I got the low down on propane!

[bull1kevin]

We have all heard claims of extra hp. with propane, as it turns out these claims are true. What they don't tell you is how the propane can and if used long enough will destroy your valve seats and your expensive injecters. I had a local fork truck guy checking into it for me because paying $399+ sounded crasy for $70. 00 worth of parts. he had never heard of this , so I supplied him with all the info. I could from the net. He was seeing $$$$$ in his future untill he went to an alternative fuels convention in Georgia where he talked to leading diesel experts from Detroit, and Cummins. Beleave it or not but Mr. Penski (yes the one your thinking of) was looking into it when they discovered the lubrication and heat problems. He also had a friend who knew exactly where the power shot system was made, which turned out to be a home business It kinda busted my bubble because I was about to put propane on my truck but now I'm going to wait until I research this some more. sorry to ramble on but One of our main purpases is to exchange info. If anybody has different info. other than what I shared please let me know Because I still have the itch.

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97' 2500, 2x2, 5spd. tst#10,afc springkit,silencer ring & kitty missing, straight pipe

 

[radixr]

This reinforces my decision to stay away from propane (except for grilling purposes #ad
).

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1996 Dodge 2500 4X4 SC, SLT,Cummins 12V, 5-spd. , JRE 4" exhaust (my kitty ran away into the woods and the muffler fell off!), TST 280 HP/685 Ft-Lb Uprate Kit, AFC Spring Kit, ATS 3-piece Exhaust Manifold, Chrome Valve Covers, Horton Fan Clutch, Jacobs/Ram Exhaust Brake, MagHytec Differential Cover, Prime-Loc, Rancho RS9000 Shocks, Combo Gauge, K&N Air Filter, Brite-Box, Geno's finger-touch oil pan drain plug, Optima Yellow Tops, no turbo silencer ring, full-time fog lights. As of 5-19-01, 68,522 miles.

 

[Dr.Evil]

I guess if there was much to be gained by injecting propane into a diesel engine, the trucking co. 's & OEM's would have done it DECADES ago. I know it was tried about 40 yrs ago with ag tractor diesels, but M&W came out with their turbocharger packages shortly after and NOONE messed with propane again. I'm actually surprised it's being used again at all. #ad

DENNY... ... ... .....

 

[MikeR]

Yup,I don't believe in the stuff for my engines either. Tons of outrageous power can be made with good 'ol #2.
I don't even barbeque with propane either (cooking with gas ain't barbequeing).

-Mike

 

[JIM S.]

thats one reason I like my oil burner... . low flash point fuel... #ad
I got away from gasoline so why in the world would I carry propane around with me... anyway. . #2 for me! #ad
Jim

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1995, 2500, 4x4, 3. 54, auto,130,000 miles, custom fuel plate, boost and EGT gauges, 215 HP injectors, RE-0880, custom 4" from down pipe.

 

[My 6 Eats V8's Old File]

If you don't want the power don't get it.....
It however is very effective at the 75-80hp level for towing and as well,75-80hp more than with good ol #2. If you give it a second to think about that its a fairly cheap hp per $. . Try and get that from a gas truck.
I've also heard about it being a dry, non lubrative fuel, if primarily used as fuel. We are adding to what we already have guys. The only way this stuff sucks is VAPOR systems, or TO MUCH.
I've been running lpg for over 2 years now, I've had bad experiances with vapor(one head gasket trying to max, killing the motor several time from stuck regulators, and one or two turbos from the stuff). I can tell you its best used in moderation as a power adder. When you try and get the most its volitile and will detonate.

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96 4x4, 3. 54 posi, 6. 5"lift, 35" bfg m/t's and 35x14. 5x16. 5 boggers,dual stabalizers, aluminium wheels, sport headlights,billet grill, K/N 0880, NOS, Performance Diesel LPG, BD Pulling/Competition fuel injection pump,370hp marine injectors, ported head, Hx40 w/ 16cm2, 4" exhaust w/ 2 chamber Flomaster, BD copetition auto transmission and torque converter, Kenwood sterio System, Westach 60lb boost/ egt guage with warning light,aluminium bed rail covers,chrome diff covers, 5 foot traction bars,
475hp and 1050lb of torque on #2
530hp and 1140 with bullydog lpg maxed(only 55hp)
590hp and 1200 with lpg and nos
all done in 5th gear with 35's.
have a great day.
Adam

 

[Big_DQ]

I second Adam's comments. I am running propane on my truck also. I too have suffered from blown headgaskets and a bent push rod. But so goes the quest for HORSEPOWER. I believe, as does Adam, the use of propane in a sane manner will indeed add an extra 75-85 HP to a truck without causing engine damage. Of course most of us who are running propane left sanity by the wayside long ago.
Don

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THE BEAUTY
Black 2001 3500 Quad Cab 4x4,HO-6spd, LSD 3. 54 gears, Sport trim, Everything but Leather, Stock as a rock(for now anyway).
THE BEAST
96 2500 4x4 5spd 3. 54 grs, #10 TST plate(plate and housing slid all the way forward), AFC spring kit(light spring), Banks Twin Ram intake manifold, ATS three piece exhaust manifold, H2E-17cm turbo, thicker head gasket, 4" exhaust with 5" stacks,TST gauges, 370HP injectors, 3800 rpm governor spring kit, "Accidently" modified fueling curve, Slightly advanced timing(17. 5 deg. ) Modified valve lash, 60# valve springs,Powershot 2000 propane injection system, K&N RE-0880 filter, Dynoed 455. 4HP with Blown head gasket and bent pushrod, Mcleod dual disc clutch(street), Lockright lockers front and rear, Rancho traction bars, 315-75R16 Durango AT's on American Eagle 16x8 wheels for street use, 33-12. 50-16. 5 Denman Groundhawgs on 16. 5x9. 75 American Eagle wheels for pulling, Linex liner and rocker panels

 

[JohnE]

Deutz Diesel has produced dual fuel engines for many years. We have a compressor station that uses a diesel-natural gas powered engine. It starts on 100% diesel fuel and slowly changes over to run on approximately 80% natural gas and 20% diesel fuel.

I deal with natural gas powered engines everyday. They are mostly Detroit Series 50 and Cummins 8. 3 (ISC) engines. These engines use the same blocks as the diesel brothers, but have removed the injector pumps, changed to heads that have spark plugs instead of injector ports and drops the CR to the 10:1 neighborhood, and use a control module with a throttle valve. We do use a different rated lubricating oil in these engines. It is still a 15W-40 grade, but it is specifically for natural gas engines.

I've been trying to get information from them on diesel & lpg. So far no luck. I'll post if something is announced.

Cheer;
John E

 

[Sled Puller]

Propane is like any drug- the cheap high you feel is followed by severe depression and massive brain damage!

There has been propane kits for YEARS to give that little extra push up hills and such.
Moderation is the key.
Remember, Adam will break any toy you give him, if given time and a challenge! #ad

If anyone was going to see melt down of catastrophic proportions,it would have been him.
The Fords live on the stuff.
Gene

 

[BPINE]

I have only been running propane for a couple of weeks now but so far everything is working fine with a 75 hp increase. After seeing HVAC's head off the truck we saw no damage whats so ever after I'm sure at least 30 k of hard miles. I can run about 100 degrees cooler or 5 mph faster (which I prefer) up the BIG hills pulling my 13. 5 k 5th wheel, you just can't beet that for the money.

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1996 4x4 3500 4. 10 5spd, Diesel Dynamics stage 3 injectors, #4 TST plate, Govoner spring kit, Ported Head, ATS manifold 16cm2 housing Jet-Hot coated, with 4" Jardine exhaust, Performance Diesel Service Propane system, SouthBend Clutch, Cummins exhaust brake, US Gear overdrive, Grover air horns and Mag-Hytec rearend cover. Special thanks to Piers Diesel Research.