LPG or CNG

[wilcofan]

Has anyone out there done a conversion to run off LPG or CNG? My 78 E-150 has dual gas tanks, and I was thinking about taking one of them out and replacing it with either an LPG or CNG tank. Trying to figure out which, from other people's practical experience is the best option for practicality, availability and cost.<br><br>

 

[gadgetMe]

If your van has a carburetor, it can be converted to a duel fuel set up using gasoline and lp gas. Fuel injected engines will not work.<br><br>Lp fuel is more readily available than the CNG natural gas. <br>To be able to burn Lp gas, a kit needs to&nbsp; be installed that consists of a fuel flow attachment to the carburetor, a fuel regulator the is warmed by the cooling system of the engine, a fuel filter and tank, hoses, and safety valves<br><br>Using lp&nbsp; fuel will reduce the efficiency of the engine about 20%, is harder starting in cold weather, the good part is it burns cleaner, keeping the motor oil cleaner longer,<br><br><a target="_blank" href="http://www.gotpropane.com/p4.html">Here are some examples of kits</a><br><br>Putz<br><br>

 

[Mangyhyena]

Considering the price of LP, a 20% loss of efficiency isn't bad at all. &nbsp;You should still come out ahead on fuel cost, I think. &nbsp;Duel fuel would seem to make the difficult start on LP a moot point. &nbsp;Start it on gasoline, then switch once the motor is warmed up. &nbsp;LP should have a long shelf life, so you could conceivably stock up on it without having to worry about it going flat. &nbsp;Best of all, you have two fuels to choose from should gasoline be in short supply for some reason.<div><br></div><div>Seems like a good idea to me.</div>

 

[Mangyhyena]

<a href="http://alternativefuels.about.com/od/naturalgasvehicles/a/cngconversion.htm" target="_blank">http://alternativefuels.about.com/od/naturalgasvehicles/a/cngconversion.htm</a><div><br></div><div>That web address gives links to companies that offer LP/duel fuel kits for vehicles, even fuel injected vehicles. &nbsp;It's pretty pricy, though.</div><div><br></div><div>If you have LP at home, there is a purpose-made compressor sold that will fill your vehicle's LP tank overnight (8 hours), &nbsp;according to the info at that site. &nbsp;Again, it's pricy, IMO, but maybe worth it in the end.</div><div><br></div><div>Anyway, have fun looking.</div>