Anyone know anything about propane injection? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

truckinik · #1 01-19-2007, 12:53 AM

So I've been told a few things about propane injection over the years but was left to come to my own conclusions.I was told it does the same thing for a diesel,that nitrous does for a gas job,...true/false?
I know nothing about it aside from that but would like to.Any insight would be appreciated.thanks guys.

#2 01-19-2007, 12:58 AM

It's just adding a second fuel.

Save your time and money. Turn up the full load adjustment, same effect for free.

OMEGAMAN · #3 01-19-2007, 01:19 AM

I think there is more to it than just adding fuel. I have read that propane continues to burn for the full length of the piston travel long after the diesel fuel has stopped burning and no longer pushing on the piston. If this is true I can see why it would give better economy and a lot of power. Years ago you could by natural gas setups for diesel engines. It was supposed to increase mileage and burn cleaner.

truckinik · #4 01-19-2007, 01:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ForcedInduction

It's just adding a second fuel.

Save your time and money. Turn up the full load adjustment, same effect for free.

Ok,thanks,
What's the full load adjustment,and where do I find it?
Sorry to bug,just never did any kind of work beyond oil changes,filters,and glow plugs yet on these diesel cars.All I've done was rip out the engine and replace it with a 383 stroker chev.w/t-56 six speed to one of my 79 300cd's.Never really explored leaving one in one piece,until recently.

justinperkins · #5 01-19-2007, 01:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ForcedInduction

It's just adding a second fuel.

Save your time and money. Turn up the full load adjustment, same effect for free.

deja vu

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=176642

pawoSD · #6 01-19-2007, 01:45 AM

Turning up load adjustment = potential engine damage if not done in a specific and controlled way, if this was all there was too it, they'd have done it at the factory.

Get it running as best as it can stock, thats the best way to have it. If you think its still too slow, then buy a 420SEL or 560SEL or something, as an ancient diesel is unlikely to fulfill your desires for speed

#7 01-19-2007, 01:54 AM

The 79 300CD has very little room for improvement. No turbo, so there is no extra air to burn more fuel.

You best option for power is to trade it for a 1987 300D or (As pawoSD suggested) something like a 560SEC if you still want a coupe.

truckinik · #8 01-19-2007, 05:33 AM

I've got a 560sec,amg,euro with more than 300 and change horses,and a good sized little collection of other assorted fast exotic cars,and this collection of 123 cars.I just have a habbit of not leaving well enough alone I guess.Almost none of my vehicles are stock,including some of my tractor trailers,especially the one I've got myself in.Thanks you guys all.I appreciate the input.This isn't on my list anymore as a possibilty for improvements to the car,anymore.I thought this would be equivilent to installing nitrous oxide into the car,based on what a punk 18 year old kid told me when I saw the propane tank in the bed of his F-350SD 4X4,and asked him about it.I'd never seen it before,or even heard of it,so I guess in my inquistion about it he saw my naivity,and ran with it.

lutzTD · #9 01-19-2007, 07:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by truckinik

I've got a 560sec,amg,euro with more than 300 and change horses,and a good sized little collection of other assorted fast exotic cars,and this collection of 123 cars.I just have a habbit of not leaving well enough alone I guess.Almost none of my vehicles are stock,including some of my tractor trailers,especially the one I've got myself in.Thanks you guys all.I appreciate the input.This isn't on my list anymore as a possibilty for improvements to the car,anymore.I thought this would be equivilent to installing nitrous oxide into the car,based on what a punk 18 year old kid told me when I saw the propane tank in the bed of his F-350SD 4X4,and asked him about it.I'd never seen it before,or even heard of it,so I guess in my inquistion about it he saw my naivity,and ran with it.

I have been in a propane injected, lifted f-350 and it is no joke. that thing was creating a ton of hp and torque. one of the fastest vehicles I have ever been in, compared in accelleration to corvette Z06 or a viper

JackG · #10 01-19-2007, 07:41 AM

ok....now ya'll got me thinking. How is propane put on the car? how much is needed? any good links on this subject?

SwampYankee · #11 01-19-2007, 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JackG

ok....now ya'll got me thinking. How is propane put on the car? how much is needed? any good links on this subject?

Powershot 2000 by DPP
http://www.diesel************************/home.html

You can get crazy amounts of h.p. and torque out of the Duramax, Powerstroke and Cummins when combining the propane injection and a Bullydog or Banks Six Gun computer tuner (and they do a pretty damn good job on their own!).

I won't be the first one experimenting on a MB, but would be real interested in seeing the results of anyone brave enough to do it!

probear · #12 01-19-2007, 08:32 AM

I had propane on my truck until I changed injectors and really bumped the fuel delivery up. First things first:
(1) your fuel economy will be the same if you consider the fuel value of the propane
(2) you will have more power and it will burn cleaner than adding more #2 (read, lots less smoke)
(3) you need to make sure that you do not deliver too much propane
(4) it really works better on an engine with turbo/supercharged intake.
(5) on my truck, I went through one 20lb tank every fill up, which was 500 miles. My truck held 38 gallons of #2.

All things considered, it is probably one of the cheapest horsepower to cost mods out there. The PS200 system works off of manifold pressure. On the PSD, the usual range of manifold pressure is from slightly negative to 18 PSI. The PS2000 was set (this can be changed) to start coming on at about 4lbs positive boost. At idle and slow speeds, no propane but as you increased throttle, it would gradually increase.
On my truck, it gained about a second and a half in the quarter mile.

Oh, I have a PS2000 for sale.

mespe · #13 01-19-2007, 08:54 AM

I added proprane to my 1983 300SD. It increased Hp by about 10 HP (Just A guess) My setup was strictly experimental.

Here's the thread,,, alot of good info with drawings and pictures

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=160633

WD8CDH · #14 01-19-2007, 12:25 PM

I ran propane for many years in my '80 Audi 4000 both with diesel and VO. If done right, it will improve MPG. I could go farther on 9 gallons of diesel and one gallon of propane than I could on 10 gallons of diesel by it'self even with the lesser energy content of Propane. Much over 15% propane and you start to loose MPG (due primarily the energy content). I injected between about 2% propane at idle up to about 20% at WOT. The amount was actually controlled by both throttle position and engine RPM.

On a non turbo motor, you can't much more than 10% additional power but on a Turbo you can get much more. The propane seems to allow a more efficient burn so it can give both a power and an economy boost.

winmutt · #15 01-19-2007, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WD8CDH

I ran propane for many years in my '80 Audi 4000 both with diesel and VO. If done right, it will improve MPG. I could go farther on 9 gallons of diesel and one gallon of propane than I could on 10 gallons of diesel by it'self even with the lesser energy content of Propane. Much over 15% propane and you start to loose MPG (due primarily the energy content). I injected between about 2% propane at idle up to about 20% at WOT. The amount was actually controlled by both throttle position and engine RPM.

On a non turbo motor, you can't much more than 10% additional power but on a Turbo you can get much more. The propane seems to allow a more efficient burn so it can give both a power and an economy boost.

I remember reading on turbos is was something like 30%