Diesel vs Gas Generator

[H3Jim]

I had a GMC pickup with a 350 that ran on either propane or gas.  While on propane, it had less power and got poorer fuel mileage. 

When researching it, I found that engines that run on propane will last far longer than those that run on gas, provided oil and maint is performed regularly.  Even to the point of finding hone marks on the cylinders of engines with over 100k miles.

[Jeremy]

FYI
1 gallon of propane = 91,000 Btu
1 gallon of gasoline = 124,000 Btu
1 gallon of diesel = 139,000 Btu

1 Killowatthour of electricity = 3412 Btu

from:
http://www.eia.doe.gov/kids/energyfacts/science/energy_calculator.html

Fair enough - I guess that's some compensation for diesel costing more at least.

Regarding propane; there are a lot of vehicles here (including my Range Rover) that can run on LPG as well as petrol, as LPG is vastly cheaper. I don't know the exact differences betwen LPG and propane (another Google search for someone), but I think the two are essentially interchangeable, although you're not supposed to run LPG-equipped cars on propane. The flow rate on LPG systems can be set so that the power output is the same as on petrol, but the fuel consumption is noticably higher - the price difference still makes it much more economical though. I don't really know what difference LPG makes to your engine wear (it is apparently less 'lubricating' than petrol, which can give specific problems), but it certainly make the engine run more cleanly, which can be seen by the colour of the oil each time you do a service.

Jeremy

[TomC]

Properly setup propane engine can last as long as a Diesel engine.  Point- one of the propane delivery companies here in town (L.A.) has an old Ford Louisville with a 391 truck engine.  At 500,000mi, the crank just plainly broke.  They dropped the pan replaced the crank and bearings, did a compression test on it and it is still running with over 800,000 miles on it to date.  We had a fork lift that stayed outside all the time with a cover and when we remembered, would change the oil once a year.  If you can find a propane built engine with 10:1 compression (look at Onan) you could have a very long lasting generator.  You only need a big tank-but I know Manchester tank makes 80 gal DOT approved tanks.  Good Luck, TomC

[jjrbus]

 I read your post Jeremy and thought propane= LPG= liquid propane gas, they are all the same. Of course being a member of this group I learned some thing new!!
 
Liquefied petroleum gas (also called LPG, LP Gas, or autogas) is a mixture of hydrocarbon gases used as a fuel in heating appliances and vehicles, and increasingly replacing chlorofluorocarbons as an aerosol propellant and a refrigerant to reduce damage to the ozone layer.

Varieties of LPG bought and sold include mixes that are primarily propane, mixes that are primarily butane, and the more common, mixes including both propane (60%) and butane (40%), depending on the season—in winter more propane, in summer more butane. Propylene and butylenes are usually also present in small concentration. A powerful odorant, ethanethiol, is added so that leaks can be detected easily. The international standard is EN 589.

Varieties being the key word !!!!!!

[kyle4501]

To add to what jjrbus said,

From:
http://www.eia.doe.gov/glossary/glossary_l.htm

Liquefied petroleum gases: A group of hydrocarbon-based gases derived from crude oil refining or natural gas fractionation. They include ethane, ethylene, propane, propylene, normal butane, butylene, isobutane, and isobutylene. For convenience of transportation, these gases are liquefied through pressurization.

[fe2_o3]

We have a 4 cyl propane powered Continental driving a 7.5 kw Kohler, and an 80 gal fuel tank for all propane systems. Change the oil and coolant every few years and she's good to go. Last propane fill was 4 yrs. ago (about $1.00 a gal.). I like it...Cable