work very good. Rare you have problems with them.

Side note since you are up north make sure the fittings not the tank side but vehicle side they are covered so salt doesnt eat into it... fyi.

 

As I stated, the install was done professionally and I have had zero problems throughout last winter.

I have had no problems at all with the dual fuel system, in fact if I had any control over it I would make it mandatory for all vehicles to use propane rather than gasoline as it puts far less toxins into the atmosphere... but then propane would not be nearly as cheap at the pump as it is.

I noticed that they used copper as the fuel line and the fittings are similar to those found in compressed air systems.

edit: If you choose to install a system yourself DO NOT use bbq tanks, invest a few bucks and get the proper tanks for this purpose... that being said.... I strongly recommend getting the system installed professionally.

 

The costs will differ from region to region I am sure... the cost to put the system in my Silverado was 3250 (tbi).... the cost to install a new system in the Tundra is going to be about 5600 (sfi). Lucky it isn't DI because that would tack on another 2500.

The Tundra's propane system will break even in two years, but I put on a lot of miles.

I am surprised that there are so few that have this in their truck... the "at the pump" cost is typically more than 50% savings and that is factoring in the cost of install... after the "payback" period it's closer to 65% savings at the pump. This may vary also, these are my numbers so far.

But the real benefit is - oh oh here comes the 'tree huggin' side of me - the environment. I feel just fine driving my gas guzzlin' beast knowing I am pumping less than half the toxins running on propane than my gas guzzlin' beast brothers and sisters running theirs on gas.

 

To anyone that cares... I will have my system installed in three to four weeks... I will be certain to take a bunch of pics.

 

Does anyone have the link to a reputable company that does this conversion?

 

http://www.crainteam.com/CNG

If your thinking of converting, look at this site first:

http://alternativefuels.about.com/o...ef923be9-9c84-4a6e-8cc9-ef85e8cd559c-0-ab_msb

 

Both links are very good indeed... unless I am mistaken, CNG is as good for the environment and engine as LPG, and the install costs are virtually the same. I chose LPG primarily because of greater access to fill stations across the regions that I travel.

(rant start) I find it ludicrous that the US gov would put more restrictions on LPG. I fail to understand why it is so difficult to do something that will serve 3 main purposes, help the small business that wants to install the system, help the end users save money on fuel costs... and.... the big one in my opinion... do something positive about the environment without restricting vehicle use. (rant over)

I will definitely get 'before' and 'after' pics... and I will try to get some 'during' pics, but no promises.

 

update ... I have an appointment with the installers and will have the propane system in my truck by Oct 29th.

 

waitaminit.... ...... for real?!?

..... well then .......

Bring on dem bitches

 

this thread is f***ing boring ... yea, like so what, you pay 50% or less per gal, big whoop... most of us are looking for mods that are useful and look cool, you know like big ass lift kits and well designed tires that help us climb a wall and do stuff like or light bars that are as bright as a collapsed sun... wtf noob... does having propane do anything cool?



(me) ...er... maybe?!?... this system can travel a little over 600 miles (1000 k) on a combined single fill .... um... right... not so cool... ok point taken

 

Patiently awaiting pics...

 

"Before" and "After" pics will be posted after the system is installed, which has been bumped up to next week... meaning I will be driving on propane by the 23rd

I have been told by the installer that because this engine is SFI I will notice a slight bump in HP/TQ. Not that I doubt their word but I will look into possibly getting it dyno'd on gas and again on propane so I can say definitively one way or the other.

 

Damn... forgot about the ROI question. I am using US gallons for expediency sake.

hhmmm.... based on the 27.9 gal tank of propane I am getting then use my avg of 15mpg and factor in a 5% loss in economy. This equates to 390 miles per tank of propane.

Now the avg price of gasoline is $4.03/gal and the avg price of propane is $1.72/gal. So we subtract $1.72 from $4.03 and your net savings is $2.31/gal.

The gas tank in my Tundra is 26.4 gal, so we multiply $4.03 and we get $106.39

Multiply $1.72 by 27.9 gal propane tank and we get $47.98

Subtract the cost of gas by the cost of propane and you get a savings of $58.41 per tank of propane.

Now we can divide that $58.41 into the cost of install which is about $5750 giving a sum of 98.44 tanks of propane.

And finally we take the 98.44 tanks and multiply by the 390 miles/tank of propane and you get 38,391.6 miles.

So unless I did this wrong (which is very possible) the ROI should break even at the 38,391.6 miles.

I would appreciate someone re doing this calculation if they so desire.

 

Just a quick update... took the truck in for installation on Monday (Oct 19th) with a pick up date of Monday (Oct 26th).

They gave me an 05 Cavalier loaner for the interim, it runs very well indeed.

I realized I forgot to get "before" pics when I got home... but we all know what the truck bed and engine bay looks like... I will take "after" pics when I pick it up.

 

Standing by...

 

I filled up with gasoline today for $1.69 a gallon...

 

1.69, where are you from

 

Rock Hill, SC