propane powered 454 bus

[Sleddgracer]

anyone have experience with propane for large vehicles? -

 

[ermracing]

I've driven the propane powered (Ford/Roush engine, 6.9?) Thomas buses our district has. They use them for trips mostly. Certainly higher revving than the diesels and less torque. Not sure what tranny they have, but they like to shift a lot.... No engine braking either. Fuel mileage is around 4-5, but the fuel is cheaper so it works out to be the same or a little cheaper than diesel, and cleaner too.

We saw a few older propane buses for sale and the ones around 15 years old stated that the fuel tanks had aged out and needed to be replaced. Not sure of the laws around this, but something to check out.

 

[Tootalltechie]

I have a 1974 Chevrolet bluebird 350ci on propane. Engine will run cleaner, last longer, mileage will be about the same. It takes planning to find fuel stations. The propane system needs regular inspections. Running propane in the cold takes special setup.

It's hard to find an automotive mechanic certified for propane, but lots of forklift mechanics.

 

[Sleddgracer]

I've driven the propane powered (Ford/Roush engine, 6.9?) Thomas buses our district has. They use them for trips mostly. Certainly higher revving than the diesels and less torque. Not sure what tranny they have, but they like to shift a lot.... No engine braking either. Fuel mileage is around 4-5, but the fuel is cheaper so it works out to be the same or a little cheaper than diesel, and cleaner too.

We saw a few older propane buses for sale and the ones around 15 years old stated that the fuel tanks had aged out and needed to be replaced. Not sure of the laws around this, but something to check out.

shouldn't be any significant difference in engine braking after a propane conversion - one of my vans was dual gas/propane ( throw a switch ) and I couldn't notice any difference in power between the two fuels - I also had a 1 ton flat deck on propane and as long as the service station was able to keep their pump going, I could fill my tanks in Yellow Knife's -40 weather - I carried a couple of 20# or 30# bottles and a siphon hose in case propane outlets were further apart than my truck could drive on a fill up - had to use them several times during my trips north and across the Canadian prairies

 

[peteg59]

- one of my vans was dual gas/propane ( throw a switch ) and I couldn't notice any difference in power between the two fuels

^...That would be the only way to tour in a vehicle that uses propane as a propellant!

 

[Tango-SKO]

Just for the record...


Propane = 91,600 btu's per gal
Gasoline = 115,000 btu's per gal
Diesel Fuel = 139,000 btu's per gal

 

[Sleddgracer]

I've driven the propane powered (Ford/Roush engine, 6.9?) Thomas buses our district has. They use them for trips mostly. Certainly higher revving than the diesels and less torque. Not sure what tranny they have, but they like to shift a lot.... No engine braking either. Fuel mileage is around 4-5, but the fuel is cheaper so it works out to be the same or a little cheaper than diesel, and cleaner too.

We saw a few older propane buses for sale and the ones around 15 years old stated that the fuel tanks had aged out and needed to be replaced. Not sure of the laws around this, but something to check out.

should only be a matter of changing the valve and a fresh certification and fresh paint to cover the scuffs and spots of rust, if any

 

[Sleddgracer]

I've driven the propane powered (Ford/Roush engine, 6.9?) Thomas buses our district has. They use them for trips mostly. Certainly higher revving than the diesels and less torque. Not sure what tranny they have, but they like to shift a lot.... No engine braking either. Fuel mileage is around 4-5, but the fuel is cheaper so it works out to be the same or a little cheaper than diesel, and cleaner too.

We saw a few older propane buses for sale and the ones around 15 years old stated that the fuel tanks had aged out and needed to be replaced. Not sure of the laws around this, but something to check out.

should be almost the same as driving the same engine on gas - difference in power should be hardly noticeable - the factory conversion is preferable because they have different valves that last longer when running propane

 

[Napabavarian]

If you were building a propane engine from scratch I believe you could increase the compression ratio, as I recall from 15 years ago the octane is over 100, but do your own research.

 

[Smokey's pipe dream]

:baconflag:I've wondered if you can convert a propane engine to run off a wood gasifier easily a guy on youtube runs his pickup off wood gas he gets 3500 miles a cord lol

 

[Smokey's pipe dream]

http://wiki.gekgasifier.com/Biomass-to-Woodgas-to-BTU-to-HP-to-KW-to-MPG-conversion-rules you didnt mention wood gas @ 2lbs biomass ~ 10,000 btu! its a cool system well used too back during ww1 and ww2!:whistling:

 

[Sleddgracer]

:baconflag:I've wondered if you can convert a propane engine to run off a wood gasifier easily a guy on youtube runs his pickup off wood gas he gets 3500 miles a cord lol

this article talks about 'town' gas derived from coal, but during the hungry 30's, farmers used methane derived from manure using the same types of bags on the roof to hold the gas as pictured here

https://www.lowtechmagazine.com/2011/11/gas-bag-vehicles.html

 

[Napabavarian]

:baconflag:I've wondered if you can convert a propane engine to run off a wood gasifier easily a guy on youtube runs his pickup off wood gas he gets 3500 miles a cord lol

Build a trailer that looks like the coal car behind an old locomotive.