Propane Conversion to the 4.7L

wylcat · #1 (**permalink**) 05-07-2005, 10:15 PM

This may have been discussed somewhere before, but the info I came across with search was sketchy at best. I still have not found any specifics on the 4.7L. I have also been reading thread after thread on Pirate too and it mostly is stuff on older carb rigs. My questions in a nut shell are:
1- has anyone converted the 4.7L over to propane?
2- is there a kit available for it?
3- what kind of real world mileage would propane get?
4- how would the torq curve be affected using propane only (not a dual fuel) on a NA motor?

I know the rock crawlers are big into these kits for CJ's and old Yotas, but I have not seen anything on the newer stuff.

RockyMtnRay · #2 (**permalink**) 05-08-2005, 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wylcat

This may have been discussed somewhere before, but the info I came across with search was sketchy at best. I still have not found any specifics on the 4.7L. I have also been reading thread after thread on Pirate too and it mostly is stuff on older carb rigs. My questions in a nut shell are:
1- has anyone converted the 4.7L over to propane?
2- is there a kit available for it?
3- what kind of real world mileage would propane get?
4- how would the torq curve be affected using propane only (not a dual fuel) on a NA motor?

I know the rock crawlers are big into these kits for CJ's and old Yotas, but I have not seen anything on the newer stuff.

Look in the photo gallery for photos posted by "arthur"...he lives in the Netherlands (Holland) and posted several shots of a conversion of an '04 V8 Stepside to run on LP Gas (Propane). So apparently it can be done...though whether or not it can be done in the US is possibly an entirely different matter. For some reason, "arthur" has seemingly only logged into/posted in the TSPhotoPost...a member search on TS.COM didn't turn up that user name.

wylcat · #3 (**permalink**) 05-08-2005, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RockyMtnRay

For some reason, "arthur" has seemingly only logged into/posted in the TSPhotoPost...a member search on TS.COM didn't turn up that user name.

I found that weird as well since I got a PM from him and in his Profile he has a few posts on the post counter but search does not pull up the profile or any posts. He aparently joined 5/5/05. Might be a glitch for you moderator guys

RockyMtnRay · #4 (**permalink**) 05-08-2005, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wylcat

I found that weird as well since I got a PM from him and in his Profile he has a few posts on the post counter but search does not pull up the profile or any posts. He aparently joined 5/5/05. Might be a glitch for you moderator guys

Yes, definitely strange...thanks for the link to his profile. This fellow has done some very interesting mods. Also there's definitely a forum glitch...I've posted a report in the Moderator forum to bring it to the attention of the Administrators (a level or two up from we yeoman Moderators.

)

TMS2U · #5 (**permalink**) 05-09-2005, 12:41 PM

http://www.gotpropane.com/

Should be possible, but will take some testing!!!

dyogim · #6 (**permalink**) 05-09-2005, 12:54 PM

Would propane get better gas milage?

Blue99Ws7 · #7 (**permalink**) 05-09-2005, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dyogim

Would propane get better gas milage?

I would like to know this also.

motoretro · #8 (**permalink**) 05-09-2005, 04:13 PM

Locate your local large Propane dealer and more than likely his fleet is already converted and by talking to him you should be able to locate a conversion specialist or just search the web.....Good luck, the benefits are higher octane, cleaner running engine,etc.
Motoretro

KLS · #9 (**permalink**) 05-09-2005, 04:22 PM

Nope. LPG has a lower BTU content per gallon. LPG is usually 95% propane.

Propane is about 91,600 BTUs per gallon.
Gasoline has about 125,000 BTUs per gallon..
#2 diesel fuel has 140,000 BTUs per gallon.

The local propane dealer fuels his vehicles at the wholesale cost of fuel, plus wholesale cost of conversion. This gives him a lower cost per mile.

Ken

wylcat · #10 (**permalink**) 05-09-2005, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dyogim

Would propane get better gas milage?

so far my research into this subject suggests that a NA motor will use about 15% to 25% more fuel per mile, but it also suggests that the gains in hp for a boosted engine benifit tremendously from a much cooler air fuel mixture. and running at a much higher octane then gasoline it will reduce pinging to almost nothing. one other benifit is a lowered oil contamination rate from engine blow by. I was interested in this due to increasing fuel costs so I need to do some homework on what propane is running per gal to see if it is worth it. on a side note I ran into a tiny bit of info on natural gas conversions too but I dont have any real info on that yet either.

ldeal · #11 (**permalink**) 06-28-2005, 10:25 PM

Has anyone came accross a conversion kit yet? I am working on trying to find one myself. I have some friends that have Chevy's, and they got them swithced over. They get just a little less milage, and when the air temps. are hot out, the power is down just a little. When the air temps are cooler, or rainy weather they have more power. I am just for the milage.

wylcat · #12 (**permalink**) 06-28-2005, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ldeal

Has anyone came accross a conversion kit yet? I am working on trying to find one myself. I have some friends that have Chevy's, and they got them swithced over. They get just a little less milage, and when the air temps. are hot out, the power is down just a little. When the air temps are cooler, or rainy weather they have more power. I am just for the milage.

Check with member "Arthur" and he can maybe help you since he has one on his tundra. He was very helpful for me and I think he would do the same for you. I have pushed the idea of LP conversion to the side for now because I could not justify the change. If I were to be really big into extreem rock crawling I might reconsider, but I am not so its just not worth it for me.

ldeal · #13 (**permalink**) 06-28-2005, 10:44 PM

Hey, thanks, I will try to get ahold of him on here.. i am new too this site. thanks a bunch

I have a propane dealer in my back yard. He can get the parts, or the kit at cost for me. I already have the tank.

THarms · #14 (**permalink**) 07-01-2005, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KLS

Nope. LPG has a lower BTU content per gallon. LPG is usually 95% propane.

Propane is about 91,600 BTUs per gallon.
Gasoline has about 125,000 BTUs per gallon..
#2 diesel fuel has 140,000 BTUs per gallon.

The local propane dealer fuels his vehicles at the wholesale cost of fuel, plus wholesale cost of conversion. This gives him a lower cost per mile.

Ken

Ken - you hit the nail on the head here... lots of people in my neck of the prairie are currently looking to switch to either propane or "dual fuel"-powered vehicles which have the flexibility of running higher blended ethanol concentration fuels. What most don't take into account is that even though both propane and high blend ethanol fuels cost less per gallon at the pump, by the time you factor in the reduction in gas mileage (mostly a density issue with propane but a contained oxygen issue with ethanol) the difference becomes fairly minor...unless, as you mention, the propane dealer can justify it since he can buy at wholesale. In either case it becomes hardly worth the hassle. Also, you have to factor in that although propane is relatively cheap now compared to gasoline, it will more than likely track heating oil prices much higher once winter rolls around again.

arthur · #15 (**permalink**) 07-13-2005, 04:17 PM

If you say that if gasoline prices go up also propane prices go up your partial right. Propane for as i know is a product that comes free when producing petrol so it is a waste product. If more petrol is being produced there automaticly is more propane. If demands are the same, prices wil probably rise not as much as petrol. The last few weeks petrol gained about 55 cent/gallon and propane did only 7.5 cent/gallon over in Holland. But the game of ask and demand is the same in America.

I run my '04 Tundra with propane and fuelconsumption is approx 10 % higher.