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  #1  
Old 05-09-2010, 10:19 PM
blueovelboy blueovelboy is offline
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Default go propane or not

ok as the title says how hard is it to go to a propane conversion on the 2.3? i have heard lots of good things like more mpg and way less carbon foot print!
a buddy of mine has a old 88 chevy running on propane and at least 4 hundred thousand miles on the motor yes its had to trannys and a lot of other thing have ben changed out but it runs so dam good!
dose propane keep the same numbers as gas?
will i lose tork or horse power?
any one with insight or just a though on on this please lets hear what you have to say
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Old 05-10-2010, 04:15 AM
sgtsandman sgtsandman is offline
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Default Re: go propane or not

There used to be a tax credit for doing the conversion but that's about all I know on the subject. My cousin out in Arizona has done a conversion or two and told me a little bit about it at a family reunion.

From what I remember from my school days when our school busses ran on propane, they were a dual tank system, one regular and one propane (I believe the gas was needed to get the engine started). The exhaust did smell cleaner but I seem to remember that there was a loss in engine power. I don't think propane has the same energy potential that gasoline does (kinda on the same lines as ethanol but without the damaging side effects on the fuel system).
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Old 05-10-2010, 04:39 AM
STL STL is offline
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Default Re: go propane or not

Not real sure about propane. Think Mike is right you gotta have gas to start the engine though.

We do a lot of diesel to natural gas conversions here at work.
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Old 05-15-2010, 02:40 PM
1STranger 1STranger is offline
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Default Re: go propane or not

Propane will decrease power about 10% at high RPM's but may actually increase low end power, especially when the engine is cold. You can start the engine on propane, the need for two tanks is that overall range is very limited with propane. Maybe 120-150 miles on straight propane. Propane starts easier in the cold and burns cleaner.

As far as conversions go, i don't personally know of any but I have seen an older contour with a natural gas conversion so I'm sure someone sells a propane conversion for rangers.
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Old 05-15-2010, 02:55 PM
bcghosttowns bcghosttowns is offline
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Default Re: go propane or not

Propane sucks IMO.crappy in the cold because it freezes up and crappy in the heat.Seems cheaper but the mileage drops so much its not a huge savings by the time you factor what it cost to do the swap and a big power loss.and you cant get propane at all gas stations and some that do sell it wont sell it after a certain time of night.
If the truck is an in town truck that gets a lot of miles and no real load then it might be ok but if you travel much or load it down at all i would really look in to it before you take the plunge. Just my 2 cents.

edit: i am sayin this from a tow truck perspective.all our tow trucks were propane and it wasnt very good after a while we were noticing more maintanance,less mileage and just a general PITA.You carbon foot print will go down to a point but how concerned are you really? Its still a fossil fuel.If you are stricly looking for better mileage than what you already have i would consider diesel but thats pricey as well and when you break down the expense vrs what you save per tank it takes a whole lot of tanks of fuel before you start to save money (if that makes sense) If you are truely concerned about your carbon foot print then yes you are polluting less but its still a fossil fuel like i said.Maybe devise a system when your motors creates and burns hydrogen(it can be done cheap) or even a better idea i have been palying with is a home made electric vehical.
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