Anybody Running Propane for Mileage ?

[CraigJones]

Has anybody tried running a small amount of propane for mileage gain not power ? How long does a 20lbs tank last ? I thought I read its 6lbs per full tank of gas. Is there bad side effects when running small amounts of propane ? Thanks.

 

[IC Smoke]

I was walking into work one day and one of the maintenance guys had his truck (99 powerstroke 4x4, qc,lb 240,xxxmi) parked next to one of the overhead doors and I noticed a propane tank in the bed (20lbs), I had to stop and take a senond look, sure enough he had a hose ran to the motor. I didnt get to see where he had it but I talked to him later and he said its regulated by a switch, and how much is sprayed, he has the line ran into the intake. supposidly hes getting 2 more mpg.



this might help?



Ian

 

[Forrest Nearing]

2 more MPG of diesel... but how much does the propane cost? it's all well and good if you can refill the cylinder cheap enough... propane is hard on head gaskets FYI

 

[RustyJC]

At the end of the day, the specific fuel consumption (BTU/BHP-hr) doesn't change that much. The dual-fuel engines manufactured by my company can switch between straight diesel and 96% natural gas (methane)/4% diesel (pilot fuel for ignition) on the fly. Specific fuel consumption doesn't change by more than 1-2% between modes.



Rusty

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

2 more MPG of diesel... but how much does the propane cost? it's all well and good if you can refill the cylinder cheap enough... propane is hard on head gaskets FYI

If you calculate MPG taking both fuels into account you will be slightly in the negative vs straight diesel, as discovered by a few TDR members when this was a fad back in 2000. I would surmise due to lower BTU. But if you displace some diesel with a cheaper fuel like Forrest said you might save a few pennies on each tank. IMO if you're going to invest in the setup for MPG, it would take a LONG time to break even, if ever.



Vaughn

 

[IC Smoke]

Im just going off what the guy told me, He even commented that hes breaking even or in the plus but not enough to say so. he was just tring it out and only runs it for highway long hauls. come on he owns a powerstroke hes not right to begin with hahah :-laf



Ian