Who else is using Propane?

***Tec*** · 12-19-2007, 02:52 PM

I've been looking into using propane on my dually to gain some MPG since fuel is killing everone, I've searched the forum and only found a few people that have tries these systems. I'm not looking to add big power like N20!

Anyone else have some experiance?

__________________
99 CTD DRW 4x4 Auto~ SLT Laramie quad cab~4:10's,
Edge Juice w/Attitude, MBRP 4" turboback, AFE Pro Dry S Stage 2, Airdog 150, Amsoil Bypass kit, Bilstein 5100's, HBS leveling kit, upgraded IC boots, BFG commercial T/A traction's,

Sciulli · 12-20-2007, 08:21 AM

Have you done a cost/energy balance to see if its even fesable for propane to offset fuel costs? You have a Cummins which will hold up alot better than most other trucks, interms of high cylinder preassures. For me it was not cost effective. A kit costs about 500-700 dollars, and then you need a tank and then your install time. Your looking at about 1G for everything. Then theres is the cost of propane which for me to fill a 5lb bottle is about 15 bucks. How long will that bottle last, is beyond me I never got that far, cause It was uneconomical after spending 1G on the system. Now i just make my own fuel

***Tec*** · 12-20-2007, 11:48 AM

I'm not sure? I just hate stoping to get fuel once a week, In VA 10 miles from my house diesel is 20 cents cheaper than NC. I might just get a 50 gallon Transfer flow tank in the bed of my truck?

__________________
99 CTD DRW 4x4 Auto~ SLT Laramie quad cab~4:10's,
Edge Juice w/Attitude, MBRP 4" turboback, AFE Pro Dry S Stage 2, Airdog 150, Amsoil Bypass kit, Bilstein 5100's, HBS leveling kit, upgraded IC boots, BFG commercial T/A traction's,

febrocks · 12-20-2007, 02:31 PM

Have you try 2 stroke oil? Guys are getting good mileage. It's worth a try plus it helps lube the vp.

Eugene

__________________
98.5 2500 slt, 24v,quad cab,2wd, longbed, auto. amsoil air filter, II stage 2 injector, VA V5, stock straight pipe, fass hpfp. FP/pryo/trans temp gauge.

***Tec*** · 12-20-2007, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by febrocks

Have you try 2 stroke oil? Guys are getting good mileage. It's worth a try plus it helps lube the vp.

Eugene

Yep, I run 2 stroke and power service grey every tank.

__________________
99 CTD DRW 4x4 Auto~ SLT Laramie quad cab~4:10's,
Edge Juice w/Attitude, MBRP 4" turboback, AFE Pro Dry S Stage 2, Airdog 150, Amsoil Bypass kit, Bilstein 5100's, HBS leveling kit, upgraded IC boots, BFG commercial T/A traction's,

***gstanfield*** · 12-20-2007, 04:47 PM

do it yourself propane kit can be assembled very cheap and the cost benefits are there for sure if you are paying attention to what you do. It's not going to be for everyone, but if you leave the pressure low on the propane a tank will last a long time and milage will go up. I've not put one on my truck yet, but I've seen guys get a 2-3mpg increase by just running 1.5psi of propane. The way it balanced out was he was trading $15 of propane and saving $25 of diesel. This was when diesel was $2.25 or so so now it would be about $35 of diesel saved with $15 of propane. With a home built kit for about $150 it will pay for itself, but the store bought kits are not as economical, plus they inject more propane so the cost of propane goes up without an equal savings of diesel.

Clear as mud now?

George

__________________
1997 2500 ext cab long bed 4x4 Boost control elbow, KDP tabbed, silncer ring MIA, Z-series gauges, 47RE built w/valve body & converter, #100 plate.

lake huron cummins · 12-20-2007, 05:24 PM

I am going with an Aero Tanks fuel tank replacement. The cost of the tank and shipping is about $850 if I remember right. It is about $140 cheaper than a Transfer Flow and the Aero is a 60 gallon and the Transfer is a 55 gallon.

__________________
99 2500 q/c 4x4, 4" Silverline exhaust, Edge Comp Hot Unlock, 150hp sticks, HTT 62/71/13, 150 GPH FASS, Suncoast triple disc tc & vb, Mag-Hytec dbl deep pan, AFE Stage 2, 06 17" w/265 Nitto Terra Grapplers, A-Meter Ultra Lite pyro, boost, trans gauge.

***TEX*** · 12-21-2007, 10:06 PM

can you give me some info or the link to the DYI propane kit? id only use ot for MPG gains not power

__________________
2006 Quad Cab-Short bed-4X4-CTD-SLT-Silver-Auto-3.73-Big Horn Pkg-AeroTurbine 4040XL-MBRP 5" Dual Wall Angle Cut Tip see garage for pics-Blue Cool Hose Kit-Amsoil 4510-ISSPRO Turbo Timer/Monitor-285 BFG AT'S-BMK 11 By Pass-Draw Tite Gooseneck Hitch-DiPricol Optix Gauges Boost,EGT,Trans Temp
Wife:2005 VW Passat TDI
Work: 2004 Pierce Contender with 8.3L Cummins---Fire Truck

***gstanfield*** · 12-21-2007, 10:32 PM

grab a spare bottle for a grill, then get an adjustable regulator from Ace harware (in the propane grill accesories isle) they have a heater buddy brand one that goes from 0-40psi. Then hook it to a good 0-15psi gauge and adjust the regulator for 1.5psi or thereabouts (experiment) Then run a line to the air filter and be careful

if you're afraid of it getting left on by an ooops moment add an electric solenoid and a pressure switch so that it will only come on with 2-3psi of boost pressure (or whatever setting you choose)

You'll have to tinker a bit and experiment, but you can get good results just by being resourceful. BTW, a normal grill regulator is 1/2psi and doesn't really put out enough to be worth while.

Any more question, feel free to ask.

A price breakdown is as follows:
Regulator $40
gauge $25
Hoses $15
Bottle $free if you have it around

If you want to add a solenoid for mounting the tank outside the truck (my way was with it sitting in the passenger floorboard while I experimented) then add to the cost

Air solenoid $20
pressure switch $15

So there you have it, a good setup for less than the cost of a full tank of fuel that should net you around 2-3 mpg depending on your setup of course.

George

__________________
1997 2500 ext cab long bed 4x4 Boost control elbow, KDP tabbed, silncer ring MIA, Z-series gauges, 47RE built w/valve body & converter, #100 plate.

***TEX*** · 12-21-2007, 11:55 PM

any probs with this on a 3rd gen?

__________________
2006 Quad Cab-Short bed-4X4-CTD-SLT-Silver-Auto-3.73-Big Horn Pkg-AeroTurbine 4040XL-MBRP 5" Dual Wall Angle Cut Tip see garage for pics-Blue Cool Hose Kit-Amsoil 4510-ISSPRO Turbo Timer/Monitor-285 BFG AT'S-BMK 11 By Pass-Draw Tite Gooseneck Hitch-DiPricol Optix Gauges Boost,EGT,Trans Temp
Wife:2005 VW Passat TDI
Work: 2004 Pierce Contender with 8.3L Cummins---Fire Truck

***Tec*** · 12-22-2007, 07:24 AM

Tex,

I would not leave a propane line in my airbox

If your going to do it? I would at least get a CFM+ intake manifold or drill and tap your stock one for a propane line.

Propane being feed into a big hot turbo compressing air sounds like a car bomb

__________________
99 CTD DRW 4x4 Auto~ SLT Laramie quad cab~4:10's,
Edge Juice w/Attitude, MBRP 4" turboback, AFE Pro Dry S Stage 2, Airdog 150, Amsoil Bypass kit, Bilstein 5100's, HBS leveling kit, upgraded IC boots, BFG commercial T/A traction's,

***gstanfield*** · 12-22-2007, 11:45 AM

So far nobody has ever blew one up, plus if you tap the pressure side of your intake then you're going to have to run more propane pressure than boost pressure or else it will just blow backward and no propane will ever enter your engine.

Think about it, 1.5psi of propane trying to force itself into a intake with 5psi running steady or 35psi going up a hill??

Feel free to not use propane, it's not for everyone that's for sure.

George

__________________
1997 2500 ext cab long bed 4x4 Boost control elbow, KDP tabbed, silncer ring MIA, Z-series gauges, 47RE built w/valve body & converter, #100 plate.

12-19-2007, 02:52 PM	#1 (permalink)
*Tec* Cummins Nut Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 496 Tec's Truck Pics	Who else is using Propane? I've been looking into using propane on my dually to gain some MPG since fuel is killing everone, I've searched the forum and only found a few people that have tries these systems. I'm not looking to add big power like N20! Anyone else have some experiance? __________________ 99 CTD DRW 4x4 Auto~ SLT Laramie quad cab~4:10's, Edge Juice w/Attitude, MBRP 4" turboback, AFE Pro Dry S Stage 2, Airdog 150, Amsoil Bypass kit, Bilstein 5100's, HBS leveling kit, upgraded IC boots, BFG commercial T/A traction's,

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12-20-2007, 08:21 AM	#2 (permalink)
Sciulli Cummins Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Pittsburgh Pa Posts: 197 Sciulli's Truck Pics	Have you done a cost/energy balance to see if its even fesable for propane to offset fuel costs? You have a Cummins which will hold up alot better than most other trucks, interms of high cylinder preassures. For me it was not cost effective. A kit costs about 500-700 dollars, and then you need a tank and then your install time. Your looking at about 1G for everything. Then theres is the cost of propane which for me to fill a 5lb bottle is about 15 bucks. How long will that bottle last, is beyond me I never got that far, cause It was uneconomical after spending 1G on the system. Now i just make my own fuel

12-20-2007, 11:48 AM	#3 (permalink)
*Tec* Cummins Nut Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 496 Tec's Truck Pics	I'm not sure? I just hate stoping to get fuel once a week, In VA 10 miles from my house diesel is 20 cents cheaper than NC. I might just get a 50 gallon Transfer flow tank in the bed of my truck? __________________ 99 CTD DRW 4x4 Auto~ SLT Laramie quad cab~4:10's, Edge Juice w/Attitude, MBRP 4" turboback, AFE Pro Dry S Stage 2, Airdog 150, Amsoil Bypass kit, Bilstein 5100's, HBS leveling kit, upgraded IC boots, BFG commercial T/A traction's,

12-20-2007, 02:31 PM	#4 (permalink)
febrocks Cummins Nut Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Dallas, Texas Posts: 308 febrocks's Truck Pics	Have you try 2 stroke oil? Guys are getting good mileage. It's worth a try plus it helps lube the vp. Eugene __________________ 98.5 2500 slt, 24v,quad cab,2wd, longbed, auto. amsoil air filter, II stage 2 injector, VA V5, stock straight pipe, fass hpfp. FP/pryo/trans temp gauge.

12-20-2007, 04:47 PM	#6 (permalink)
*gstanfield* Moderator Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Rolling Hills, WY Posts: 800 gstanfield's Truck Pics	do it yourself propane kit can be assembled very cheap and the cost benefits are there for sure if you are paying attention to what you do. It's not going to be for everyone, but if you leave the pressure low on the propane a tank will last a long time and milage will go up. I've not put one on my truck yet, but I've seen guys get a 2-3mpg increase by just running 1.5psi of propane. The way it balanced out was he was trading $15 of propane and saving $25 of diesel. This was when diesel was $2.25 or so so now it would be about $35 of diesel saved with $15 of propane. With a home built kit for about $150 it will pay for itself, but the store bought kits are not as economical, plus they inject more propane so the cost of propane goes up without an equal savings of diesel. Clear as mud now? George __________________ 1997 2500 ext cab long bed 4x4 Boost control elbow, KDP tabbed, silncer ring MIA, Z-series gauges, 47RE built w/valve body & converter, #100 plate.

12-20-2007, 05:24 PM	#7 (permalink)
lake huron cummins Diesel Freak Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Port Huron, Mi Posts: 534 lake huron cummins's Truck Pics	I am going with an Aero Tanks fuel tank replacement. The cost of the tank and shipping is about $850 if I remember right. It is about $140 cheaper than a Transfer Flow and the Aero is a 60 gallon and the Transfer is a 55 gallon. __________________ 99 2500 q/c 4x4, 4" Silverline exhaust, Edge Comp Hot Unlock, 150hp sticks, HTT 62/71/13, 150 GPH FASS, Suncoast triple disc tc & vb, Mag-Hytec dbl deep pan, AFE Stage 2, 06 17" w/265 Nitto Terra Grapplers, A-Meter Ultra Lite pyro, boost, trans gauge.

12-21-2007, 10:06 PM	#8 (permalink)
*TEX* Diesel Head Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: TAYLOR TX/CARIBOU ME Posts: 2,340 TEX's Truck Pics	can you give me some info or the link to the DYI propane kit? id only use ot for MPG gains not power __________________ 2006 Quad Cab-Short bed-4X4-CTD-SLT-Silver-Auto-3.73-Big Horn Pkg-AeroTurbine 4040XL-MBRP 5" Dual Wall Angle Cut Tip see garage for pics-Blue Cool Hose Kit-Amsoil 4510-ISSPRO Turbo Timer/Monitor-285 BFG AT'S-BMK 11 By Pass-Draw Tite Gooseneck Hitch-DiPricol Optix Gauges Boost,EGT,Trans Temp Wife:2005 VW Passat TDI Work: 2004 Pierce Contender with 8.3L Cummins---Fire Truck

12-21-2007, 10:32 PM	#9 (permalink)
*gstanfield* Moderator Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Rolling Hills, WY Posts: 800 gstanfield's Truck Pics	grab a spare bottle for a grill, then get an adjustable regulator from Ace harware (in the propane grill accesories isle) they have a heater buddy brand one that goes from 0-40psi. Then hook it to a good 0-15psi gauge and adjust the regulator for 1.5psi or thereabouts (experiment) Then run a line to the air filter and be careful if you're afraid of it getting left on by an ooops moment add an electric solenoid and a pressure switch so that it will only come on with 2-3psi of boost pressure (or whatever setting you choose) You'll have to tinker a bit and experiment, but you can get good results just by being resourceful. BTW, a normal grill regulator is 1/2psi and doesn't really put out enough to be worth while. Any more question, feel free to ask. A price breakdown is as follows: Regulator $40 gauge $25 Hoses $15 Bottle $free if you have it around If you want to add a solenoid for mounting the tank outside the truck (my way was with it sitting in the passenger floorboard while I experimented) then add to the cost Air solenoid $20 pressure switch $15 So there you have it, a good setup for less than the cost of a full tank of fuel that should net you around 2-3 mpg depending on your setup of course. George __________________ 1997 2500 ext cab long bed 4x4 Boost control elbow, KDP tabbed, silncer ring MIA, Z-series gauges, 47RE built w/valve body & converter, #100 plate.

12-21-2007, 11:55 PM	#10 (permalink)
*TEX* Diesel Head Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: TAYLOR TX/CARIBOU ME Posts: 2,340 TEX's Truck Pics	any probs with this on a 3rd gen? __________________ 2006 Quad Cab-Short bed-4X4-CTD-SLT-Silver-Auto-3.73-Big Horn Pkg-AeroTurbine 4040XL-MBRP 5" Dual Wall Angle Cut Tip see garage for pics-Blue Cool Hose Kit-Amsoil 4510-ISSPRO Turbo Timer/Monitor-285 BFG AT'S-BMK 11 By Pass-Draw Tite Gooseneck Hitch-DiPricol Optix Gauges Boost,EGT,Trans Temp Wife:2005 VW Passat TDI Work: 2004 Pierce Contender with 8.3L Cummins---Fire Truck

12-22-2007, 07:24 AM	#11 (permalink)
*Tec* Cummins Nut Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 496 Tec's Truck Pics	Tex, I would not leave a propane line in my airbox If your going to do it? I would at least get a CFM+ intake manifold or drill and tap your stock one for a propane line. Propane being feed into a big hot turbo compressing air sounds like a car bomb __________________ 99 CTD DRW 4x4 Auto~ SLT Laramie quad cab~4:10's, Edge Juice w/Attitude, MBRP 4" turboback, AFE Pro Dry S Stage 2, Airdog 150, Amsoil Bypass kit, Bilstein 5100's, HBS leveling kit, upgraded IC boots, BFG commercial T/A traction's,

12-22-2007, 11:45 AM	#12 (permalink)
*gstanfield* Moderator Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Rolling Hills, WY Posts: 800 gstanfield's Truck Pics	So far nobody has ever blew one up, plus if you tap the pressure side of your intake then you're going to have to run more propane pressure than boost pressure or else it will just blow backward and no propane will ever enter your engine. Think about it, 1.5psi of propane trying to force itself into a intake with 5psi running steady or 35psi going up a hill?? Feel free to not use propane, it's not for everyone that's for sure. George __________________ 1997 2500 ext cab long bed 4x4 Boost control elbow, KDP tabbed, silncer ring MIA, Z-series gauges, 47RE built w/valve body & converter, #100 plate.