24 Valve propane use....?

[Gary - K7GLD]

Over in the 24-valve section, I've had a thread going concerning use of propane in these later engines - I have the Power Shot 2000 system off the old '91 - worked great there, but when it comes to the later engines, I keep hearing stuff like:



"but the vast majority of ETH owners have had head gasket failures from propane use. "



Is that statement true, or just an individual opinion? If "the vast majority" of propane users really HAVE had gasket failures with its use, what were the conditions? Were they casual, moderate users, or the sled-pulling drag racers? Is propane REALLY an unsafe fuel, even in relative moderation - or is it a killer no matter HOW lightly used?



You see, THAT'S the problem I face in making my choice - there's LOTS of opinion and RUMOR floating around out there, but not a whole lot of documented FACT, including circumstances where actual problems HAVE occurred...



FACT is, even in searching THIS forum for info on propane usage in the later engines, there's very LITTLE first-hand info available - and general personal OPINION is OK - but not really enough to make a decision with...



So how about it guys - is even MODERATE use of propane in the 24 valvers OK - or and invitation to disaster - and if you DO know of problems, do you ALSO know what level of injection was being used, and what the circumstances were?

 

[Briar Hopper]

I'm with Gary, we'd like to hear from the guys who have popped a head gasket on an ETH truck by using propane. What brand of system, how aggressive or moderate, other relevant circumstances or facts? Facts please, not opinions!

Keep in mind I have the ETC truck, which is a 5 speed, while Gary's is an ETH/DEE, the 6 speed-equipped High Output version, the version that is said to be most susceptible to blown headgaskets from propane use.

I've seen the wrong propane systems or poorly adjusted systems blow the heads off 12 valve trucks too. You couldn't have run fast enough to give me one, until I came across the Powershot 2000.

 

[SSeifert]

I've been using the Powershot 2000 for a year now on my 1998 24v. have put about 20 fork lift tanks through it. Most of that time I had a hot PE and JRE 4" exhaust. During that time I had the system turn up as high as possible. With the addition of DD 3's I've turned it down just a bit. I have run the system down low and left it on all the time to do some tests (mpg) in moderate use it did go up about one mpg. But that's not why I bought it. I like it cranked up. As far as head gasket troubles, I'm not sure. I think that those who had trouble had some sort of fuel timing advance in their boxes, where as I don't. (Old style PE) Not an expert, but know what has worked for me.



Hope this helps