Diesel / CNG discuss

Penni

Penni

New member
I recently scrolled across a diesel/CNG conversion kit, or rather a dual fuel kit, i was curious if anybody here was running something similar? And if so how you like it?

It was advertised for $2200 and then saying 30-50 mpg depending on which style diesel motor, ford/chevy/dodge etc...

I know with the cng it would burn hotter, making egts an issue? I would think? Do maybe a twin set up with cng? Egts down and 35mpg? Lol

Thoughts/discuss...
 
Guy I work with has an lbz with a kit from Marc Deluca. He nets over 50mpg hwy on diesel. Cng is running about $1.99 here, and he compresses it at his house for under $1.50.

Cng won't make it run hotter in itself, but the fact you're adding fuel, it will. We had to cut pulse out of the injectors to keep it from smoking under wot and lug points. His kit works by adding the CNG into the turbo inlet by a vaccum regulator.
 
That's a cool idea, all the kits I've seen input the cng through the fuel system someway... but the turbo idea is interesting... I'm considering a cng system, although I don't really put a lot of miles on my truck? Maybe two tanks of fuel a month? So it may not be justifiable in my case, but I ran across it and thought it was a cool idea to talk about
 
Some kits have thier own injection system. Most starter kits just feed a regulated amount into the turbo. You can build your own kit and add your own options. Do not skimp however on the quality of parts as CNG is under 3600 psi of pressure. I have looked into running a system but as much as I don't drive it would take forever to make back what is spent on the kit. The other plus is they say your oil stays cleaner longer and by running CNG you are supporting American jobs.
 
Um ALL kits have to have their own injection system, can't run it into the diesel tank there skipper. CNG will keep oil cleaner, but like you said, takes tons of miles to recoup costs.
 
Most people on here are not going to be able to piece a kit together, so the cost is higher. And don't bother calling a certified shop and ask how to build a kit, its like calling a trans shop asking for free help on a rebuild.

Deluca has a module coming out that'll give the ability to run 90%+ CNG, then you can recoup costs in a couple years. But not everyone beats down the highway in a 1ton truck everyday.

And there is nothing wrong with running older style tanks, yes they are heavy, but so is the rest of your truck. And the comment on CF about running out dated tanks, as always this is ill advised but there haven't been any accidents LOL

On a side note, they put in a new station in Mount Vernon. Hopefully its run better than Clayton runs REI
 
It is I'll advised for a good reason likely. 3600 psi can be some deadly pressure. There was a CNG Honda that caught fire back some years ago and the tank blew out of the car and was propelled a quite a velocity. The firefighters we're on scene but luckily no one was hurt. The tank suffered from what they called a BLEVE which is a boiling liquid expanding vapor explosion. CNG accidents are rare compared to some third world countries were accidents happen frequently but they still do happen and before I would slap a CNG kit on my truck I would take some caution to understand the type of tank, the proper DOT approved tank straps, proper lines, good quality regulator... This was the Honda if was an arson fire. I read that Honda did a recall and made some changes after the incident.
CNG_Tank_landing_2.jpg
 
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The biggest problem with CNG is that it is still in the infant stages, unless you live in a large metro area the infrastructure in order to run it isn't there. I looked into it this summer a little and the closest filling station is 160 miles round trip for me.
 
I have done lots of research on the tanks myself as well. I can promise you that my tanks are bolted down properly as well. I do run high pressure lines that are rated to 6K psig also. They will handle all 3600 easy. If you are up near mount Vernon I would be willing to make a trip up sometime it's not that far away from here and you could see in person what I have done.


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That's a nice offer, but I work with a guy that does CNG conversions. I just work up in Mount Vernon, live 45min south. And I agree that even though pressures are high, everything is rated 3 times higher than it needs to be, otherwise none of it would be DOT approved.
 
Well just thought I would offer. I work for a company that delivers natural gas locally to the Columbus area.
 
What do you mean? Added in, or 100% CNG? It has less btu's, but they rate it in GGE (gasoline gallon equivalent) to keep the mileage comparable. You'll lose about 10% HP with no other changes on a gas vehicle, but octane is well over 100 so there is room for improvement with timing adjustments.
 
JWhite said:
What do you mean? Added in, or 100% CNG? It has less btu's, but they rate it in GGE (gasoline gallon equivalent) to keep the mileage comparable. You'll lose about 10% HP with no other changes on a gas vehicle, but octane is well over 100 so there is room for improvement with timing adjustments.
Click to expand...

Just all around. I know with diesel you supplement it like with propane.
I'm assuming with gas engines you could run something like an ethanol tune to make more power?
 
From my personal experience, you can't run more timing on a diesel. But like you said, on a spark ignition engine, high compression and timing can be run. FWIW factory CNG Honda civics run almost 12:1cr, and Mitch from work runs 13:1 in his BBC k20 street truck and tows with it (dedicated cng)

I don't have any insight on E85 or related fuels but I assume its higher octane too
 
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