Anyone know about CNG Conversion Kits?

[Scarpozzi]

I live in Tennessee and travel to Utah at least a week a year...sometimes more. Every time I'm out there I see the CNG pumps and am amazed that gas is around $.65-.70 per GGE. It makes me want to get a commuter car and convert it for novelty and early adoption. (in other words, long term investment)

I am going to have to get a fuel system to compress the natural gas and know that's an additional cost. I figure if I do this now and make or buy a bi-fuel vehicle, I only have to operate it 3-4 years not counting rising petrol inflation to make it pay for itself. I don't expect any kickbacks from the government because I would do the conversion myself on the cheap.

I'm having trouble locating valid links because most of the google searches come back with India specific conversions. I'm looking for something to convert a Honda 4cylinder, Ford 302(4.9L FuelInjected), or Buick Regal 3800 GM Series II.

Does anyone know what kits are the best or what manufacturers I should look at? Where can I get the best CNG tanks for the money?

Any specific forums? Links? Articles?

 

[Uhtrinity]

There was a thread on this topic on Insight Central

Hope that helps.

 

[thecoolnessrune]

Didn't old Dodge Vans come with CNG conversion kits as part of the options YEARS ago? I believe I saw many working at a hotel chain my second time to orlando.. But it would seem that late 90's dodge vans came with the option.. I used to be heavy into cars when I got my first computer in 1998. So I know I'm not just thinking it for nothing..

 

[Scarpozzi]

The primary manufacturers I've seen with CNG options are F150s, 1999-2001 Chevy Cavaliers, Ford Contours, and the Honda Civic GX. The F150, Cavaliers, and Contours are all bi-fuel options where the Honda Civic GX is a CNG only car.

The more I've been reading, the more I've found that converting a car myself may be difficult because the EPA has to approve each car and kit before they're street legal. I'm hoping I can find what I'm looking for for my cars, but I'm going to continue looking around and calling up companies to see what the dollars and sense of the whole thing is. The break-even-point is going to make a difference....as well as the convenience since fill-ups take 4-6 hours if I get a home-fuelmaker.

 

[MovingTarget]

I've seen a lot of Caprices and Crown Vic's converted to CNG. I'd like to convert mine but there's no way in he** that it would pass EPA inspection. Luckily my state doesn't do emissions testing.

 

[LordMorpheus]

I've seen a ton of CNG crown vics. Moslty fleet vehicles for one governmental agency or the other (haven't seen the cops use them, though. Apparently CNG conversion reduces power (less energy in the fuel) and I can't imagine a highspeed pursuit with a large tank of high pressure natural gas in your trunk ...).

There's a town between here (Houston) and San Antonio that has a ton of billboards advertising CNG for vehicles.

 

[dug777]

LPG private vehicles are incredibly common here.

http://www.ausindustry.gov.au/...-459C-B07A2EFBDB3D4AF7

CNG isn't, except for buses.

 

[CraziFuzzy]

I was going to recommend you stop by cngchat.com for your answers, but I see you already have. As for cng car availability, there are quite often used fleet vehicles going up for sale. Check GSA auctions, as well as some dealers that specialize in CNG vehicles (cngmotors.com for one). There are quite a few fleet cars out there that are not actually conversions, but were actually built to run on CNG at the factory. It was very common 10-15 years ago, but car manufacturers have sense gotten out of the business (retarded government pressure to go towards the lesser hybrid/ethanol/hydrogen markets). This is what has caused the surge in conversion manufacturing, because the fleets are so used to CNG vehicles, and have great infrastructure set up for it, and can no longer get the factory cars.

Some of the factory CNG vehicles I know of are:
Ford Crown Victora
Ford F-150
Ford Econoline
Ford Contour (bi-fuel)
Chevy Silverado/GMC Sierra
Chevy Cavalier (bi-fuel)
Toyota Camry (rare, short production run)
Honda Civic GX (only one still in manufacture, and only vehicle to EVER be sold to public consumers as CNG vehicle. Currently in very high demand - wait listed, and limited to certain states.)

I myself have been driving a 97 Crown Vic for a few years now, and have really liked it. My wife just bought a converted bi-fuel 2000 Expedition, though I'm not sure if it is an EPA certified kit. I doubt it is. We'll see how it goes come emmissions check time.

Welcome to the 15-20 year old 'new thing'. Rising gas prices have really pointed out to a lot of people that CNG really is a good thing. As a result, the used CNG Vehicle maket has caught on fire. CNG Vehicles are worth twice what they were three years ago. Utah's generous fuel subsidation program has cause a lot of this. Nearly all used CNG vehicles sold in the last year have headed towards Salt Lake. $0.63/gge statewide is quite the incentive!

Good luck in your search!

 

[iamwiz82]

The home fueling station seems pretty cool. Fill 'er up and night and you are good to go for a long time.

 

[CraziFuzzy]

Home refueling will be nice when I get around to it. Still, it's a good idea to know where and if there are any public fill stations in your area. If you have a dedicated CNG vehicle, running out of gas is a pretty bad thing. A gas can won't cut it for ya, it's tow truck time.

 

[Droptop]

I live in Utah and keep looking at the low natural gas price $0.63. I am looikng around for natural gas conversion kits as well but so far it's been difficult. My approach was to pick up a LPG tank (i think they are DOT rated to 450 psi) and use it as a natural gas storage tank in the back of my small pickup. My rough calculations tell me I should be able to go about 40 miles per tank it I pump it up to 300 psi. 40 miles is enough for my commute.

Crazifuzzy, where are the storage tanks placed in your wifes expedition? What kind of range do they offer?

 

[CraziFuzzy]

I cannot discourage you enough to not use that LPG tank for CNG. LPG is stored in a liquid state, at a relatively low pressure. CNG, as what will be sold at those 63 cent stations around utah, are either 3000# or 3600#. CNG requires a specialized tank, most common ones now are aluminum or steel, wrapped in a composite matrix. They are rated for up to 7500#, and are certified to the same crash safety as a gasoline tank.

My wife's expedition was converted by a ford dealer when it was new, using a then legal conversion kit. It has two cylinders underneath where the spare tire used to be. It holds about 7gge of CNG, so is good for 80-90 miles. It also still has the stock 25 gal gasoline tank, for longer trips, or trips out of station range.

If you want to use that LPG tank, please, only use it for LPG. Also, go to cngchat.com. It is a forum dedicated to the CNG industry. There you will find people with all the information you need. Currently, the biggest hurdles to converting a vehicle, are EPA certification. There are only a handful of certified kits, so they are quite expensive.

If you are in Utah, there are a surprising number of shops there that do conversions, but as you can imagine from the high demand, prices are not cheap. If you do not do a lot of driving, it may not be cost effective to convert, and you should instead shop for a factory cng car, or one that is already converted. Check ebay, craigslist, and cngmotors.com.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

Yup, make sure you don't confuse propane for CNG. It's like confusing methanol for gasoline.

 

[rickymicky]

There is actually a way to convert your vehicle over to CNG, and you can install it yourself. I just found a website - CNGOutfitters.com. I think the kit is around $1500. which comes with instructions and a DVD that shows you how to do it. If you can change your air filter or your spark plugs, you could probably install it yourself. They also can install it for you (located in St George, UT, but more later), and it wont cost a ridiculous amount of money. I've already ordered my kit, it should be in next week (installing it myself). Not sure where I will put my tank, but looking forward to finally driving my Xterra again. I like it much better than my wife's Altima

 

[CraziFuzzy]

be aware that the galileo kits sold by that site are not legal for use on US roads. If you live somewhere where you have to have smog checks, you will not pass. Also, that site currently does not have any tanks, I believe, and the tanks are the most expensive part of the system in most cases.

Obviously, I cannot stop you from throwing your money at this, but understand, that when you get a massive spike in a demand for a certain item (like CNG) many MANY non-reputable companies will always spring up trying to take advantage of the situation.

 

[imported_hollywood]

I'm new here! but CNG is huge in Utah...I bought a kit recently for 2 vehicles from a company here in SLC.. They are awesome! Easy to install...I'm going to do to my boat next...$5.20 to fill up? Who's the MAN!!!! Not Galileo.. This stuff was claen and easy... Need any info? I'm the guy!
Chow 4 now!

 

[CraziFuzzy]

My guess is that if your kits were 'easy to install', meaning that you were able to install them yourself, then they were not legal for on road use in the united states. To my knolsedge, every company that DOES make legal kits does not sell them to anyone by "certified installers". SLC is the hotbed of this illegal activity right now, because it's where the highest demand is.

 

[Bignate603]

I contacted a company about this a while ago. You can't install these kits legally on emission controlled vehicles. However, I was considering it on an old jeep that I have. They only check tail pipe emissions while running on a dyno so it would pass with flying colors.

I saw a F150 up for sale that had the factory CNG setup. I should have grabbed it while I could.