propane

[MATT MAN]

Is it because propane can't ignite until
it is mixed with the diesel fuel?

 

[My 6 Eats V8's Old File]

it can and did to me yesterday, my bullydog stuck open again(2nd regulator) and caused a backfire, blew my airfilter and hose off, also bent the shaft in my hx40. I suggest using a liquid system. Way way more consistant and safe in my opinion. I already perchased one from hvac and am wiating patiantly to install it. First I am going to rip this one out of my truck for the last time.

 

[DHRA]

Adam, you make me feel so much better that all of this bad crap happens to you! Makes my problems seem so minute compared to yours. Nice having you around! #ad

 

[R.ebel]

"Also bent the shaft in my HX40" Ouch thats hard on the wallet! Must of made one heck of a racket?

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1997 2500 SLT 4X4,5 spd,3. 54's,Pacbrake,Rancho 9000's,Centerforce,K&N,Isspro,TST #11(280hp/680tq),AFC medium spring, Jardine 4", 370's and 16cm housing.

 

[Big_Bad_Dually]

Im running the Diesel Performance vapor system with no trouble. Had it on for about 650 miles so far with my torque plate all the way forward. Slips clutch sometimes, but beats cameros. #ad
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I have an acetylene guage tapped into one of the spare outlets of the regulator. So far it only puts out 10-15 psi, max, of propane through an orfice (don't know what size).

I've got my LP BBQ tank strapped in with a VERY strong bracket so I don't need to worry about it falling over and giving me a shot of liquid, either.

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1995 3500 Ext. Cab, 4x4, 5 speed manual, and South Bend's 300 HP Clutch; removed silencer ring; 3" straight pipe w/Banks turndown tip; Adjustable Diesel Performance Propane Injection; Autometer UltraLite Boost; Custom 1400 watt stereo with 2-6"x9", 2-6. 5" Blapunkt mid/high ranges and 2-10" AudioBahn Subs; Dual RED top Optimas; Cobra CB and Police scanner; Motorola UHF Two-Way radio; Lund winterfront; 314,500 miles and still adding 50+ a day.

 

[JohnE]

Adam described his problem very simply, a stuck open regulator. The excess propane & air added up to find adiabatic's cousin, stoichiometric in an engine designed to run on diesel fuel only. If it was just a damaged turbo you got off easy.

The C8. 3G Cummins is designed to run on natural gas. Externally it looks nearly identical to the C8. 3 fueler except they use a head that replaces injectors with spark plugs and drops the compression ratio to 10. 5:1

We have a portable compressor unit powered by a dual fuel Deutz diesel. 80% natural gas and 20% fuel.

The possibilities are many!

JE

 

[My 6 Eats V8's Old File]

I've had these bullydog systems on for almost 2 years and 30 thousand miles. This happens regularly, if your using it on a hot afternoon, then get real cold that night and you use it after it starts warming again, liquid consenses in the line, bummer deal. I usually just get real bad detonation until I can shut it down. Then you turn it on only when your slowing for a little bit. I rescently hooked mine up to a hobbs switch turning it on at 10psi, you don't hear it till its to late. I let off, bammm, sounded like a shotgun went off in the cab. I'm not using this system again.
I'll sell it cheap if you want it. I have 5 bottles to. real cheap, with the extra regulator.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

HEH HEH HEH...

And THAT'S the one you wanted to sell to ME!

HEH HEH HEH #ad
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http://community. webshots.com/user/davison71 Early '91 250, 727 AT, 307 rear... Banks Stinger exhaust, intercooler... US Gear OD... Tweaked pump, upgraded radiator... MORE than a match for every new PS Ford encountered so far...

"Dura" WHAT? NOW I know where all those recycled beer cans go...

 

[adiabatic]

Propane injection seems popular, and apparently it works and is safe.
But why is it that propane does not cause pre-ignition since it is injected with the induction air? Maybe it does but no-one has noticed?

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1997 4x4 CC 5spd, 230hp kit, Horton fan, Sport headlamps, Optima RedTops, 98 shift levers and console, RS5000 shocks, Yaesu VHF radio, and BCT7 scanner in the overhead console... N7DAL.

 

[Bart Timothy]

Propane does cause pre-ignition but the amount used when added to diesel engines is quite small and the pre-ignition is kept to a minimum. In fact, monitoring pre-ignition is one of the ways you tune for the maximum amount of propane to use. It will destroy engines if added in too large of amounts. I've seen this expensive mistake happen a half dozen times. While the problem which Adam described is a new one to me (but not at all surprising), I've also seen it cause engine runaways.

With the right system it can be made safe.

The best systems (especially from a price/performance/safety stand point) appear to be ones which use time proven, over the counter, fork lift components. They operate on the vaccuum created in the pre-turbo air stream and work extremely well, safely, when setup right. They can operate on either liquid or vapor.

On a warm day the vapor off a 20 lb BBQ tank is more than enough to add 90 to 100 hp, which is the upper limit of what you can safely expect. That equates to about 50 or 60 miles per gallon in city driving. So a little bit goes a long way.

Liquid system are much more consistant in colder climates, and don't have tank icing problems, but in warmer climates vapor system work good and the tanks are generally cheaper. At 0 degrees propane vapor has 28 lbs pressure, and at 80 degrees, 140 lbs, so you can see why a water heated liquid system will be more consistant. It's a temperature/pressure problem.

Some interesting facts are: it's only flamable in a mixture between 2. 4% and 9. 6% of vapor to air and it needs 920 to 1020 degrees to ignite. Max flame temp in air is 3595 degrees.

 

[Champane Flight]

Just wondering,couldn,t you just plumb a purge line on your system and purge the line first?Simalar to Nitros systems.

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95 Dodge 2500 Luverne grill guard,headache rack,running boards and Amzoiled. Soon to be mildly bombed. 84 Dodge d-150, 318 Hooker headers,Edelbrok intake,mallory ignition,Carter Afb,Accel coil,and Custom dual exhaust. Boat,fifthwheel,motorcycles,and shop. 72000 as of 3/1/01,not even broke in yet. Old Dodge 126000 miles and running better than new.

 

[My 6 Eats V8's Old File]

I'm sure you could perge it, just make sure its not near a spark #ad

I think you should not have to worry about this sort of thing. I'm not using it anymore.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

ON the OTHER hand, purge and ignite the escaping gas - THAT would be intimidating enough to shut down MOST challengers before they even start! #ad
#ad


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http://community. webshots.com/user/davison71 Early '91 250, 727 AT, 307 rear... Banks Stinger exhaust, intercooler... US Gear OD... Tweaked pump, upgraded radiator... MORE than a match for every new PS Ford encountered so far...

"Dura" WHAT? NOW I know where all those recycled beer cans go...

 

[Power Wagon]

Unlike gasoline, propane is somewhat difficult to ignite even on a good day, and it is very difficult to ignite if the air-fuel ratio is wrong. Since detonation is the ignition of the fuel at the wrong time, the propane is very unlikely to detonate to any degree because there's simply way too little of it in the air to carry on any serious combustion until the diesel is injected. Now, do as someone here suggested, and put in enough to reach the ratio that spark-ignited engine use, and yes, you WILL have some problems.

On the other hand, if you have no carbon in the engine, don't have 16 to 1 compression ratio... It will only detonate if you REALLY pour in a lot of boost or heat the engine extremely...