Propane
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 457
Likes: 34
From: Hamilton Montana
Propane
This might sound like a strange question to some of you, but...
Has anyone used propane as a secondary (or primary) fuel for thier forced induction set-up?
Propane is high octane (100-110) depending on grade, and available for around $2 a gallon. I've seen several snow-mobiles, and street-bikes that use propane as thier PRIMARY fuel. (they dont run gasoline at all)
These machines are turbo-ed and are able to run higher boost (than guys running gasoline) and pay less for fuel.
I'm trying to reach out and see if anyone knows anything about tuning a fuel injected car to run propane.
Has anyone used propane as a secondary (or primary) fuel for thier forced induction set-up?
Propane is high octane (100-110) depending on grade, and available for around $2 a gallon. I've seen several snow-mobiles, and street-bikes that use propane as thier PRIMARY fuel. (they dont run gasoline at all)
These machines are turbo-ed and are able to run higher boost (than guys running gasoline) and pay less for fuel.
I'm trying to reach out and see if anyone knows anything about tuning a fuel injected car to run propane.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 272
Likes: 0
Well, I just dont know where you'd put a tank for it. Look up CNG and see how many gallons and how big the tanks are. It is much more efficient and combustion is extremely clean with no deposits. We have done conversions for CNG and they switch from gas to CNG, mostly on 4.3, 5.7 and newer 6.0 trucks. The tanks are carbon fiber and do expire. There are Government grants to install these kits but I dont see it on a vette.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 457
Likes: 34
From: Hamilton Montana
Thanks
Thanks for the info. I'm gonna do a little research on the tanks. My main concern is if fuel injection aspect will work or not. I've been hearing that it may be difficult for the vaporizor and injectors to keep up with a high horsepower set-up.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,153
Likes: 114
i have heard of Evos running propane. they seem to love it. also i think you can run propane at lower RPM then have the normal fuel kick in higher up the RPM/WOT.
hmmmmm maybe this would be a cheap Dual fuel system for the vette! you could have LOADS of race gas in the normal tanks and then a tank of propane in the back. drive around on gas and then use the nice race fuel when at the track/you want to mash the throttle!
Chris.
hmmmmm maybe this would be a cheap Dual fuel system for the vette! you could have LOADS of race gas in the normal tanks and then a tank of propane in the back. drive around on gas and then use the nice race fuel when at the track/you want to mash the throttle!
Chris.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 457
Likes: 34
From: Hamilton Montana
...
I can see why people love it. My uncle has a snow-mobile that is turboed. It runs only on propane. It's a 1000cc (1Liter) motor that has been dynoed at 450HP! The high octane of the propane alows him to run much higher boost than on pump gas. He has a tank (the big ones for home heating) behind his house that he has filled up by the delivery guy. He said by buying in bulk he gets the propane super cheap.
How sweet would that be? Just pull into the back yard, fill up the tank, and drive all day on 108 octane gas for $1.50 a gallon (delivered to your home).
I've been doing some research, and the biggest difference between his sled, and my car (besides the obvious stuff) is that the sled is carbureted.
They do make propane kits for fuel injection, but they only support up to 380HP. I've contacted the company, and am waiting to see what else is out there. I was really hoping someone would say "Oh yeah, I've already done that. Here's what you need to do." But, I think that was wishfull thinking.
How sweet would that be? Just pull into the back yard, fill up the tank, and drive all day on 108 octane gas for $1.50 a gallon (delivered to your home).
I've been doing some research, and the biggest difference between his sled, and my car (besides the obvious stuff) is that the sled is carbureted.
They do make propane kits for fuel injection, but they only support up to 380HP. I've contacted the company, and am waiting to see what else is out there. I was really hoping someone would say "Oh yeah, I've already done that. Here's what you need to do." But, I think that was wishfull thinking.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 10,230
Likes: 885
From: Alexandria, Virginia, USA VA
a lot of the viper and buick turbo guys use propane injection instead of meth
works pretty well high octane, but just like nitrous, you have to keep a consistent bottle pressure.
works pretty well high octane, but just like nitrous, you have to keep a consistent bottle pressure.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,153
Likes: 114
I can see why people love it. My uncle has a snow-mobile that is turboed. It runs only on propane. It's a 1000cc (1Liter) motor that has been dynoed at 450HP! The high octane of the propane alows him to run much higher boost than on pump gas. He has a tank (the big ones for home heating) behind his house that he has filled up by the delivery guy. He said by buying in bulk he gets the propane super cheap.
How sweet would that be? Just pull into the back yard, fill up the tank, and drive all day on 108 octane gas for $1.50 a gallon (delivered to your home).
I've been doing some research, and the biggest difference between his sled, and my car (besides the obvious stuff) is that the sled is carbureted.
They do make propane kits for fuel injection, but they only support up to 380HP. I've contacted the company, and am waiting to see what else is out there. I was really hoping someone would say "Oh yeah, I've already done that. Here's what you need to do." But, I think that was wishfull thinking.
How sweet would that be? Just pull into the back yard, fill up the tank, and drive all day on 108 octane gas for $1.50 a gallon (delivered to your home).
I've been doing some research, and the biggest difference between his sled, and my car (besides the obvious stuff) is that the sled is carbureted.
They do make propane kits for fuel injection, but they only support up to 380HP. I've contacted the company, and am waiting to see what else is out there. I was really hoping someone would say "Oh yeah, I've already done that. Here's what you need to do." But, I think that was wishfull thinking.
And you could run around on very cheap fuel while your pottering around and then run TRUE RACE FUEL, say C16, when you go WOT!
Would definitely be very interesting to see in a Vette. I have seen a 27.00ltr Meteor engines running on LPG (liquid petroleum gas).
Cheers
Chris.
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Pro
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 565
Likes: 2
From: Chattanooga TN
A friend of mine was using propane on his Viper for a long time as the alternate fuel source for his nitrous kit. The kit he was using was actually designed and built by a Turbobuick guy. I'm not sure if he's still making the kits, but it's one of the only ones that had a regulator at the time.
Either way, his stock bottom end Viper went 9.4x with a Roe blower and propane/nitrous several times.
Check on some of the Turbobuick sites and see if you can find anyone that is actively marketing a kit for them.
Either way, his stock bottom end Viper went 9.4x with a Roe blower and propane/nitrous several times.
Check on some of the Turbobuick sites and see if you can find anyone that is actively marketing a kit for them.
