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.
5030
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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
Super 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.
ruffdog
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A good read on running a propane dual fuel setup:
FAQ for Diesel Performance Products Propane Injection Systems, Gas and Diesel Engines
FAQ for Diesel Performance Products Propane Injection Systems, Gas and Diesel Engines
travisbb
Bronze Member
I used to own an '87 Sierra with a 305 on propane. A few years after I bought it I converted it to dual fuel (propane and gasoline). It had a propane tank in the bed behind the cab. I never did figure out how large the propane tank was, but do recall putting 120 litres into it on several occasions.
I never found out because as the tank emptied the truck would lose power. Also I was warned that purging the tank after emptying it completely was expensive and necessary so I never really pushed it.
MPG-wise I'd guess it got about 10% worse on propane than 87 octane. It was also noticeably lower on power. But since propane was half the cost of gasoline it was worth it.
I never needed to gasoline to start it though.
I never found out because as the tank emptied the truck would lose power. Also I was warned that purging the tank after emptying it completely was expensive and necessary so I never really pushed it.
MPG-wise I'd guess it got about 10% worse on propane than 87 octane. It was also noticeably lower on power. But since propane was half the cost of gasoline it was worth it.
I never needed to gasoline to start it though.
No, it was a 2015 I think, white.
deserteagle71
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This is the 1976 GMC Terravan that I drove for 32+ years. Bought it new, converted it to run dual fuel (gas or propane) during the gas "crisis" of the late 70s when gas was hard to find. So I had the OEM 36 gallon tank, plus a 110 gallon propane tank to run on - gave me enough range to find a service station that had gasoline (so many in the small towns around here were closed because they couldn't get gasoline). Easy switching from gasoline to propane, and I never noticed a lack of power with the 400ci V8. If I remember correctly, propane is like 110 octane so if the engine is set up properly to take advantage of the high octane rating, it can produce more power than gasoline.
TimberXX
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I worked for the port authority of ny and nj in the early 2000s. My truck was a propane "light duty" F-250.
It has a massive tank, and needed to be refilled 6 hours into my shift... thats why it was given to me, the new guy!
Other than the awful gas mileage it was a decent truck.
It has a massive tank, and needed to be refilled 6 hours into my shift... thats why it was given to me, the new guy!
Other than the awful gas mileage it was a decent truck.
Paystar
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I used to have a 77 Ford F100 that had a 351M on propane. I loved that truck. Had zero issues with the propane in winter. And if you build a motor for propane with high compression you can get some pretty good power from them.
I can't remember how big my tank was (had two narrow tanks mounted inside rear frame where gas tank would have been) but I was able to drive to the next big city 191 miles away. And those 351M's weren't know for their fuel mileage.
I can't remember how big my tank was (had two narrow tanks mounted inside rear frame where gas tank would have been) but I was able to drive to the next big city 191 miles away. And those 351M's weren't know for their fuel mileage.
Renze
Super Member
Problem with propane is that the exhaust gas is hotter, which shortens valve life. Also many motors require Iridium spark plugs because a propane mixture is harder to ignite, and the hotter combustion also reduces spark plug life.
