Propane engines

[sloopy]

when do they plan to put propane marine engine? also where can you buy small propane engine? how do they work? and how much do they cost? also do they make any under 5 horspower?

 

[JB]

Re: Propane engines

Ahoy, Sloopy.<br /><br />Almost any engine designed to run on gasoline can be easily converted to run on propane.<br /><br />Propane has a knock resistance equivalent to about 110 octane gasoline and produces a lot less pollution. Because it can stand higher compression ratios you can usually modify or supercharge the engine to get more power.<br /><br />BUT: <br /><br />1.Propane has only about half the energy per volume as gasoline and has to be run quite a bit richer.<br /><br />2. Propane has a boiling point of about -20F, so it must be stored under pressure. Pressure tanks are quite bulky and in an accident can be deadly.<br /><br />3. Because propane is heavier than air it is a very unsuitable marine fuel because any leaks accumulate in the bilge and turn boats into bombs.<br /><br />Many of my neighbors run their trucks and tractors on propane or liquified natural gas. They extract and compress the propane (or something pretty close) from the natural gas wells on their property.

 

[sloopy]

Re: Propane engines

were can I find a site that can tell me were to buy the stuff to convert an engine?.

 

[JB]

Re: Propane engines

Try Google. (I can't help it. Every time I say that I giggle!)

 

[butlp]

Re: Propane engines

Sloopy,<br />Check this for propane parts for cars.<br /> http://www.ges.ca/carb/carb.htm

 

[DaleT]

Re: Propane engines

check this site out, it may have something of use for you.<br /> propane engines

 

[SlowlySinking]

Re: Propane engines

Hi Sloopy, another advantage of propane. Way back in 65 while in high school I worked for a fork lift rebuild shop, we rebuilt engines with a zillion hours of use and the insides were a clean as when it was first assembled, they were considered safe to use indoors and had a sweet smell from the exhaust, in those days the propane went from the hi-pressure tank to an electric solenoid valve and then to a pressure regulator not unlike gas BBQ'S, then the low pressure gas went through a hose to the air cleaner, worked like a charm, but dangerous in you turned the ignition on and waited too long to crank the engine. I have an emergency generator that uses a demand regulator/valve, it works from the intake manifold vacuum. This prevents the propane from flowing unless the engine is spinning. Good luck.

 

[Scoop]

Re: Propane engines

I used to run a fork lift with a propane engine inside. All worked well until we got a tank with a bad valve. It would seal to the connector on the fork lift. When we turned it on, It immediately started freezing the valve area. I worked in a heat treating plant at the time and we had open flame everywhere because of the gas charged engines. The adrenaline was flowing that night.<br /><br />I just watched a Deisel truck modification show that used Propane to boost the horsepower of diesel engine. Then they added a nitrous kit to boot. The parts were from a company named Bully Dog or something like that. They mentioned that you had to be careful to make sure the right amount went into the engine or it would do damage.