I was getting ready to unload my snowsled today when a guy stopped in an older truck and got out to lock in the hubs. I noticed a 30 lb propane tank strapped in an odd way in his homemade bed, but it wasn't until I smelled it as he drove off that I realized that it was running on propane. How far can he go on such a small tank, especially since he was headed down an icy road and needed to run in 4WD?
Propane F250
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MossRoad
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Good question. Our forklifts ran all day or longer on a 30 gallon tank, but that's very low RPMs.
Back in the early 80's one of my airplane customers drove a propane powered 4-door Lincoln, but as I recall, it was dual fuel. He retained the gas tank and could switch back and forth. The propane tank was in the trunk.
Maybe the truck guy you saw had a similar setup.
Back in the early 80's one of my airplane customers drove a propane powered 4-door Lincoln, but as I recall, it was dual fuel. He retained the gas tank and could switch back and forth. The propane tank was in the trunk.
Maybe the truck guy you saw had a similar setup.
MapleLeafFarmer
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back in the 90's I used to have a Dodge Tradesman van that was converted to a camper van w/ raised roof and it was run on propane. It was a used truck from the gas company that someone had converted to a camper with fridge/stove/heater/etc....
For a 200 mile run to our camp spot we used to use about 60 pounds each way. not sure what mpg or mpp would have been.
For a 200 mile run to our camp spot we used to use about 60 pounds each way. not sure what mpg or mpp would have been.
grsthegreat
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The propane delivery rigs here are large 4x4 units. All run off of propane. So do most of the avista gas company rigs. No idea as to mpg
ning
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A gallon of propane has 27% less energy than a gallon of gasoline, so you can guess that you need about 37% more propane to go the same miles as you go on gasoline (1/(1-0.27) = 1.37). Propane has higher "octane" (resistance to detonation) so you can adjust your timing to make up a little of the difference if you're interested in that and it's possible for the engine.
Considering gasoline here is about $5/gallon, propane at under $3.65/gallon would be more economical (and, not be as smelly, and pollute less).
Considering gasoline here is about $5/gallon, propane at under $3.65/gallon would be more economical (and, not be as smelly, and pollute less).
MapleLeafFarmer
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I wish that I had noticed it sooner, I would have asked him about it. Is it possible to have a "propane assist?"
What made me realize it was the exhaust smell... I got CO2 poisoning from a forklift many years ago and really notice it now.
maybe.... I know off road atv'ers used propane assist as poor mans nitrous system injecting propane into the air intakes. You maybe right as I thought 30 pounds of propane would not get them far.
not2old
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Propane assist will work with a diesel engine easily, many used to use it. I imagine it would work with fuel injected gas but would be very difficult with a carb. I ran straight propane for a few years in a 1978 F350 with a hopped up 460. Mileage towing a 24' trailer was about 12MPG with lots of power available. Truck could outrun a 735 BMW until I hit red line in high gear. At that time propane was 1/2 the price of gas.I wish that I had noticed it sooner, I would have asked him about it. Is it possible to have a "propane assist?"
What made me realize it was the exhaust smell... I got CO2 poisoning from a forklift many years ago and really notice it now.
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What you smell is the odorant in the propane. Propane itself has no smell. One of the guys I hunt with also owns the local propane company and I get mine from him. His entire fleet runs on propane, Freightliner single axle straight trucks with a bottle on the back and a pump. Cummins makes an on road propane fired modified diesel engine.I wish that I had noticed it sooner, I would have asked him about it. Is it possible to have a "propane assist?"
What made me realize it was the exhaust smell... I got CO2 poisoning from a forklift many years ago and really notice it now.
He's got a 2 year old GMC pickup on propane and has I believe a 75 gallon bottle under the tonneau and we went from here (Michigan) to Nebraska and half way back before he stopped and filled it and he had a LEAD foot too and the truck is a 4x4. He did tell me that with the new ECM controlled gas engines in light pickups, a propane install is quite expensive, but it a company expense for him as he's the owner and I don't like the smell either. I heat with his propane, have a pair of 500 gallon (gross) bottles. Only fill them to 85%. You have to have a vapor space at the top.
He starts it on regular unleaded and then switches to propane when the motor warms up a bit, don't know why and I never asked. I do know we went a long way on one bottle. he topped it off at his gas plant before we left. Were loaded with 2 nice mule deer on the way back too. 4 coolers of frozen meat and 2 caped out heads for the taxidermist.
It was cool when we went, not hot.
Renze
Elite Member
My parents run a Kia on liquified petroleum gas. I am not impressed, it needs iridium spark plugs to be able to fire it, and it never runs right.
They need to use premium gas for starting, or after 2 minutes when it autimatically switches over to LPG it stutters because the spark plugs are dirty.
Dedicated LPG or Propane engines like forklifts seem to run more reliable on it than converted gas engines with a dual fuel system.
They need to use premium gas for starting, or after 2 minutes when it autimatically switches over to LPG it stutters because the spark plugs are dirty.
Dedicated LPG or Propane engines like forklifts seem to run more reliable on it than converted gas engines with a dual fuel system.
