Propane injection

Rik · 08-15-2002, 10:47 PM

Does anyone have any experience with propane injection? I don't mean propane power instead of gas, I mean gaseous propane inducted into the air cleaner of a gas engine as needed, such as when climbing hills (since propane is high octane). Any experience (as opposed to opinion) you might wish to share would be appreciated!

BobbyW · 08-16-2002, 05:29 AM

Hmm...Have you thought about Nitrous (NOS)? It sure works for the kids and there little Honda's. Would add about 75hp in bursts. Watch the movie "The Fast and the Furious" and you will see what I mean. They make systems for all kinds of vehicles.

-BobbyWright

Jim Clark · 08-16-2002, 09:34 AM

Have you thought about tearing up a engine. I see a broken crankshaft in the future. When I was in High School Judson made a supercharger for the VW bugs, worked great until the crankshaft broke. I would think the same thing would happen. Yes this is opinion not experience. I not sure you will find very many people who have added a gas injection system to a truck to help it pull a trailer up a hill, you may be on to something. The Fast and the Furious was a movie more fiction than fact.

74Argosy24MH · 08-16-2002, 09:52 AM

I will give my opinion also:

How will you replace the oxygen displaced by the propane?

I would never inject a fuel into an air cleaner.

Nitrous contains oxygen and is injected into the manifold or a base plate under the carb/throttle body. Systems have been designed and tested for many applications, I would go with that.

John

Jim Clark · 08-16-2002, 10:01 AM

What is the cost of NOS ? Can it be controlled or is it a burst? Can you give yorself 15 more HP or do you have to go for 75 hp? I can see my truck doing 90 MPH up a hill.

Here is a entry level kit. 50 to 150 hp.($370.00) I am ready for that bigger trailer now.

http://www.holley.com/HiOctn/ProdLin...NS/Sniper.html

DIMMER · 08-16-2002, 12:53 PM

Designed specifically for the Turbo Diesels. give a substantial power boost.

Acts as a catalyst to the diesel fuel helping it burn more completely and cleaner while also suppressing detonation.

Adds power boost for acceleration, passing or going up hills.

Typically reduces IAT [ air intake temperature ].

Cleaner combustion and can reduce emissions.

davidz71 · 08-16-2002, 01:33 PM

I've seen propane injectors advertised for diesel engines while Nitrous is for gas engines. There are simple NOS units that look like a 4 barrel carb spacer and others that are mounted off the manifold. A line then goes to a bottle filled with NOS. There are valves, solonoids (sp) etc and it usually works at WOT.

Rik · 08-16-2002, 03:47 PM

To elaborate a bit more... some years ago these units were advertised in magazines such as Trailer Life and MotorHome. They are simple units (and were very overpriced, IMHO), tapping into the existing propane line, with an electric switch on the dash controlling a marine-type on-or-off valve, and a flexible hose from the valve to a hole in the top of the air cleaner. Some had a single valve and switch, some had two. There was a fellow in Sacramento, CA that made his living installing them. I talked to him a few years ago. The advantage of this system over nitrous oxide is simplicity -- no need for an additional system. The main advantage is not extra power, but the ability to run full throttle up hills, due to the high octane of the propane. Nitrous, on the other hand, gives more power, thereby working the engine harder.

I was hoping that someone out there in Airstreamland would have had some experience with these units.

davidz71 · 08-16-2002, 07:25 PM

OK Rik,
I have been wracking my brain trying to remember the company in my Four Wheeler mag producing the propane injector kit and it came to me, ATS. Advanced Turbo Systems is at www.atsturbo.com and they are located in Salt Lake City, Utah. 1-(800)688-8726. Their advertisement says the Torque Pro 2000 is a propane assist system that can be added to any turbo diesel engine, giving dramatic increase in HP, torque, and fuel economy. You are right in that it acts as a catalyst with diesel fuel, burning almost 100% of the diesel in the cylinder, verses the usual 75-80%.

I wonder if they have a system for gas engines?

Rik · 08-17-2002, 02:44 AM

FYI, the octane rating for propane is somewhere between 103 and 110, depending on what source you believe.

toddster · 09-22-2003, 08:56 PM

Just yesterday I was watching Trucks on Spike TV (aka TNN) and they did a full install of a propane injection system as well as an NOS system on a Ford Powerstroke diesel. They got the HP well into the 450 mark. I probably would never opt for Nitrous Oxide on any vehicle I own, but the propane injection system does seem like an intriguing way to get a bit more power out of a diesel when climbing a grade. Any of you Isuzu guys try it yet???? Here's a link to the show's highlighted manufacturer.

http://www.bullydog.com/

davidz71 · 09-22-2003, 09:18 PM

toddster,
I thought it was a Chevy Duramax that the BullyDog Propane and NOS units were attached to. NOS gives better Oxygen and Propane increases the efficiency of the diesel and allows it to burn completely, something it does not do at 100%.

toddster · 09-22-2003, 11:57 PM

My bad... thinking back, you're right, it was the duramax. All apologies....

Still an intriguing concept.

Fun-Lovin · 09-23-2003, 11:34 AM

Two words before you think about installing a propane sniffer system on a diesel engine. "BE CAREFUL" After tearing down farm tractors due to engine failure that had the propane systems installed, we have been finding melted pistons. Sure they can increase the performance but at what cost? On a pickup you can get extra hp with a banks exaust system and k&n intake with less wear and tear the propane will cause.