Ok, so I have the mods in my sig and am considering the next mod (after the Scotty II and tranny) putting in propane. My question are, what are the pros and cons?
Also, is there someone out there that builds custom tanks. I don't want a tank in the bed and under the bed where the spare is would be good (I would build a protective cage around it in case of a rearending).
What else would I need to do to run propane safely (for the engine)?

 

I don't like the idea of running propane with other fueling mods, especially a box that advances timing. I don't know if the Edge Comp does that or not, I'm blissfully ignorant of the electronics you overvalved types are running. The problem with propane is that it lights before the diesel fuel, which is just like advancing the timing. By itself it's OK, but add more fuel and timing on top of the propane and you're looking at a blown head gasket. If you're going to do this anyway, I'd suggest putting a coolant temp switch in the propane arming circuit to disable the propane until the engine gets up to 160 degrees or so in order to give your head gasket a fighting chance. As for tanks, try an RV dealer, they have access to DOT approved tanks that can be mounted under the bed. A custom tank is going to be difficult, nobody wants the liability for something like that.

 

I have a friend that has propane on and he just added injectors. He said he got alot more power from the injectors than the propane, but he hasn't adjusted timing any and he thinks that it would hurt performance. And yes the comp box does advance timing.
dave

 

From what I've read the HO trucks aren't taking the propane well. There slightly higher static compression makes the headgasket more prone to failure. As stated above the propane acts like a catalyst inducing ignition of the diesel and slightly increases pressure and slightly advances timing.

In my opinion the propane is adding another fuel, more fuel more heat so EGT's can also become an issue. To me it would be better money spent adding more air and fuel (turbo and injectors), this would provide a more for the money increase in power yet keeps your EGT's in check. Again just my opinion.

If you do go propane fill us all in, it's not a common thing with 24Vers.

 

I have lost count of how many propane battles Ive faught, but this time it looks like everyone is trying to keep an open mind about things . Ive been running propane for some time now and have had no problems directly linked to the Lp. My girlfriends dad, who invented the system Im running, has over half a million miles on his motor and has had Lp for at least half of those miles. He has had NO problems with his truck what so ever. Ive distributed a few of these kits around and everyone who has them absolutely LOVES them. Its not about the power the Lp adds (which is very noticeable) it more about the mileage . On my current setup I can get 30% better milage with the Lp and I am running advanced timing.
I just delivered a kit to a fellow DTR member (J. Rodgers) who recently put a nice set of twins on his 24 valver along with a couple of boxes (one of which is timing). Im not sure if hes actually had a chance to test the kit out yet but I think he will be pleasantly surprised with his mileage and power.
Im not actually gonna say that Lp is for everyone, because we all know EVERY truck is different, however, the only person who was not completely impressed with his Lp was a guy who drove a Power Stroke ... and they say propane is for Power Strokes .
BTW: I forgot to say that my egts are noticeably lower while Im crusing(-100*) and maybe +25* at WOT.
Thats my nickles worth,
Scott

 

Just asking out of interest: Some people talk about better fuel mileage with propane- I am interested in the total fuel costs these people are running. eG- diesel+propane in c/mile.

AlpineRAM

 

I believe I read somewhere that Pushrod and a few others prefer NOS over propane for HP/torque gains.

 

I had a bullydog vapor system on a 88 ford diesel with ats turbo system. It really helped this truck with power, seemed to bring bottom end torque way up. I messed with it alot turning on more propane and turning pump back. At one time I had injection pump turned below stock setting with lots of propane with same power as pump turned way up. Best power was with inject. pump turned up about 15% and feeding decent amount of propane. Milage was about same if you figured both fuels in but could get diesel milage up to as much as 26 mpg with pump turned down running alot of propane. Put this same system on my dodge and didn't notice a big enough dif. to justify it plus read propane was real hard on HO Cummins. This was a vapor system and I hooked it up wrong the first time to liquid valve on tank, man talk about a motor making noise, couldn't hardly get it to shut down and black smoke and rattlin! Running the two different fuels was a PIA, but I was trying to pull a trailer alot with it and had to small a lp. tank on it.

 

Aline Ram:
It all depends on the set up and the driver. Like other mods, if you have your foot in it all the time you burn more fuel, no matter what. But from the experiments Ive run Ive discovered : If I drive decently and dont keep it on the floor all the time I can get 22 mpg total w/ Lp versus 16 with out Lp. Thats burning Lp at a 4 to 1 ratio (4 gals of diesel to 1 gal of Lp) soooo... for a whole tank of diesel I will burn about 8 gals of Lp. Lp is about 1.15$/gal over here right now so once you calculate in the miles/gal you are actually saving quite a bit on your fuel bill . Now each system does vary and since I do have quite a bit of other mods my results are actually lower thaan a more stock truck would be. For ex.
My girlfriends dads truck gets an easy 28 mpg total . calculate that up burning 4 to 1 and the savings are VERY nice. keep in mind he is probably only at 380 hp to the ground but that is truly impressive for a diesels milage. Especially on a motor that has over 500,000 .
Basically: Im CHEAP and if I werent saving money on the Lp I would not be running it. Period.
Scott

 

Dsljunkie
Clean out your mail box it says it is full and you can not get any more mail.
Where can we see info & cost of this system? I'm very interested in the propane and water injection systems.
Any info will be appreciated.
If it violates the board rules just PM or e-mail the info if you can.
Thanks
Bill G.

 

Mail box cleaned . Feel free to Pm me all the questions you have and I let ya know about the prices.
Scott

 

Nope Dsljunkie, your PM is full again! LOL

 

CRAP!! Try again.
Sorry,
Scott