Poor mans propane setup, help needed

[jonathanrayce]

Let us know how it works for you.

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2006 2500 Quad Cab 4x4 auto - 3.73s, Smarty TNT, Edge EZ, AFE Stg 2 CAI Amsoil filter and prefilter, Custom intake manifold, Heater Grid and silencer mia, Cat delete and free flow muffler with 6" tip, 315/70/17s

Waiting to go in: DDP 90s, Studs, and HD 110 Springs

[patracy]

If you're using a BBQ propane tank, they're 4.2 gallons.

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1999 2500 4x4 Club Cab Sport. ADRENALINE/pulse BHAF, full set of gauges, FP light, Holley Blue pump, 1/2" big line kit, Draw straw, 3" glasspack, TC lockup switch, Stealth VP plate, Heated WVO setup, poor man's 'pane setup, BD TC, BD VB, Billet input, Derale pan.
Parts to come: 150hp sticks, turbo, and bigger exhaust.

[hait]

yeah its a bbq tank straight from walmart. oh, by the way, i have the hobbs switch set to go on around 3psi and the propane to pressure to about 2-3psi. After this tank i'll try different setting. Oh, i gathered all the parts and quickly put them together and it took about 2 hrs. The funny thing this morning when i drafted behind an 18 wheeler around 60mph my instant reset on the LOM said 40mpg. I giggled and thought if in reality i can get 30mpg i'll be drafting an 18 wheeler to work everyday. When 1 tank is done and all calculation proofs that my gain is worth mentioning i'll take a snap shot picture of the LOM reading above 40mpg for you guy to see. I know its not anywhere acurate but it so cool to see that kind of number.

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Last edited by hait : 09-23-2008 at 01:11 PM.

[hait]

i was playing around with the hobb setting and the pressure. i had the hobb set on 1psi and the propane pressure around 5psi, The 60 mph LOM said 34mpg which was great but on a 35mile trip i probably used about 1.5 gal of propane. That suck. So i left the hobb on 1psi and put the propane pressure to 1.5psi now I have about 145miles and used little more than half the propane bottle. That really suck what a bad move. Things are not looking so good right now, i hope it'll turn out ok. So lesson learned, no more than 2psi of propane.

[patracy]

Just an update. I'm still running mine. I haven't blown anything up. Still knocking down great mileage.



The overhead lie-o-meter is always 2mpg high. I get about 28mpg now off diesel. (That's not counting the propane) A tank last about 400-450 miles. The main benefits of the system are 1. you're increasing your diesel range with a cheaper fuel. (I save about $.05 a mile at current prices.) 2. You're gaining a little power. 3. You're decreasing our demand on foreign oil. 4. I think it's adding a cleaning effect on the engine.

Let me expand on the last point. I've been slacking on the propane stuff lately and running more WVO/JetA. After just running propane over the other day, I can tell a diff in power without the propane running. Propane releases water as a combustion by product. Water helps break apart deposits from the temp difference. Just a theory, but that's the only reason I can explain it.

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1999 2500 4x4 Club Cab Sport. ADRENALINE/pulse BHAF, full set of gauges, FP light, Holley Blue pump, 1/2" big line kit, Draw straw, 3" glasspack, TC lockup switch, Stealth VP plate, Heated WVO setup, poor man's 'pane setup, BD TC, BD VB, Billet input, Derale pan.
Parts to come: 150hp sticks, turbo, and bigger exhaust.

[DORKWEED]

Pat, when you set your propane psi, is that static pressure or flowing pressure. If it's static pressure, it will drop once your valve opens and propane starts flowing. Just wondering how you've set your propane pressure. Gonna start piecing one of these things together. I can write off propane as a business expense.

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NRA LIFE MEMBER

[patracy]

It's Drew

I have it set to 4psi static propane. Boost pressure about 3-4psi.

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1999 2500 4x4 Club Cab Sport. ADRENALINE/pulse BHAF, full set of gauges, FP light, Holley Blue pump, 1/2" big line kit, Draw straw, 3" glasspack, TC lockup switch, Stealth VP plate, Heated WVO setup, poor man's 'pane setup, BD TC, BD VB, Billet input, Derale pan.
Parts to come: 150hp sticks, turbo, and bigger exhaust.

[DORKWEED]

Would you guess then that once the valve opens and propane starts flowing, you see maybe 1-2psi?????

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NRA LIFE MEMBER

[patracy]

Originally Posted by DORKWEED

Would you guess then that once the valve opens and propane starts flowing, you see maybe 1-2psi?????

Not sure, as my gauge is at the tank in the toolbox. I guess I'll enlist my wife's help to watch what it does.

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1999 2500 4x4 Club Cab Sport. ADRENALINE/pulse BHAF, full set of gauges, FP light, Holley Blue pump, 1/2" big line kit, Draw straw, 3" glasspack, TC lockup switch, Stealth VP plate, Heated WVO setup, poor man's 'pane setup, BD TC, BD VB, Billet input, Derale pan.
Parts to come: 150hp sticks, turbo, and bigger exhaust.

[DORKWEED]

One more question here:.......what are y'all using for an "oriface" for the propane injected into the intake. I've not seen any pix or read any "good" descriptions of any in this thread. Any mileage updates anyone????

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NRA LIFE MEMBER

[patracy]

I posted pics of mine back in this thread. No real orifice. Just a port leading into the intake. Things will be churned quite well by that turbo spinning 50K rpms. Mileage is pretty consistent with mine.

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1999 2500 4x4 Club Cab Sport. ADRENALINE/pulse BHAF, full set of gauges, FP light, Holley Blue pump, 1/2" big line kit, Draw straw, 3" glasspack, TC lockup switch, Stealth VP plate, Heated WVO setup, poor man's 'pane setup, BD TC, BD VB, Billet input, Derale pan.
Parts to come: 150hp sticks, turbo, and bigger exhaust.

[DORKWEED]

Originally Posted by patracy

I posted pics of mine back in this thread. No real orifice. Just a port leading into the intake. Things will be churned quite well by that turbo spinning 50K rpms. Mileage is pretty consistent with mine.

That's kinda what I thought. As long as you "ended" the propane feed tube into the "Cold Air Intake" tube; natural air mixing should take place on its way to the turbo and beyond!!! Just being a bit anal here.......no offense meant!!!

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