Using Natural Gas Vehicles: What You Need to Know
Will I get the exact miles per gallon and performance from the vehicle?
Contrary to common belief, Methane has a higher BTU content than gasoline. The oxygenated fuel additives like methyl tert-butyl ether (MBTE) used to boost oxygen levels and decrease emissions affect the energy density of the gas.
Gasoline BTU Calculations
A gallon of unleaded summer petrol costs almost $114,500.
A gallon of unleaded winter gas costs $112,500.
112,000 for MTBE-based summer blends
Ethanol mixtures with a summertime octane of 110 or
BTU levels of natural gas that include ethanol throughout the winter months average 112,210
114,000 BTU constant for diesel fuel use
129,500
Diesel, at 129,500 BTUs, is the most expensive and powerful option. Most gas stations don’t disclose that they blend 10% ethanol with their gasoline since they’re not required to, yet most of them do.
How Can I Tell If a Car Was Dedicated or Converted?
Specialized automobiles
Uses only natural gas as fuel.
Highly reliant on compressed natural gas (CNG) filling stations
Overheating fuel cannot be shut off.
Adapting engines to operate with no lubrication and extreme temperatures is a costly endeavor.
Expensive upkeep
Lessening of HP and Torque
Less traveling
High costs of conversion
Adapted automobiles
Gasoline or natural gas powered
Combines diesel and natural gas for fuel.
Boosts ball-flight distance by 100%
While driving, flip a button to switch fuel types.
Uses gasoline or diesel as engine oil, then changes to natural gas as the primary fuel.
Cost-effective upkeep
Power and torque boosted
Extended range
economical transformations
How Does a Direct Injection CNG Kit Differ from an Aspirated One?
Ambitious: These systems represent the ground floor of technology. Aspirated kits are more affordable and easier to set up than alternative methods. Their closed-loop controller uses data from an oxygen sensor to maintain optimum performance. Because the air intake must be reduced for these systems to function, their performance is restricted. It is usual for aspirated CNG kits to cause the “Check Engine” light to come on. Carburetor-equipped classic automobiles are the target audience for this program.
Intramuscular Injection. When it comes to CNG Conversion Kits, nothing compares to these systems. A powerful CPU supports the built-in automatic correction and calibration mechanism. These systems are more expensive than aspirated kits due to their sophisticated technological design and higher performance. They’ve made great strides in development recently. The most up-to-date versions of these systems incorporate a 32-bit microprocessor, electronic sensors, and injectors into the vehicle’s existing electronic architecture. This is the most efficient and effective use of fuel. The “Check Engine” light is unacceptable in these setups.
Is There Anything Different About Car Maintenance for CNG Conversions?
Engines that run on natural gas are functionally equivalent to their gasoline counterparts. A spark plug ignites a mixture of air and fuel that has been sucked into the engine’s combustion chamber via the intake manifold. A dealer, auto shop, or professional technician should be able to handle most engine care needs. The retrofitter is responsible for fixing any issues that arise due to the retrofit, such as a broken injector or loose compression fittings.
Will I have higher upkeep costs because of the conversion?
Converted automobiles only need half as many oil and filter changes as regular vehicles. Reduced wear on moving engine parts like pistons, valves, and cylinder head walls can be attributed to CNG’s ability to preserve oil viscosity. Oil stays cleaner because the gases are burnt more thoroughly, not leaving behind toxic or dirty carbon deposits. Using CNG also helps the engine last longer since the oil film that forms on the cylinder walls is kept in check. Unlike gasoline or diesel-powered vehicles, oil-powered vehicles benefit from this confinement since it keeps oil from spreading to other areas of the engine.
Tools for Change
Conversion kits for gasoline to compressed natural gas can be run on either gasoline or natural gas. The natural gas is stored in a compressed natural gas tank. Having a second gas tank effectively doubles the vehicle’s range. You may save much money on gasoline and upkeep with a bi-fuel conversion. Your engine will last longer without getting dirty due to incomplete fuel combustion. Oil and filter changes are minimized as a result of these adaptations. The fuel’s lower emissions mean your vehicles will last longer.
Dual-Fuel, or Diesel CNG Conversion Kits, combine diesel and natural gas. As a result, significantly less costly diesel fuel is used. Your gas mileage will improve; you’ll need to change the oil and filter less often. The density of the air/natural gas mixture increases. The greater power and torque result from the higher density of this mixture. Your trucks and buses will last longer thanks to the cleaner fuel you’re using.
Advantages of the Car
CNG-Powered Vehicles, Including Trucks
Due to the presence of ethanol and oxygenated fuel additives in gasoline, natural gas’s BTU content is higher than gasoline’s (125 vs. 90).
Saves about 40% on fuel and maintenance costs.
It burns cleanly without igniting, preventing banging even in high-compression, high-efficiency engines.
It burns entirely with the right proportion of air to natural gas at room temperature.
Because the engine oil is cleaner, you’ll need to change it and the filter less frequently.
No sediments form and the spark plugs are regularly inspected and cleaned. The engine cylinder walls are not washed of oil.
There is no corrosion risk from combustion gases. Exhaust pipes and silencers have a longer lifespan when metals are protected.
Gaseous fuel has the advantage of preventing corrosion of metal surfaces and eliminates scanning activities in the cylinders during rapid acceleration.
Even at low direct speed, the engine displays outstanding performance versatility during accelerations without anomalies or backfires.
Pushing a button while driving allows CNG-to-gasoline conversions in some converted vehicles.
The car’s range is doubled because of its CNG/gasoline bi-fuel system.
Cleaner and quieter operation is achieved with CNG adaptations.
Vehicles can go over any landscape, including mountainous ones. In May 2008, a truck carrying 37 tons crossed 4,800 meters in the Peruvian Andes.
CNG is reliable in any weather. The car can be operated anytime, regardless of the weather, because the gasoline will not freeze.
Once the system has been inspected, it can be removed and installed in other vehicles.
There are primarily three parts to converting a vehicle.
Kits for Converting to Compressed Natural Gas
Gasoline Storage Tanks
NFPA-52 High-Pressure Accredited Components
There are several options for installing the CNG tank. The trunk or the truck’s bed are the most common storage spots. The methane travels via a filter and a high-pressure fuel pipe into the engine. The peak pressure will be lowered to around 36 PSI thanks to the newly installed 2-stage regulator. The new noise reduction injectors will release the gas. The system’s electronic control unit (ECU) is responsible for regulating the flow of natural gas and is set up to work with the vehicle’s preexisting fuel mapping. Sensors and computers determine the optimal fuel-air mixture. Vehicle performance is unaffected by CNG conversion kits.
Filling up at a compressed natural gas station is as quick as filling up with gasoline or diesel. Your driving distance will be doubled thanks to the two tanks. Gasoline is still necessary for starting, lubricating, and preheating the engine. CNG conversion kits have built-in safeguards against extreme heat and harsh weather and road conditions changes. If you face a steep hill, need to brake hard, or accelerate quickly, your fuel system will automatically switch back to gasoline to provide the extra power you require.
Automobiles that have been converted are fully functional. Changing to a new fuel system requires no permanent changes and may be undone quickly and easily. Engine devices and controls are not tampered with, and the fuel system is not changed using a reputable manufacturer’s sequential port injection system. No breach of anti-tampering laws has occurred because no tampering has taken place.
We R CNG is a nationwide provider of premium CNG conversion equipment and training, with a home base in historic St. Augustine, Florida.
The most extensive inventory of reasonably priced CNG tanks
Available in any quantity of any size
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