propane conversion for EFI

[Happy Camper]

Hi, I've read a few topics here relative to propane conversion and I was surprised to find out that it seemed obvious that EFI engines could not run on propane. I don't know too much about the subject but what I know for sure, is that there is one company that offers propane conversion kits for EFI engines. (Got to www.poweredbypropane.net to find out...).

Perhaps, I know that these kits are expansive (around 1000$ w/o the tanks) because they are all electronically controlled and tuned. And the kit comes with a complete set of independent propane injectors (so you have to drill and tap holes in your intake manifold to fit them), and (that's what I find the most interesting), the kit is installed with selenoid operated valves that enables a switch from gasoline to propane and vice-versa with the flick of a switch. (the original gasoline system all remain intact). In fact, the engine is started on gasoline and only switched to propane when it has reached an its optimal operating temperature.

Also, they say that there is no power loss or drop in mileage when operating on propane because of the higher octane rating of propane compared to gasoline (even if propane has a lower calorific value than gasoline...)

Okay, that sounds pretty cool but you have to keep in mind (I do!) that all these informations are sypplied by the company itself... So, I would be pretty interested to share any informations about this technology especially if someone knows somebody who tried this system.

Finally, I don't want to start a hole debate on it but I'm suprised to see people saying that running on propane is not an economy compared to running on gasoline. As far as I am concerned, I already heard a couple of stories about some (carbed) vehicules being converted and having a considerable economy (but a power and mileage loss...the economy was made because of the price of propane and not because of the mileage...). Also, all those stories were concerning people that use to make lots of highway mileage. And finally, these conversions were made with old systems on carbed vehicules (it has nothing to do with the system I've described above).

I can't wait to see if people experienced the new system (the one sold on poweredbypropane.net...)

Thanks

[Black_Splash]

Jasper Engines (http://www.jasperengines.com/alternate-fuel.php) has dedicated carbed, EFI and even diesel engines. They do conversions also. There is a 97 propane powered F-150 driving around town.

[mattpresley]

Jasper Engines (http://www.jasperengines.com/alternate-fuel.php) has dedicated carbed, EFI and even diesel engines. They do conversions also. There is a 97 propane powered F-150 driving around town.

why convert to propane. its very expenisve........

[85_Ranger4x4]

http://www.roushperformance.com/propane_kit.shtml

Pretty interesting stuff.

[Happy Camper]

why convert to propane. its very expenisve........


Because in my area, propane is sold a something like 80 cents/liter... The only reason is to save money! (and this is only possible if the conversion kit offered by the company (poweredbyproane) is as efficient as they say it is so that's why I would like to find somebody who did the conversion on an EFI vehicule to find out what are the results...

[BRUTUS_T_HOG]

yeah if its cheaper which is usually is... propane burns CLEAN and puts out very very little pollution and it puts out the same sometimes more power than gasoline

im pretty sure you can actually just convert it yourself all you need is a regulator off a forklift or other propane engine. they work just like a carburetor

[dragogt]

Or if you build a engine FOR propane, you can run a higher CR and get away with it on the street.

[mattpresley]

Because in my area, propane is sold a something like 80 cents/liter... The only reason is to save money! (and this is only possible if the conversion kit offered by the company (poweredbyproane) is as efficient as they say it is so that's why I would like to find somebody who did the conversion on an EFI vehicule to find out what are the results...

whys it so cheap there its like 60 bucks for a bbq drum here

[mattpresley]

yeah if its cheaper which is usually is... propane burns CLEAN and puts out very very little pollution and it puts out the same sometimes more power than gasoline

im pretty sure you can actually just convert it yourself all you need is a regulator off a forklift or other propane engine. they work just like a carburetor

http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn45/charger62790/KoHPropane_300.jpg

[Chance]

whys it so cheap there its like 60 bucks for a bbq drum here

uuuuuuhhhh you got a 30+ gallon tank? Well makes sense as drums are usually 50 gallons... but seriously at the store I work for, a tank exchange costs 6 bucks... six and sixty are pretty close...

It's about $1.26-$2.00 a gallon here. I wanna convert but damn efi... and gas is at $2.50 so I wouldn't see good enough savings till the prices sky rocket again.

I also am very interested to see if anyone's used that efi kit.

(although I want propane to loose all my efi crap so I just need a carb'd engine I guess)

[mattpresley]

uuuuuuhhhh you got a 30+ gallon tank? Well makes sense as drums are usually 50 gallons... but seriously at the store I work for, a tank exchange costs 6 bucks... six and sixty are pretty close...

It's about $1.26-$2.00 a gallon here. I wanna convert but damn efi... and gas is at $2.50 so I wouldn't see good enough savings till the prices sky rocket again.

I also am very interested to see if anyone's used that efi kit.

(although I want propane to loose all my efi crap so I just need a carb'd engine I guess)

I meant a tank. tank exchange = 49.99

[Chance]

Huh I'm sorry. Cuz it's being produced at .72 a gallon in Texas... You're paying alotta markup on a cheap fuel...

http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/dnav/pet/pet_pri_spt_s1_d.htm

[mattpresley]

can it go in a diesal without any mods? diesel engines can burn just about anything flammable

[black bart]

at $ 3 + for reg a gal in Los Angeles CNG or LP sounds good. a company called Phil - It makes a cng station for the house. it takes natural gas and compress it into your tanks. the system is pricey but the fuel is cheap.

[feellnfroggy]

You know when I first found this site, over a eyar ago, there was a 93 ranger build with an electric motor. What happened to that? And is a propane conversion so much cheaper than a diesel conversion?

[BDAB]

You know when I first found this site, over a eyar ago, there was a 93 ranger build with an electric motor. What happened to that? And is a propane conversion so much cheaper than a diesel conversion?

a 'pane conversion would be cheap and easier (unless you had the diesel engine laying around and it didn't cost you anything, and you did all the fab yourself)

can it go in a diesal without any mods? diesel engines can burn just about anything flammable

not as its only source of fuel. LPG is good for 14:1 compression and most diesels are in the 18:1 - 22:1 range. but you can add 'pane to the air going into the diesel to aid in combustion and see a nice power boost ........ boost is even further with adding nos................ just not on my diesel.... at 22:1 if I added 'pane or NOS I would experience head lift......

[riquezada]

I have an old '92 Ford Aeostar with a 3.0. Last year the fuel pump went out in the gas tank. I had a propane "air horn". It fits in the air cleaner line on a farm tractor and uses the original carb instead of changin gto a propane carb. I plumbed up the usual converter (vaporizer) in the heater hose like as for any conversion from gasoline. I put this air horn right before the throttle body. I made sure it was a tight connection without any air leaks. I left all wiring untouched. Hooked up a propane tank and fired it up.

When it first started it ran rough and the engine light came on. After about 10minutes it ran pretty good and the engine light went out. On subsequent starts during the next month, I had no problems. I drove it around the farm for a month or so (had expired plates on it). The only concern I had was that the fuel injectors were still activated and continued to "dry fire". I eventually got a replacement fuel pump, took off the propane stuff and it still runs fine on gasoline.

Issues? According to my dad, this would have been "street legal" in Kentucky USA. Most states waive the emission checks for a vehicle converted to propane or for a dual fuel (propane/gasoline). I have a factory dual fuel propane/gasoline 2001 Ford F150. I think when the propane is used the fuel injectors are shut off. It does recommend a tank of gasoline is run every so often. Maybe its to keep the injectors "fresh"?

For an educational project, I have decided to pull the 3.0 engine out of the Aerostar. Its a factory rebuilt, ran very little. The body is basically junk. I want to put it on a frame, convert to propane, strip off all the EFI wiring (computer), convert to an electronic ignition (basically use a Dodge ECU, like a 1973 or so, using the existing pick up and reluctor, then fire it up like a power unit. I would of course scrap the auto tranny. Comments anyone?

Thanks... Wayne

[03ranger4x4]

with all this hype about eco friendly cars and shit, i hoesntly dont see why most cars out there are not LP or CNG powered...its obviously propane is cleaner then gasoline, thats why any indoor appliance or vehcile with an internal combustion engine is propane powered (forklifts,floor buffers, etc yes, ive seen a propane powered floor buffer, the food store in our town uses one)

maybe its becuase in order to create propane, you need to creat gasoline (ive heard this, but not positive that propane is a byproduct of refinerys)

[riquezada]

Propane used to be a byproduct of the refineries and it used to be alot cheaper than gasoline. I think propane is actually intentionally made now because there is not enough by product. That's a bit hard to believe due to the EXTREME amount gasoline refining. I do think that all this ECO friendly talk is a bunch of crap. I think the CNG would be a better way to go. I heard it is like $.80 per gallon, but the initial set up is expensive (compressor, tanks, etc). After someone is set up, there's just not enough PROFIT in it for the big guys.

[hartwrenches]

There's tons of propane kits for efi. Their just not advertised well. Most carbed units only lost power because the timing wasn't compensated. Some just had to low of compression.

I'm going to put the powered by propane kit on my 94 probe 2.0 after the engine is rebuilt. The car very consistantly gets30mpg, so I have something to compare to.:icon_thumby:

Gas where I'm at is around $4 a gallon and up. Propane is anywhere from $1.5 to $2.5 so even if the mileage drops 30% its still cheaper.:icon_idea:

And if not for any other reason, propane engines burn so clean the wear is one tenth that of gas, so they last a lot longer and the maintainance is way less.:yahoo: