Propane for fuel mileage

Geez, I obviously read your first post wrong. I didn't know you were actually running an LP system. That's sweet!! Yes, get some numbers and let us know. I am very interested! How often do you have to refill the LP tank compared to how often you fuel?

 

funny I see those numbers on a 48tons loaded Volvo FH460 Semi puller normally...7+mpg that is thru the whole history of it.
Bulkers with 60tonnes average at 5-5.5 with 7 axles (3 on the Tractor 4 on the trailer) with powers up to 700hp on Scania V8´s.

 

They do. My first driving job was with Schwans, and thier whole fleet is LPG. I had a 40 gallon tank and it would last 300-400 miles, but we were burning straight LPG, not mixed with diesel like this system.
Ours were converted Chevy engines and never really had a problem with them, even in winter although we did plug into block heaters every night.

 

One thing that bothers me a bit about propane fumigation systems is that the air compressor usually gets its air from the intake manifold where it is already pressurized by the turbo and in this case mixed with the propane injected into the turbo intake. The thought of running an air/propane mixture in my air brakes just sounds wrong - could give a new meaning to dynamiting the brakes I guess ! I think I'd at least run the compressor intake back to the air cleaner and live with the decreased airflow? I've been thinking about trying out a single flow boost type system running off a 20 pound tank to see what it does on the hills - I've seen some plans on the internet that look cheap to build just to try it out.

 

For those using this as an add-on system, has their been any studies about the long term effects on the engine?

Better fuel economy is great, as long as it isn't at the price of earlier engine rebuilds. I know those that produce these things will say they are great, but curious if the engine companies have any opinions on how it effects the engine.

Also, does the savings in fuel mileage make up for the cost of the system itself?

 

i know of a few people who replaced the freon in there a/c with propane, they claim it really cools, but just imagine the heating potential when something goes wrong

 

ok they used it years ago when deisel first came out allot of the old timers used it with a valve just like NOS in the old CAT motors you could almost see flames out the stacks up a long hill but if it wasn't done right it would blow the heads right off the truck. The systems back then were crude to say the least and the motors were all mechanical and most were all turned up allready to max fuel flow and they would use the propane to try and get more air in there to make the fuel mixture better and they would run like a scaulded dog till they broke. A new tsist on an old idea.

 

Would definitely be nice to get 8-9 mpg! That would really add up over a years time. Would be interested in the cost.

 

sounds a lot like late night tv commercials "secret vitamin the government wont even tell you about" for just $99.95 you can be happy healthy wealthy & wise


google dual fuel systems there have been hundreds of tests done. both diesel/lpg and diesel/cng

 

Any chance of you summerizing those tests for us? The only obvious economy using propane fumigation would give you is that you can find propane selling for less per BTU than diesel - but they could bust you for burning untaxed fuel I think? As far as power/torque goes I would think you could get comparable results from reprogramming the engine or using a Pittsburg Power Computer?