Propane engine conversion

[Charles Akins]

Anyone know of a propane conversion of an Atomic 4. Can you even get a propane engine approved for marine use?
Advantages: Cook and cruse with same fuel. No ethenol and water problems. Able to take more safty measures with one rather than two fuel sorces.

Thanks.

[domenic]

Propane conversion for an Atomic 4...that scares yesterdays dinner out of me. In the event that turkey blew up, you’d be sailing 250 above the earth…and have no rudder control

[ndutton]

The dark side

I had my el Camino converted to propane back in the early 70's so I can speak from some level of experience. The problems:

1. Propane has slightly less therms than gasoline, you'll burn more fuel to achieve the same power.
2. I'm not sure how well the A-4's valves will tolerate the fuel. On a 1969 technology gas engine propane destroyed the valves in about 2 years. I wound up building a replacement engine with cobalt valves and seats. No problems after that.
3. Pressurized storage, about 50 PSI, requires a much higher grade fuel storage and delivery system.
4. Pressurized storage again, tank(s) must be cylindrical with spherical ends to handle the pressure. You won't be tucking that tank under the quarter berth.
5. Pressurized storage, round three, tanks must be provided with an overpressure relief valve to keep them from rupturing. Because of this even the little stove fuel tanks have to be stored in a hermetically sealed locker with overboard gravity venting.
6. Where/how you gonna refuel on a trip of any distance?

[Mo]

Not for me...I'd swim first.

About 20 years ago our Hospital Ambulance was propane (Military Hospital in Halifax)....it had no guts. An athlete on a 10 speed could take us off a light...and try to keep speed in a hill...360 engine with the guts of a 4 cly...it was embarrassing.

[Dave Neptune]

Oooh!

Charles, there are many that would work for the A-4, all you need do is look at small forklifts with the same approximate displacement or HP rating. You will also need to run the engine closer to 220 for a good running propane set-up. I have done a few and wrenched on quite a few. I also have suppplied some tooling to Ack Miller for their propane carbs. I have been considering it for my ole C-4 Corvette with a 383 and a turbo.
I really think it is not e good idea unless you have the room and the venting to support at least 3 cannisters.
And as per Hanley where do you get fuel IF you travel.
Propane is clean and fairly efficient if you can run at the temps that propane requires however at those temps the cabin will bemuch warmer and a heat exchanger is a must as well as a 210 degree t'stat.
It would be an interesting project and not that difficult, I just wouldn't recomend it.
I have been a bit involved in developing a fuel injection for propane to be controlled by a computer also.

Dave Neptune

[lat 64]

I brought up the subject about LNG last year, not much really to find.

Propane is heavier than air, LNG is lighter. The fire risk with propane might be about the same as gas.

[ndutton]

And as per Hanley where do you get fuel IF you travel.

Did he just call me Hanley? Well, I 'spose I've been called worse.

And where do you get and how do you transport fuel even if you don't?

[Dave Neptune]

OOps

Sorry Niel, no dis intended~but Hanley may have though that an upgrade for you.
Sometimes the typing starts and the brain just doesn't work well.

Per Russ, LNG would be pretty safe by comparison however I'm not sure how much power it can make. I have no experience with it.

Dave Neptune

[ndutton]

FYI, natural gas aka methane has about half the therms of propane. If stored in a liquid state (the 'L' in LNG) you'll need a cryogenic plant to maintain the extremely low temperature required - - around negative 250 F. Once it returns to a gaseous state either the volume or the pressure skyrockets. My partially full CNG stove fuel is currently stored at 1500 PSI in what looks like a SCUBA tank.

[joe_db]

I think the leak issue would be too much to overcome for an enclosed engine.

[sastanley]

We have an LNG dock (with storage tanks on shore) here on the Chesapeake. The ships that come in to the dock are B-I-G and look like they are housing a couple of nuclear reactors.

[edwardc]

We have an LNG dock (with storage tanks on shore) here on the Chesapeake. The ships that come in to the dock are B-I-G and look like they are housing a couple of nuclear reactors.

And that off-shore LNG pier at Cove Point is HUGE. I have Landsat photos that show it's clearly visible from orbit. At night, it's lit up like like a Christmas tree, visible from MANY miles up the Bay.

[joe_db]

The ships use the LNG for fuel too

And that off-shore LNG pier at Cove Point is HUGE. I have Landsat photos that show it's clearly visible from orbit. At night, it's lit up like like a Christmas tree, visible from MANY miles up the Bay.