[Slik pak]

I've been reading up on this very recently, is this plausible? I've seen quite a few LPG tractor around here that are ancient, but those were built to be LPG tractors. How difficult would it be to convert diesel to natural gas? also, how would this affect a turbocharged diesel engine? Would I have to run more/less boost?

 

[CADplans]

I've been reading up on this very recently, is this plausible? I've seen quite a few LPG tractor around here that are ancient, but those were built to be LPG tractors. How difficult would it be to convert diesel to natural gas? also, how would this affect a turbocharged diesel engine? Would I have to run more/less boost?

Actually, I think the conversions are gasoline to LPG, at least that is what my two forklifts were.

LPG spark ignites REAL well. :fing32:

Every big grocery store buffs the floors with a Honda powered, spark ignited, propane buffer (or similar).

Natural gas ought to be similar. :dunno:

 

[SonnyT]

Like cadplans said, gas to lpg. don't think you can easily if at all change a diesel to run lpg. For one, they are not setup to provide a spark.
Diesel compression ratios are also different and you also, would have to change out all the injectors and fuel pump and add a distributor and spark plugs.

 

[donmac]

diesels use propane for hp boost ,like a gas engine uses nitrous!the compression is too high for straight propane!diesels run direct injection of fuel where lpg is introduced as a vapour with the air mixture!

 

[CADplans]

diesels use propane for hp boost ,like a gas engine uses nitrous!the compression is too high for straight propane!diesels run direct injection of fuel where lpg is introduced as a vapour with the air mixture!

Does that avatar pic have that accessory? It looks like it has everything else! :dunno:

 

[TooManyGT]

It can be done but is usually liquid injection with very high pressures.The expense of it for a minor return probably isn't worth it honestly.

 

[Slik pak]

Thanks guise, I didn't even think about the compression ratios or the spark plug issue. I know some diesels use heat grids instead of glow plugs.

 

[rscurtis]

You could add NG as a make-up fuel into the air intake, and use the diesel as a source of pilot ignition. This is commonly done on large multi-fuel engines. I know of one TDR member who did this with his Dodge with excellent results. You can do this because the diesel process always has excess air, allowing an additional fuel to be burned. BNSF railroad is experimenting with this in this manner using LNG and diesel fuel for idle and pilot ignition. Anticipated savings are over $1billion per year, even after the extra cost of handling a cryogenic fuel. It involves an extra fuel tanker for the locomotive, but that's no problem for a RR.