Date:         Wed, 11 Apr 2001 01:17:58 +1200
Reply-To:     Andrew Grebneff <andrew.grebneff@STONEBOW.OTAGO.AC.NZ>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Andrew Grebneff <andrew.grebneff@STONEBOW.OTAGO.AC.NZ>
Subject:      Re: Propane / Natural gas power [was RE: re. curious item on ebay]
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

>My 1988 Syncro had a dual fuel system in it when I bought it - gasoline and
>natural gas.  The Digifant system adjusted quite nicely.  But and the
>biggest reason why I got rid of it is the total lack of power you got with
>natural gas (aprox half).  The thing is the higher the octane the less
>potential energy and the more fuel you have to burn to do the same work.  I
>am saving my natural gas stuff for when I have a 1.6L TD engine back there.
>Inject natural gas or propane into the intake system of a Diesel is like a
>shot of Nitrous Oxide in a gasoline car.  Just what you need for hill
>climbing in BC!

No reason why you can't run a diesel on straight natural gas. You'd need to
find out what air/fuel mixture to use, and how to adapt the pump for this.
I believe they are experimenting with CNG-powered diesels in Australia.
Should give:
better performance
no sooty exhaust particulates
no particulates so clean oil... so goodbye 5000km oilchanges!

Disadvantages:
bulky fuel cylinder
high flammability
nasty behavior when fueltank ruptures in fire
leaks much more likely than with gasoline

Jeez... *I* ought to find out about LPG for my diesel Corolla!


Andrew Grebneff
165 Evans St, Dunedin, New Zealand
fax 64 (3) 479-7527
<andrew.grebneff@stonebow.otago.ac.nz>
VW van (something for every man), Toyota diesel & seashell nut
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