Anyone Run Nat. Gas?

Stewmeistr · August 6, 2008

Hey I'm just curious if anyone is running CNG and what their fill up and power levels are like compared to stock. I know GM put CNG on some trucks stock, but I didn't know if anyone on the board had one.

I'm looking into it, especially since it cost 1.00 a gallon vs 4 for gas....

Just a thought.

Rob

stregaiq440 · August 7, 2008

Hey I'm just curious if anyone is running CNG and what their fill up and power levels are like compared to stock. I know GM put CNG on some trucks stock, but I didn't know if anyone on the board had one.

I'm looking into it, especially since it cost 1.00 a gallon vs 4 for gas....

Just a thought.

Rob

I have driven quite a few for the company I work for. Had a 98 Ford F-150 that I put 180,000 miles on. It was a bifuel, and I used less than 500 gallons of gasoline in those miles. Had a dedicated crown vic that I really like - has a 300 mile range and ran real good. Also put 50,000 miles on a dedicated GMC 2500 that had the 6.0 in it. It had good power and ran well. Ford and GM used to make these vehicles, but did not want to invest the money in them to update the platform to the NBS. I also heard that it is so expensive to get them certified that they did not have the sales to support the program.

We had a lot of them during the time of 2 dollars per gallon fuel. No one wanted one because they cost more and you were limited to a few stations to fuel. The sad thing is that this is the only alternative fuel that makes sence, but it is being ignored by everyone. Natural gas is plentiful, the compressors needed to fuel them are easy to get, they are clean, the fuel is actually safer than gasoline (it dissapates rapidly in air), and the tanks are tough as hell.

This fuel works, is clean and the only drawback is the tanks size or range of the vehicle. They still sell them in many countries and could work here if they were given the right chance. Instead we have hydrogen? Electric?

Too bad it did not take off. Honda still maked a CNG Civic. I drove one and liked it.

Stewmeistr · August 8, 2008

Hey thanks for the reply. I remember reading in the manual and it stated that the 8.1's were cng ready? Anybody validate that?

ANyway, it seems very appealing to me to have a home station that could fuel it up for a buck or two a gallon vs 4.00..

Anyway, I'm checking into a conversion that looks promising as well as a "Phill" (at home refiller) and its an initial investment for sure, but the benefits seem to be pretty substantial.

Thanks,

Rob

Zembonez · August 9, 2008

Anybody know what it costs to convert a truck? I know a lot of state and city vehicles here in Texas run CNG.

Vortec-Z71 · August 9, 2008

I found this option for an 07 Classic 6.0L on the Chevy Website: CONVERSION READY ENGINE, NATURAL GAS Alternative fuel conversions, conversion-ready engine, includes internal modifications for operation with natural or propane gas (KL5) $850.00

Would the truck only be able to run on natural gas or gasoline too? Does it come ready to run on natural gas from the factory or does it still need some modifications?

stregaiq440 · August 11, 2008

CNG and propane ready engines come with better valve seats. Not much else is different - they sell some complete engines ready to be used as stationary engines for irrigation pumps` These usually have a mixer mounted on the intake. It is pretty tough to convert a new truck. Most kits add a second set of injectors tapped into the intake or valve port. Then you need to integrate it with the OBDII system. At one time, the manufactures would not share the OBDII code with the aftermarket so they could integrate their system with the vehicles. Then the had to be EPA certified. We recently converted a 08 GMC with a 6.0 for around $8000. Takes a long time to pay that off

The tanks are quite expensive. The main problem is that there are so few done, that the numbers dont work out. This fuel works so well and is the only workable alternate fuel. There should be millions of these out by now, instead it fizzeled out. There are some cheap kits (mycngkit.com) that are kits that would work on a older carb equipped engine - they would not work well with a newer engine.

Good luck, we are disregarding this excellent option while work is going on with hydrogen. It dosent make and sence to me

Zembonez · August 11, 2008

State and County departments here have been running converted CNG cars and trucks of all kinds for years. As a matter of fact, a lot of the surplus vehicles they sell are still CNG equipped. No internal engine mods are required and they get hundreds of thousands of miles out of some of their rigs before selling. Everything in the conversion is external and done to regular fleet vehicles.

I read today that Propane here was 3.15 a gallon and Natural Gas was climbing to meet it. There may not be nearly as much savings here as you think. I'm no expert but before you go spend money for a conversion... might want to check.

naylor · August 23, 2008

I work for an lpg company and we recently added lpg bifuel to an 08 6.0l. 1 guy in the area is good enough to consider and cost was just under $5k. IMO, the biggest issue with these conversions is finding a truly qualified tech to perform the work.

Stewmeistr · September 10, 2008

Well, I've done some research on the issue. I can find no company that will install a system on an OBD2 vehicle because it sets them up for fines the size of Texas from the EPA... Also, it won't happen for meHomeowners assoc won't allow a fill station.Prohibitive cost to installIncreasing cost of alternative fuel.It just won't pay for itself unfortunately, very disappointed as it is an answer to our foriegn oil dependance as the infrastructure for it is minimal and the benefits tremendous.Rob

83trekker · September 11, 2008

Hey thanks for the reply. I remember reading in the manual and it stated that the 8.1's were cng ready? Anybody validate that?
ANyway, it seems very appealing to me to have a home station that could fuel it up for a buck or two a gallon vs 4.00..

Anyway, I'm checking into a conversion that looks promising as well as a "Phill" (at home refiller) and its an initial investment for sure, but the benefits seem to be pretty substantial.

Thanks,

Rob

I read that the 8.1L is gas,Nautral gas and PNG ready togo also, anybody confirm?

Kodiak450 · September 12, 2008

My 2500 will run on CNG, but there are no stations near me that sell bi-fuel. The company that delivers my propane runs their trucks off of the CNG. I asked the driver how they run and said they were sluggish getting up the mountains and were also pigs on mileage.

Stewmeistr · September 12, 2008

Thanks for the replies to the topic.

I have to say that I've looked into it and until it becomes more mainstream, it just isn't cost feesible. I'd love to have a $2.00 gge (gall. gas equivalent) fuel source even if it made my truck not perform quite as well. I usually drive level @ sea level about 20 miles a day and it'd be nice to save every little bit. The cost of implementation just out weighs the benefit currently.

Thanks ,

Rob