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The Pros And Cons Of Running Your Auto On LPG
With what seems like no end to the rise in fuel prices, more affordable options are necessary. One such option is running your car on liquid petroleum gas. LPG is a parallel product produced with gas. It was thought to be waste for the longest time and even burned as such by some petroleum factories.
The list of pros far outweighs that of the cons, which are substantial at the moment, but do not pose any hurdles that cannot be overcome if government and product producers are so inclined.That being said, let us first take a look at the cons. In order to use LPG, an ordinary gasoline or diesel vehicle needs to be converted.
The required conversions are sold as a kit. For the most part, an option is available for most passenger vehicles today. The downside is that the EPA has just imposed more stringent regulations. Although the conversions are available; finding one that meets the regulations is more difficult.
Over 4,000 LPG refueling sites can be found within the US. Unfortunately, none of them are open to consumers around the clock. Because of that, LPG technology cannot be utilized without backup. All vehicles that use LPG technology do so with a combination two fuel engine, an engine that runs on both LPG and gas or diesel. In case you should run out of Liquid petroleum, the alternate fuel source is automatically used.
Liquid propane has a lower vapor pressure than regular gasoline and when temperatures start to dip, it drops even further. To prevent a vehicle from not starting the alternate source is once again used and then the LPG takes over. The switch happens automatically so the driver does not need to learn anything special about when to switch the fuel source.
Other reported negatives are that there is less energy in one gallon of liquid propane than in the same amount of gasoline. The driving range is about 14% less than that of regular gas. The cost is higher priced than compressed natural gas (CNG) and gasoline.
On the opposite side of this coin, there are many advantages. LPG burns very efficiently and very cleanly. When you run it in your car, 70% less carbon monoxide and 80% fewer hydrocarbons are released in the air. Some hydrocarbons may also be released during refueling, but this can be controlled with special refueling valves. EPG is not water soluble and it does not pollute underground water sources because it evaporates when released from the tank.
Unlike regular gasoline, liquid petroleum burns clean. Clean burning means less emissions and less, in fact, no carbon buildup in your car engine. Gas leaves carbon buildup that causes your car to run poorly and become noisy. With an octane rating of over 100%, LPG burns more completely. Burning more completely means leaving nothing behind and less emissions, no build up, and a quieter smoother running car.One could say using liquid propane equals less air pollution and less noise pollution.
LPG has drawbacks. The personal and environmental advantages warrant further investigation into using it as an alternative for gas. Several other countries worldwide are using it.
The list of pros far outweighs that of the cons, which are substantial at the moment, but do not pose any hurdles that cannot be overcome if government and product producers are so inclined.That being said, let us first take a look at the cons. In order to use LPG, an ordinary gasoline or diesel vehicle needs to be converted.
The required conversions are sold as a kit. For the most part, an option is available for most passenger vehicles today. The downside is that the EPA has just imposed more stringent regulations. Although the conversions are available; finding one that meets the regulations is more difficult.
Over 4,000 LPG refueling sites can be found within the US. Unfortunately, none of them are open to consumers around the clock. Because of that, LPG technology cannot be utilized without backup. All vehicles that use LPG technology do so with a combination two fuel engine, an engine that runs on both LPG and gas or diesel. In case you should run out of Liquid petroleum, the alternate fuel source is automatically used.
Liquid propane has a lower vapor pressure than regular gasoline and when temperatures start to dip, it drops even further. To prevent a vehicle from not starting the alternate source is once again used and then the LPG takes over. The switch happens automatically so the driver does not need to learn anything special about when to switch the fuel source.
Other reported negatives are that there is less energy in one gallon of liquid propane than in the same amount of gasoline. The driving range is about 14% less than that of regular gas. The cost is higher priced than compressed natural gas (CNG) and gasoline.
On the opposite side of this coin, there are many advantages. LPG burns very efficiently and very cleanly. When you run it in your car, 70% less carbon monoxide and 80% fewer hydrocarbons are released in the air. Some hydrocarbons may also be released during refueling, but this can be controlled with special refueling valves. EPG is not water soluble and it does not pollute underground water sources because it evaporates when released from the tank.
Unlike regular gasoline, liquid petroleum burns clean. Clean burning means less emissions and less, in fact, no carbon buildup in your car engine. Gas leaves carbon buildup that causes your car to run poorly and become noisy. With an octane rating of over 100%, LPG burns more completely. Burning more completely means leaving nothing behind and less emissions, no build up, and a quieter smoother running car.One could say using liquid propane equals less air pollution and less noise pollution.
LPG has drawbacks. The personal and environmental advantages warrant further investigation into using it as an alternative for gas. Several other countries worldwide are using it.