Propane Conversion

Has anyone converted a late model (2002 or newer) SUV to propane in the
tri-state area (NY/NJ/CT)? Can you share your experience both good and
bad?

For space reasons, my family is looking into a larger SUV such as a
Yukon XL or a Suburban used. A conversion to propane would be
desirable.

There is a company www.ecofuel.com with kits they say are compatible
with many US-made SUVs (GMC Yukon, Chevy Suburban, Lincoln
Navigator...) I am looking into it, but I am affraid of the regulations
in these highly-regulated areas. I've read and enjoyed a few success
stories in this newsgroup, but nothing for my area. Refueling appears
to be bearable (which in this area is not easy to say for many
alternative fuels). There are stations in Stamford and other cities.
For example, there seems to be nothing for E85. (There is a locator
here: http://afdcmap2.nrel.gov/locator/)

I saw a Ford Excursion CNG listed for sale on ebay this week. It might
still be there ?

I have a chevrolet lumina with cng and unleaded. We dont use the CNG
but the tank has always been full in case of emergency.

sonofadocker.

[email protected] wrote:
> Has anyone converted a late model (2002 or newer) SUV to propane in the
> tri-state area (NY/NJ/CT)? Can you share your experience both good and
> bad?
>
> For space reasons, my family is looking into a larger SUV such as a
> Yukon XL or a Suburban used. A conversion to propane would be
> desirable.
>
> There is a company www.ecofuel.com with kits they say are compatible
> with many US-made SUVs (GMC Yukon, Chevy Suburban, Lincoln
> Navigator...) I am looking into it, but I am affraid of the regulations
> in these highly-regulated areas. I've read and enjoyed a few success
> stories in this newsgroup, but nothing for my area. Refueling appears
> to be bearable (which in this area is not easy to say for many
> alternative fuels). There are stations in Stamford and other cities.
> For example, there seems to be nothing for E85. (There is a locator
> here: http://afdcmap2.nrel.gov/locator/)

On 15 Sep 2006 08:57:32 -0700, [email protected] wrote:

>Has anyone converted a late model (2002 or newer) SUV to propane in the
>tri-state area (NY/NJ/CT)? Can you share your experience both good and
>bad?
>
>For space reasons, my family is looking into a larger SUV such as a
>Yukon XL or a Suburban used. A conversion to propane would be
>desirable.
>
>There is a company www.ecofuel.com with kits they say are compatible
>with many US-made SUVs (GMC Yukon, Chevy Suburban, Lincoln
>Navigator...) I am looking into it, but I am affraid of the regulations
>in these highly-regulated areas. I've read and enjoyed a few success
>stories in this newsgroup, but nothing for my area. Refueling appears
>to be bearable (which in this area is not easy to say for many
>alternative fuels). There are stations in Stamford and other cities.
>For example, there seems to be nothing for E85. (There is a locator
>here: http://afdcmap2.nrel.gov/locator/)


To really do a conversion right and make the most of it you need to
make it a oneway conversion in that you need to raise the CR ratio to
12 to 1 or more. Propane has a very high octane (about 110) but is has
less energy per gallon than gas so you will use more. But, if you
raise the compression ratio, it will improve efficency and power
output as well (more power than on gas) and improve the MPG to near
what you would get with gas. You need a heavy tank but propane only
weighs 4lb per gallon vs a little over 6 for gas so the extra weight
of tank is offset plus you will basically have a zero emission vehicle
running on propane too as it is the cleanest burning motor fuel in
common use today. (it is nearly the perfect motor fuel)
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