Propane Valve Boosts MPG, HP

Propane Valve Boosts MPG, HP ENGINES Engines 33-5-39 By injecting a little propane into diesel engines you get faster speeds, more power, and a cleaner burn, says Craig Ridgeway, RMR Pro-Diesel Technology. Ridgeway says his Propane Enhancer, a patented progressive fuel valve, is catching on fast. He's installed the system on turbo-powered semis, field tractors and even pickups. "The secret to using propane is to deliver the right amount at the right time," says Ridgeway, who has been burning propane in diesel engines since he was a kid on the family farm. "If you deliver too much or not enough, you lose fuel efficiency." Ridgeway's valves are activated by the engine's turbo boost pressure. He offers a single-stage valve for use with boost pressure under 30 lbs. and a two-stage valve for pressure of 30 lbs. and more. As the boost pressure increases, more vapor propane is fed into the air intake, giving the engine only the amount of propane needed to maximize efficiency. Ridgeway explains that equalized injection into all cylinders is vital. If too much propane goes into the first cylinders in line, it can damage them because they won't get enough lubricating diesel. Each installation of the valve is specific to that particular engine. Ridgeway takes into account tire size, transmission, rear end gearing and whether the engine operates under heavy or light loads. "We have an advanced dynamometer in our shop that gives us an accurate reading of engine usage and exact settings for our system," explains Ridgeway. "If you can't come to us, we provide a suggested setting based on our records of installation on the same engine in a similar situation. Once installed, it can be fine tuned to get the optimum flow." Ridgeway has installed propane valve on more than 700 engines over the past four years with zero engine failures due to propane. RMR promotes an increase of one to three miles per gallon on over the road diesels. Ridgeway says he likes to be conservative in promises. His results, as well as customer reported results, point to much higher returns. "I've raised my mileage pulling trailers by 6 mpg," he says. "Overall, my Duramax Dodge has gone from 14 to 16 mpg to 25 to 32 mpg." Ridgeway has also installed his propane units on field tractors and bulldozers. He reports his 8640 Deere burned 16 gph pulling his 30-ft. chisel plow. Injecting only 1 1/2 to 2 gal. of propane per hour dropped diesel use to 9.2 gph. The increased power also let him double ground speed. "I put a system on a D4 Cat, and it boosted output from its rated 57 horsepower to 120 when using propane," says Ridgeway. "I've put mega hours on it pushing twice as much dirt as it used to do on diesel alone." He says the propane simply helps burn diesel fuel more efficiently. Typically, he explains, only about 75 percent of diesel used is burned. With the propane injected, efficiency jumps to 98 percent. "That's where we get our increased power," says Ridgeway. "We turn that wasted fuel into energy." Burning the diesel more completely reduces carbon buildup in an engine for longer engine life. It also cleans up the exhaust. "We had a customer from Utah take his truck in for the mandatory state inspection for particulate emissions," relates Ridgeway. "With our propane valve installed, his truck dropped from 11 percent particulates to zero." Ridgeway says he can literally see the difference on his 8640 Deere. "When I am burning straight diesel, I can see the shadow of the exhaust on the ground," he says. "When I turn on the propane, the shadow goes away." Ridgeway charges $2,995 for a valve and tank system installed. "When you put a pencil to it, you'll be surprised how quickly it pays for itself in fuel savings and extra power," he says. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, RMR Pro-Diesel Technology, 401 Main St., Jet, Okla. 73749 (ph 580 626-4583; fax 580 626-4584; info@prodieseltech.net; www.prodieseltech.net).

To read the rest of this story, download this issue below or click here to register with your account number.