Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Propane ???

[Mundgyver]

Is anybody using propane for economy gains What are the pitfalls and what are the benifits of long term us??



I currently get just under 23 mpg cruising and am wondering if propane would be worth the expense?



Thanks for taking time to post an answer.

 

[Mad Bomber]

Propane?

DON'T DO DRUGS nuf said

 

[John - K5AWO]

propane is just for short little bursts. not long term use.

 

[Stomp]

Originally posted by John - K5AWO

propane is just for short little bursts. not long term use.

That is not entirely true. You can run it all the time, but it is not cost effective to fill both tanks. You are going to pay for both tanks to be filled and only gain a couple of mpg. I only use mine for short bursts. At least with my kit which was one of the first ones to come out it is very temper mental. One day it runs like a raped ape and the next it flows to much and detonates early making some very bad noises. Now the kits are much better, but I don't have any experience with them. Just my 2cts.



Stomp

 

[1FSTDSL]

No problems with mine. I would not expect miracles with it. You can safely get another 40-50HP and 1-2 mpg.

 

[Mundgyver]

Hmmmmmmmmm???? I know that the exhaust temps are suppose to drop when propane is used. With that thought in mind, I would assume that using it sparingly when towing and looking at a long steep grade with say 19,000 lbs on a gooseneck would be one of those times that it would be a nice thing to have



Thanks for the inputs.

 

[1FSTDSL]

I would not count on the temps dropping. When pulling 12k up a steep grade I will sometimes hit the propane switch and my temps increase about 100-150 degrees. That has been my experience anyway.

 

[JR2]

Don't forget that the MPG improvement you see is temperd by the amount you have to pay for the propane. I bet its a break even deal or maybe a little to the neg side.



just say no to drugs.



If you are really getting 23 mpg (hand calculated not the silly computer) I would not even open the hood on your truck. Not many people do that well.

 

[Mundgyver]

I do get just under 23 mpg. It is calculated by filling to the bitter edge of the fill neck where another drop of fuel will not go in. My speedometer is spot on with the GPS, so I know I have accurate measurments.



To get this mileage though, I have to keep my speed at 65 mph with the cruise on. I have a needle valve in my cruise control that slow down the response time of the servo so that it is more like a person driving for pedal pressure response. I routinely go from Portland, Oregon to Salmon, Idaho via Spokane, Wash and Missoula, Mont. The distance is 715 miles over some pretty good grades. With a 7,000 lb trailer at 65 mph I get 18. 5.



My interest in the propane is for towing on the long steep grades. If it drops the exhaust temps 75 to 150 degrees and give a little more power on the uphill, I think it would be OK.



I'm just wondering about the long term affect. All things in moderation is the key. I have 121,000+ turns now and still have my original clutch, brakes, turbo, and VP. I have been running a Edge Comp for about 70,000. My mods have all been researched carefully for performance gain or what I call maneuvering power but with reliability / durability and economy being a driving factor.



So propane for me, would seem to offer good benefits if used in moderation. I'm just trying to get as much info as I can to make a good decision.



Thanks for the inputs.

 

[propuller]

Propane will not lower your egt's. It will raise them as it is a fuel that creates heat. The only thing that i know of that will lower your egt's is a better flowing turbo or nitrous if you have to inject something. Nitrous acts as a catolast to help burn the fuel you already have & it will lower your egt's a little.



Kurt

 

[John - K5AWO]

Methanol makes a good refrigerant at the intakes. My brother's dragster always had ice on the intake manifold at the end of his 1/4 runs.



Plugs showed temps were cooler than running nitro too.



I don't see using meth on a diesel though. The plumbing would be a nightmare.

 

[Midnite]

If you're interested more in EGT reduction and milage, you might want to look at a cam instead.



Mike

 

[JR2]

You could look at the H20/meth injection systems that some guys have. They are made for the big HP guys, but there is no reason you could not put one on a truck and use if for extra power and egt cooling. They are much cheaper than a propane system and some of the guys are using windshield washer fluid in them, its cheap.

 

[jerrethomas]

Originally posted by JR2

You could look at the H20/meth injection systems that some guys have. They are made for the big HP guys, but there is no reason you could not put one on a truck and use if for extra power and egt cooling. They are much cheaper than a propane system and some of the guys are using windshield washer fluid in them, its cheap.

that's just what i was gonna say. there was a thread a while back about using this and it does lower exhaust temps and does produce a little more power also. and for the price the system costs is very effective. i know snow perfomance makes one of those systems. there are other compaines also.

 

[ChrisTucker]

Originally posted by propuller

Propane will not lower your egt's. It will raise them as it is a fuel that creates heat. The only thing that i know of that will lower your egt's is a better flowing turbo or nitrous if you have to inject something. Nitrous acts as a catolast to help burn the fuel you already have & it will lower your egt's a little.



Kurt

I beg to differ on this one. Nitrous is an oxidizer, meaning it adds oxygen molecules to the fuel before combustion making a more powerful detenation.

Propane injection works as a catalyst with diesel fuel meaning it makes more of the fuel burn on the combustion stroke thereby creating more power. The benefit is you need less throttle to keep the same amount of speed . But you have to add the cost of the spent propane into the fuel milage.

 

[Mundgyver]

Lots of good information I thank you all for your input and advise. I will be doing a serious pull next week with at least 3 trips from Portland to Bend, Oregon at my max gross weight. The trailer will be 4,000 with 10,500 loaded on it in the form of gas bottle cylinders. My truck weighs in at 7,542 in current configuration. All total that will be 22,042 lbs which will allow me to baseline my performance with current mods. It will also give me my answer with all your inputs for my decision.



I thank you all.



-Wally-

 

[SpicyJam]

We are playing with propane now, my question is what do you do with the grid heater? Right now it is disconnected, until I can be sure that all propane is out of the system it will stay off. Any help here?

 

[Guest]

I use propane all of the time... ... . Barbeques run great on that stuff, steaks dont even know what hit em.



Run the water/meth, its cheap

 

[Mundgyver]

SpicyJam,



Why would you worry about the grid heaters

 

[SpicyJam]

I think of it like this, if there is anything left over in the intake sitting around waiting till the next time the truck starts. Well if a spark igniter can light a grill, what will the grid heater do? Just a little thought I pondered. After thinking this through, and having 2 great trucks as a proto type to set a system up, I have decided to leave it off my ETH. Even though I have the means to put in fire rings, I just don't think propane is right for me. Now water on the other hand is looking better all the time. The 2 trucks our kit is in they have both disconnected the grid. The propane is a heck of a kick in there trucks. One truck is set up to just sip while driving down the road. The other sips the same way but is also set up to recieve a full dose of drugs when 20 pounds of boost is achieved. So I know it works great, but not something that I think I am ready for.