CNG and higher fuel cost?

[Iowa Guy]

Gas cost is obviously going up. I have a 2001 E-150 full sized passenger van. What do people thing of Compressed Natural Gas and is it feasible to convert or add this capability to a vehicle?

 

Iowa Guy

[Flyinfool]

One of the biggest issues with CNG is the bomb.....I mean fuel tank that you have to carry.

[OB-1]

I would think the biggest issue with CNG is availability. I don't recall seeing any CNG refueling stations outside big cities. Also you should have slightly lower power/fuel mileage.

[flb_78]

Do you have access to a CNG refilling station?

 

I know I have seen used fleet trucks for sale that ran on CNG and gasoline. They just had to flip a switch so it's feasible.

 

Another alternative be to run on propane. There are plenty of places to refill propane tanks and kits are available for the conversions.

[Iowa Guy]

Hmmm... Propane. I wonder what the final cost breakdown would be: Conversion to CNG vs Propane vs existing gasoline.

[midnightventure]

Back in the day of carburators I drove a cable tv van that had propane installed on it when it had about 90000 miles on it. Had to start it on gas every day and then switch to propane. This was back when engines weren't as tight and you expected to use a qt of oil between changes. After the propane conversion the oil never got dirty. Didn't quite have as much power.

[Trader]

I have had 2 NATURAL GAS (not propane) vehicles at different times in the past.

One was a 90 something Ford Tempo, the other was a 99 Chev Cavellier.

 

Both could run on either gas or NG with the flick of a switch. I tried to run NG as much as possible as it cost about 1/3 what regular gas would cost to run the same distance.

 

The tanks are very safe and nearly bullet proof. Certainly not just a BBQ tank! If you ever have lifted one out of the vehicle you would appreciate the weight of them. Most cars that are converted also have heavier springs installed.

 

A big negative was the tank takes most of the trunk. I had room for my lunch box and that's about all!

 

I had to drive 65 Km to work (130 km round trip) and the range of the tank was about 180 km so that meant I had to fill up every day.

 

I had a choice of 2 NG stations on the way.

 

There are NG compressors available for at home use...but the rental cost was not worth it for a single vehicle....you needed 2 or more to justify the cost.

 

The vehicles were both less peppy with NG...but not a total dog...and when I needed a boost I just switched it to gas for a few seconds.

 

The Ford had a problem with the valves which totaled the rest of the engine.

I was told in the early years the valves could not handle the added heat of NG but that they can now (due to ethenol)