propane propane

kaskirov said:

so yesterday i went to a propane refueling station to check the price. it is $0.76/L, vs $1.34/L for gas. my dad's motor home is on a E-450 chassis and can run off gas or propane with the flick of a switch. that means you can get propane kits for fuel injection. i seen kits on the internet for under 4 grand, so it could pay for itself within 4 years. I know propane gets less millage, what kind of cut is it? is propane worth the cost? would it devalue my truck?

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WildSide said:

It’s a shame that comparisons are made between gasoline and propane using an engine designed for gasoline, even though gasoline has a higher energy density, propane is the superior and more efficient fuel. If you were to run two optimized engines side by side each designed to run on their specific fuel there would be little difference in mileage or power.
Proper Electronic propane injection systems either gaseous or liquid work very well with no issues on a well designed engine by the way.

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Will said:

So what he's saying is, it's better than gasoline in a carbed engine, but not better than gasoline in an EFI engine.

But it's not worth converting. It's more expensive than gasoline when I fill up my bottles. Always has been. For Canadians, maybe not. I don't know. But we are two years past the point where getting a $1,000 shitbox to drive and keep the Ranger in reserve and for recreation is economically viable.

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MAKG said:

Umm, BS.

A gallon of propane has 75% as much energy as a gallon of gasoline. The efficiency limit is mostly thermal, plus valve timing, plus geometry (crank position isn't optimal except at one point). None of those changes significantly for propane.

Propane is more "efficient" than gasoline for carbureted engines because it is mixed in gas phase. It is NOT more efficient than properly working EFI.

So, you have no room to make up that 25% loss. Even with perfect compression and perfect stoichiometry.

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Will said:

But it's not worth converting.

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Will said:

So what he's saying is, it's better than gasoline in a carbed engine, but not better than gasoline in an EFI engine.

But it's not worth converting. It's more expensive than gasoline when I fill up my bottles. Always has been. For Canadians, maybe not. I don't know. But we are at the point where getting a $1,000 shitbox to drive and keep the Ranger in reserve and for recreation is economically viable.

Click to expand...