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95.5-2004 Tacomas & 96-2002 4Runners 4th gen pickups and 3rd gen 4Runners

Anyone ever seen one of these before?

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Old 03-01-2011, 01:38 AM
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Anyone ever seen one of these before?

this thing is WICKED!!

perfect for converting the 3RZ to 'pane!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Tacom...Q5fAccessories
Old 03-01-2011, 03:36 AM
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propane won't flood the carb like fuel does. You shoving vaper into the carb not liquid.

A propane powered rig will run with the vehicle sideways and possibly even upside down. Try that with an EFI truck. It will be impossible. why? Fuel pickup tube wont have fuel sitting over the tube and fuel pump will not get fuel.

Now power loss either with propane either.

A propabne kit is pretty stand alone. Other than ignition timing. Only issue I see with the EFI is a CEL because you have removed the injectors and o2 sensors. Still have to deal with a way to control timing though.



Old 03-01-2011, 06:40 AM
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Originally Posted by Singtoe
Direct LPG injection is the best route. Using a mixer (carburetor) is pretty inefficient. Power wise and fuel mileage wise. What are you driving, a forklift truck?

Here is a link for Direct LPG injection -LPG Conversion

Using this system is awesome. You have the ability to switch between LPG and Gasoline at a push of a button. The Factory ECU is used with it so none of the check engine lights come on. Lpg is much kinder to your engine. Engine oil lasts 10k miles easily.


Bring it back to stock is just as easy. Just remove system and plug everything back to its original configuration.


There is a power loss when switching to LPG. Propane has about 10% less btu value then Gasoline so it will reduce the power by that much. But LPG carries a higher octane rating ( about 100 or so) so a turbo or super charge will accommodate the loss.
Sounds like you have done some homework on LPG power. I was looking into the pros and cons of this and one possible con that came up was the engine runs hotter. But I don't know if the guy had good info or not, do you? Thanks for your thoughts.
Old 03-01-2011, 09:02 AM
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Ok, thanks for the info.

Originally Posted by Singtoe

LPG - is liquid propane. Cars can't use liquid propane, they need it to be vaporized so the motor can use it.
On this point my propane BBQ grill doesn't have any problem vaporizing the propane at ambient temps above freezing anyway. I never tried to fire it up when really cold though. Why is the boiler needed, for cold weather maybe?

Last edited by mt_goat; 03-01-2011 at 09:25 AM.
Old 03-01-2011, 09:54 AM
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Originally Posted by Singtoe
Here in NC, we have these big Pig cookers that use Propane and during the winter time, i have seen the outside of the LPG tanks freeze up and not supply enough gas to work the stove.


For the Automobile, it needs more vapor then the tank can vaporize on its own. So the boiler is needed all year long.
Ok, good to know! I guess CNG wouldn't have that problem?

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Old 03-01-2011, 01:01 PM
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In Brazil back in the 80's, there were a lot of taxi drivers converting their VW bugs to run on propane tanks. These were similar to the BBQ propane tanks you see here except made of heavier steel and used by a large percentage of the population for regular ranges. The bugs ran great, as long as they had no leaks or accidents. Then they became bombs. The conversion in tropical Brazil was super simple, if seriously scary. It was also highly illegal, especially for taxis, and I think the practice has largely disappeared. I don't believe any boiler was needed.
Old 03-02-2011, 04:27 AM
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Lindsay Law has a sweet swet up for LPG - He's on TTORA:

http://www.ttora.com/forum/member.php?u=2147
Old 03-02-2011, 04:38 AM
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this is why I subscribe to threads like this. Great info guys. and ladies.

Didin't realize the OEM fuel system is still utilized in the pan setup.

I wish a guy in this area have a build thread somewhere, if he does, I haven't found it. Even on pirate, but someone was converting a 22rt to pane an also turboing it. I was told it's a perfect setup. At least for a trail rig.
Old 03-02-2011, 04:50 AM
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Originally Posted by Lysmachia
Lindsay Law has a sweet swet up for LPG - He's on TTORA:

http://www.ttora.com/forum/member.php?u=2147
Thanks Molly, I found a thread about his setup: http://www.ttora.com/forum/showthread.php?t=42524
Old 03-02-2011, 06:07 AM
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CNG is what everyone around here is converting to now. My neighbor drives a company CNG pickup. Places to fill up are springing up all around me: http://newsok.com/oncue-express-addi...ad_story_photo

http://newsok.com/loves-adds-cng-at-...rticle/3544187

Oil is over $100/bbl as I speak, gasoline well over $3/gal, CNG $1.39/gal equivalent...I want my truck to run this!

Last edited by mt_goat; 03-02-2011 at 06:23 AM.
Old 03-02-2011, 07:19 AM
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Originally Posted by Singtoe
I researched CNG and it has even less power then Propane. So your milage would drop significantly.
Wouldn't the mileage be included in the "gal equivalent" calculation?

Originally Posted by Singtoe

The other iffy thing is that the storage tank has to be hydrostaticly tested every couple of years.

I watch my friend have his tank filled up and there is like 5000 psi in that tank. Plus, as it was being filled up, it got hot. (which is normal).

LPG tank is a lot lower pressure levels, but it cost more. And - can't get CNG here in NC.
Yeah that sounds like an over all plus for LPG.
Old 03-02-2011, 07:34 AM
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Originally Posted by mt_goat
Ok, good to know! I guess CNG wouldn't have that problem?
CNG can still freeze.

heck, gasoline throttle bodies freeze, which is why they have radiator hoses
to warm them up

most anytime you have a gas expand it will cool down a lot as heat
gets sucked into the gas to drive the expansion, therefore cooling
everything else around it. if it ices, cloggage
Old 03-02-2011, 08:03 AM
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Originally Posted by BigBallsMcFalls
CNG can still freeze.

heck, gasoline throttle bodies freeze, which is why they have radiator hoses
to warm them up

most anytime you have a gas expand it will cool down a lot as heat
gets sucked into the gas to drive the expansion, therefore cooling
everything else around it. if it ices, cloggage
You make a good point, just not sure its exactly the same problem I was referring to, the problem of getting liquid propane to vapor fast enough. I guess its the same kind of problem though. Both are expansion, just one is from a liquid state.
Old 03-02-2011, 09:01 AM
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Originally Posted by Singtoe
Let say, that all tanks are equal.

Gasoline - 18 gallon tank would 300 miles
LPG - 18 gallon tank would get you 260 miles
CNG - 18 gallon tanks would get you 240 miles.

Cost
Gasoline @ $3.40 per gallon x 18 = $61.20 / 300 miles = $0.204 per mile
LPG @ $2.75 per gallon x 18 =$49.50 / 260 miles = $0.190 per mile
CNG @ $1.39per gallon x 18 = $25.02 / 240 miles = $0.104 per mile

So the LPG conversion might offer a savings of 1 to 2 cents per miles.
But the CNG would yield 10 cent per mile cost savings. It would cut you daily operating cost down by half.
Excellent info
Old 03-03-2011, 07:03 AM
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Originally Posted by space-junk
this thing is WICKED!!

perfect for converting the 3RZ to 'pane!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Tacom...Q5fAccessories
So would that be better for converting than just doing something like this?

Old 03-03-2011, 07:22 AM
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sub'd. i need all the info i can get
Old 03-03-2011, 07:40 AM
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question: for the regulator, does it need to be heated? and if so, what is the source? (ie- if it's water-heated, where does it tap in?)
Old 03-03-2011, 07:41 AM
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Ok, good to know.
Old 03-04-2011, 06:00 PM
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great info on this thread...

and it all came from a stupid ebay find...
Old 03-06-2011, 09:57 PM
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worst mpg here i come lol



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