HOW TO: Propane
 

Propane:

When Propane is added to the air intake usually the horn it ensures that all the Diesel is turned into Power.

When propane is used properly, it will keep your engine cleaner with less carbon buildup and cleaner oil. Propane is a high-octane fuel and burns slower and longer therefore, propane will help diesel burn more thoroughly, increasing horse power and torque. With propane your engine should last longer, get better fuel economy and have significantly more power.

By fumigating the air intake with propane, there are dramatic increases in horse power, torque and diesel mileage. Exhaust temperatures are only slightly increased and in many cases decreased. It is one of the safest horsepower increases on the market.

Diesel Performance Products LLC:



POWERSHOT 2000™ PROPANE INJECTION KIT

The Powershot 2000® propane injection system for turbo diesel owners who are looking for more power for towing increased mileage and throttle responsiveness out of their vehicles.

With it's innovative and patented design and method of propane delivery, this system is unique to other systems on the market and has overcome many of the drawbacks encountered with earlier designed injection systems.

The Powershot is an infinitely variable-stage vapor injection system. It is controlled, activated and proportionate to the boost pressure of the engine. The Powershot comes on slow and steady and as the boost increases, so does the flow of propane. More boost=more propane=more power! It is fully adjustable and can be customized for your specific application in minutes for towing, performance or mileage gains.

The easy-to-install Powershot system will safely and substantially increase horsepower (up to 100hp) and torque (up to 250 ft lbs). This unit is a must for towing and all- around performance increases. Modest mileage gains are an extra bonus.

The system installs in about two hours and requires no permanent modifications to the vehicle or engine. The quality of the components is obvious: Custom LP regulators /Parker fittings, safety features such as custom auto/off rocker switches located inside the cab, and an automotive LP fuel lock-off solenoid valve located at the tank. All of the regulating is done at the tank eliminating the need for under hood installations and further enhancing safety concerns. The custom regulator maintains a constant tank pressure regardless of outside temperatures and delivers consistent, usable power at all boost levels.

Powershot 2000™ Propane Injection kit for turbo charged diesel engines by Diesel Performance Products:

* Optimizes engine performance by increasing throttle response, torque and horsepower.
* Increases fuel mileage.
* Can decrease diesel emissions-fuel burns cleaner, oil stays cleaner
* Improves towing capabilities.
* Simple, patent pending design provides for easy installation and virtually no maintenance.
* No Hobbs switches, converters, mixers or sensors to adjust or hassle with.
* Makes your truck FUN TO DRIVE. - Guaranteed!





Bully Dog Propane Charger

Propane Kit 80 hp (adjustable) #010800

DOWNLOAD INSTALL MANUAL

DIY:

Do It Yourself

Supplies:
1 20lb propane bottle
1 acetylene gas regulator (any wielding shop will have it, its a low flow regulator and fits perfectly to propane bottle)$60-$70
1 propane flow valve for a propane fueled car or truck (any propane gas company can order it, its a simple on off valve with a solenoid)$30
1 standard automotive toggle switch ($2)
1 roll of teflon tape or fitting sealant ($2)
1 pack of 12" zip ties ($2)
1 roll of red wire ($3)standard automotive wire
1 roll of black wire ($3)
12-28ft of hydraulic hose with 1/4" fittings on each end (you need to measure how many feet of hose you will need, from where tank will set to air box) Also get it in two different sections, both with male-male fittings (you will see why later)
2 washers, 1 lock washer, 1 nut to fit the end of hose where it is inserted into air box

Ok, now to to put it together.


Drill hole in airbox so the 1/4" fitting of one of the male-male hoses so it fits into the airbox. Put one flat washer on outside of fitting and on the inside put the other flat washer, then the lock washer and the nylon lock nut. (I will leave out stuff like, "tighten the nut" in the instructions)

Ok, now run the hose down the back of the motor and under the truck along the frame using zip ties to secure it. When you get to the other end of the male-male fitting put the propane valve on (its has female 1/4" fittings on each end) Put Teflon tape in the male end of hose and tighten "TAP" (tight as possible).

Ok, now take the red wire you bought and secure it to the screw on top of valve solenoid (only real place it can go) run the rest of the red wire into the cab of truck (we will come back to toggle switch)

Ok, now connect the male end of your other male-male to the valve with teflon tape and "TAP", then run it along the frame to the place where you put the tank. Put Teflon tape on that end and secure it into regulator using "TAP".

Now go into cab and wire up your toggle switch, I use the toggle switch that lights up when the circuit is open or on.

Now connect the regulator to tank and turn on gas (make sure the truck is "NOT" running) Turn the regulator until about 4psi is showing on gauge.

Make sure the toggle switch is off and start truck, THEN THE MOMENT OF TRUTH, flick the switch, you will notice the engine difference. If you don't notice a difference then the switch is not wired right.

Turn switch off, get on hwy and flick the switch, you will notice a slight difference. Pull over and turn up psi .5 and do it again. Do this until you find the right psi setting for your truck. Usually between 4-7psi, if engine makes a slight pinging noise then turn the psi DOWN .5

Thats it, of course how much propane you use depends on how much you use it. I get pulling a load in hills around 300-500 miles or so. When you need a boost of pwr turn it on and when your need for the xtra power is done turn it off.

Now alittle info about propane and diesel. Propane is a very stable and mild gas. It gives diesel fuel the ability to give a complete burn. This means more power and a cleaner engine. Hydraulic hose works great, its about $2 a foot and you can get it made at most auto parts stores. Stop and think about it, hydrolic hose is rated to handle thousands of psi and all you are running is 4-7psi. It is both wire and rubber mesh. Propane will not harm it in any way. If you are nervious you can add a "flash back" fitting to this (get it where you got the regulator) it stops any flame from reach the tank through the hose. I do not use one, but that's me.

The total time took to rig it up was 2hrs. The toggle switch was the hardest thing for me and they are easy. So if I can do it you can. It saved me $800 on a "pro" setup. Of course how you secure your tanks is up to you. I keep mine in my tool box and the hose runs out the botton of it.

The propane when turned on flows into the airbox and is sucked into the engine, yes mine is a turbo and it will not harm it or ignite it. Propane really is very stable.


thought this would help out anyone thinkin about propane...

RESOURCE: DM :U:

thats awesome.

good job thanks for the contribution bud :rocking::ok1::5:

i spent like a week week and a half looking for a DIY article on this and i finally found one and what do you know! DM wrote it:yeah:

awesome. i think i might have to give this a shot. does anyone have pics of the install?

I think this thread should be a STICKY. Thats great info Thanks.:U::c:

no pics yet probably in the next week or two when i myself actually get it installed

WOW, I really like this, Thanks.

Can I run the propane hose to my Banks air intake horn?

Pictures would be excellent!

i got it all hooked up but i have a problem...when the switch is shut off the gauge tops out and when you switch it on its a big jolt than pretty much nothing...i will figure it all out then post up the pics

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im not sure about the intake horn... all you have to do is drill a hole in your intake tube... that to me would be easier but you have to get an answer from someone more knowledgeable about this stuff...im more of a second hand resource

sounds like ya need to adjust the regulator or something along those lines

i havent had a whole lot of time to try and fix my problem with the regulator but i have come to the conclusion that the regulator was junk when i bought it.

and one edit to the how to, prolly a better bet than the hydraulic hose would be to use fuel hose for a torch which you can just get from the place you pick up the regulator at.

i will try and get pictures up soon but who knows

this would deff be an interesting add to my IDI motor, now i gotta do it

this sounds awesome, but 2 questions, where do can you get a 20lb LP tank? I can get the 5lb tanks everywhere. Any MPG #'s before and after?

I would like to see some pictures as well.

a 20# LP tank is just a grill tank, thats all im running anyways. and i dont use it enough for it to effect my mpg but technically speaking you have to see an increase because its burning your fuel more completely... as for pictures, well im kinda lazy when i am home because its like 10 below outside and thats to cold for me. i promise they will be here someday just donno when, most likely once i get the new box dropped in for it.

can u leave the propane on all the time? what about start up? cold weather

from what i have read around and looked at kits and stuff you shouldnt turn it on till at the very min. of 15# of boost, plus by the time you get the propane set to where you want it your truck wont even run at idle with it on, at least mine wont.

havent ran it since its been cold out apparently my toolbox had a slight leak in it and the gauges got wet, froze and the clear lenses cracked off (havent had the best luck with the gauges)

maybe Chad will chime in here and let us know his experience with it....

you wouldnt wont to have it on when you start it up or when its cold on a dodge (i dont know about others) the grid heater it the intake could set it off.

ok so for the long awaited pictures...

this one is pretty self explanitory, i just drilled and tapped my intake tube, and silicone around it
https://www.dieselbombers.com/member...ne-install.jpg

then i ran the hose all the way back to here
https://www.dieselbombers.com/member...l-progress.jpg

you'll run the end of that into one these
http://i13.ebayimg.com/03/i/001/03/05/b36a_1.JPG

then i just ran a short piece of hose from the lock off valve to the gauges, and the obviously the gauge into the propane tank.

you can get the lock off valve on ebay, from "propane-kits" is the sellers name the part keyword is "PROPANE 12 VOLT FUELOCK, LOCK OFF VALVE 180 DEGREE" for 36 bones

once i remount the tank and get a new set of gauges i will post up more pictures....in about 3 months:w2:

Nice....thanks for the pics that definitely helps.

What kind of milage increase did you see?

i honestly have no idea, when i did have it hooked up it was only on for very short periods of time, just because i had injection rate set so high that unless i was runnin 20 lbs of boost my truck would quit running, which i dont recommend at all by the way.

and another thing with it is if you have your propane set to high, and running for a good distance drivin like you stole the thing, a stock tranny WILL over heat rather quickly....

not tryin to scare anyone away from doing it, cause the power gain are actually alot better than i thought they would be:choochoo: but deff. take your time figuring out the PSI you need to be running, its all trial and error really

On my Bully dog kit the regulator regulates the amount of propane by the draw on the inlet fitting. So its off at idle.

I haven't been around this at all - very interesting. Looks like to me it would be better to buy a pre-made kit rather than make your own? Maybe not - i like the idea of makin my own - would love to know more about this setup! :U:

Are you going out to do some tuning this weekend? Temps in mid 40s should be a good weekend. :U:

why propane why not straight oxygen regulated to a certain psi :humm:

propane helps burn the diesel more completely it mixes with the propane and makes a more efficient burn and hence more power, if your gonna add oxygen you might as well use nitrous would do the same thing

who sells diesel nitrous kits

i think alot of places but thats good question, alot of guys run a custom setup for nitrous



Here is a link to one set up:NOS Diesel Nitrous System - JEGS

can a guy use propane if he is using water methanol already :humm: by the way that is some great info on the install :U:

starting to remount the tank tomorrow morning, hopefully be done early enough in the day to run around and get the settings on the psi right, when i initially did it, it was like 4 in the morning so i didnt really have time to set it, run around for a bit, reset it, so on n so forth ya know? i WILL BE DONE this weekend or next for sure tho so as soon as i get it done there will be more on the psi and some pics on mounting the tank and that good stuff

and for the guy that said you would be off buyin a kit, if you got that much dough man go for it, i would:rocking:

i love this stuff. propane should be on the truck from the factory. i was a little scared at first but after cruseing around at hiway speed and getting 30+ mpg i am sold. hell one trip had the wind to my back and was reading mid to high 40s on mpg, take into acount the digital is about 10% off from calculated but before propane i was only avg. about 19mpg on the display.

I would like to know your mileage hand calculated. Then add in the cost of propane and see how much of savings it is:U: Curious if the cost of the propane kind of wipes out the increase in mileage:pca1:

:humm: :ph: Mid to high 40s on MPG ?? I wish i had a BS sign. LOL

This question has been asked before could you drill and tap the air intake horn for 1/8 NPT fitting? Pictures of set up would be great, this thread is the bomb...pun intended :U:

sounds great!!
 

I am going to have to try this on my old 6.9 . I don`t have a box , just the breather intake. I guess I could drill a hole in the lid right above the intake. I will pick up supplies this weekend. thanks:U:

u could for the hobbs switch but u need to inject the propane in the airbox so the turbo vaporizes it.

I have a 7.3 ford with lp injection the guy i bought it from put it on there he made a homemade box for it and bolted the brakets that hold the tank through the box and he also found like a 40 or 45 gallon tank out of like an old camper and put that in there... i turn the switch on once the truck is warm and i leave it on until i shut the truck off.. if i turn it on when the truck is cold it idels rough but then if i flip the switch off then the idle returns to normal so i only run lp once the truck is up to operating temp.. i found i gain around 2-3 miles per gallon more when running with the lp and alot more power... great investment

does that system have some way to adjust the pressure to match fuel and boost? or is it set just high enough to run decent at idle?

Good writeup but i must add something about your choice of hose...

DO NOT USE HYDRAULIC HOSE!

You need to use a gas rated hose. Normal hydraulic hose will get destroyed fairly fast if using gas/air. What happens is the gas penetrates the inner liner, forms gas pockets in the brading/under the cover and eventually blisters the hose. Most, if not all hoses made for compressed air/gas actually have a bunch of little pinholes in the outer cover and a different inner liner to prevent this kind of thing.

YES, this will happen even at low pressures, we have used hydraulic hose on torches before (in a bind and thats all we had) and within days it was blistered.

Just a little safety tip for ya, would hate to see someones truck burn down just because of a simple misunderstanding about hoses!



Aeroquip trained and certified - if you dont believe me, look it up :)

i thought i changed that in the write up but apparently i didnt. but for the record i did not use hydraulic hose, i just went to the local welding supply store and had em cut me off a piece of acetylene hose.

like you said, be sure you use a hose rated for gas, in addition be sure its rated for a FUEL gas like acetylene or whatever