Running a Jet Ski on Propane....

[Cannibal]

So, this place has been a little slow lately. Here is something that has crossed my mind recently.

First, some facts:

Propane has an octane rating of 100-110

Gasoline contains about 125000 BTU of energy per gallon

Propane contains only about 90000 per liquid gallon

So, only about 72% of the energy.

I believe an engine built for 100+ octane gas converted over to propane could put out close to the same power as an engine built to run on 92 octane gas. The increased compression may even give a bit more bottom end boost as well.

Of course you would need to run oil injection since there would be no way to "premix" the propane and oil.

I would set it up to run those small Coleman style propane tanks and I'd run 2 at a time. Run one until it runs out, then switch over with a valve. There are ways to refill those small propane tanks with a 5 gal BBQ tank and that's what you'd bring with you.

Thoughts?

 

[WaveDemon]

sounds more expensive.

 

[LIVE2RIDE Powersports]

The schwans trucks run on propane.

 

[suva]

http://blizzard.rwic.und.edu/~nordlie/moped/propane/conversion.html

This guy did it super ghetto style to a moped.

 

[Waternut]

Sounds exactly like all the E85 downfalls. Plus I highly doubt those small camping cylinders would get you much more than 5-10 minutes combined between the two of them.

 

[red_ak_ranger]

would be cheaper at times. LPG is a government set price.

 

[Cannibal]

I don't know how long a camp cylinder would run, but it would have to be done better than that moped one. Maybe run 4 or 6 cylinders in a rack with a single cylinder reserve? If the camp cylinders don't work, they make some 2 gal aluminum cylinders as well.

It's used on forklifts and fleet vehicles all over the country, and in regular automotive use, in many other countries.

Offroaders love it because there's nothing to slosh and round and leak if you roll over.

It is actually a very efficient fuel source since you are injecting just gas vapors, no liquid to atomize.

I'd be the you could find a 100hp system for a decent price from a fork lift. Tuning would be a b!tch though.

 

[Motorheads5]

Propane system's need quite a bit of engine heat to operate, a (liquid system) usually has a vaporizer mounted right to the exhaust manifold on a 4 cycle engine and a (vapor system) has engine coolant running through the fuel regulator. I think if this was even a practical application which it's not. I think you would have a problem keeping the fuel regulator from freezing!

 

[Cannibal]

I totally forgot about the regulator and having engine coolant running through it. How about I run a dry pipe and run the liquid propane through the jacket on the outside? Haha.

I know kind of a crazy topic, but I'm bored. I had a job interview today and never put my work clothes on.

 

[Crab]

would be cheaper at times. LPG is a government set price.

its not regulated here, they can and do charge anything they want.

 

[Motorheads5]

I am pretty sure the only goverment set price on fuel is natural gas from a Municipal pipeline.
FYI I just filled up by barbecue tank saturday and it is $3.54 a gallon here.

 

[FlightPlanDan]

You might be suprised how long those camp cylinders last! I use my camp grill almost daily. A cyl lasts about 9 meals.
I don't know how much more/less a motor would use.

So, 2 cyliders should last for an 18 meal ride. lol

 

[Cannibal]

Ya, any time I need to fill my cylinder, I call around to the 4 places that have it and go where ever is cheaper.

The one issue with the camp cyl, not sure if one would flow enough for WOT runs?

Might be able to run your hot water from the head through the regulator before going overboard? I don't know. It might be possible to do something like this?

 

[Crab]

i am pretty sure the only goverment set price on fuel is natural gas from a municipal pipeline.
Fyi i just filled up by barbecue tank saturday and it is $3.54 a gallon here.

1.45

 

[Cannibal]

$2.35 here

 

[Crab]

If this was for a 4 stroke couch I would say its doable, but otherwise why downgrade a perfectly good 2 stroke, even burning E10 sucks....thank god we still have a few around here E10 free.

 

[Cannibal]

Ya, we still have E10 free right down the road (Shell). However, every other station around here (and the other Shells) are all E10. I got myself an Ethanol tester and I'm going to test it next time I'm there. If it is E10 and there's no label (there isn't), and I've been going out of my way to get gas there for years, there just might be some legal action taken. I won't get gas anywhere else unless I have to. So I'll be really pissed if it truly is E10.

 

[Crab]

Ya, we still have E10 free right down the road (Shell). However, every other station around here (and the other Shells) are all E10. I got myself an Ethanol tester and I'm going to test it next time I'm there. If it is E10 and there's no label (there isn't), and I've been going out of my way to get gas there for years, there just might be some legal action taken. I won't get gas anywhere else unless I have to. So I'll be really pissed if it truly is E10.

If its an independant station they are not required to do it YET>>>> the little station out by ocean shores before you turn left to go into town still had the good stuff as of this spring. They told me they think a mandate may be coming down the pike requiring all stations to switch over, problem is older fuel tanks don't do well with the ethanol as it absorbs water. FYI, E10 does not have near the same BTU as good 92 octane fuel, very noticible in both of my modded ski's.

http://www.fueltestkit.com/list_e10_engine_damage.html

 

[WFO Speedracer]

If you are gonna go then go big,fawk LPG go with CNG it has a better octane rating than gasoline the drawback is the fuel tank has to be super duty no bottles,custom built tank only.

 

[The Penguin]

Ya, we still have E10 free right down the road (Shell). However, every other station around here (and the other Shells) are all E10. I got myself an Ethanol tester and I'm going to test it next time I'm there. If it is E10 and there's no label (there isn't), and I've been going out of my way to get gas there for years, there just might be some legal action taken. I won't get gas anywhere else unless I have to. So I'll be really pissed if it truly is E10.

the ENTIRE area surrounding Houston is required to sell gas with 10% ethanol. I have to drive damn near an hour to find gas without it.