Was starting to think with the gas prices that Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) might be a cheaper alternative. Has anyone on the forum done this? If so, was it worth it to you?

Thanks...Greg

I drove a Ford F250 in Canada that was converted. I drove it from Edmonton to Hinton (about 180 miles) and back on a service call to work on a computer at a lumber company.

It was years ago in the late 80's but some of my experiences with the truck are still valid. First of all I didn't notice any difference in power between a CGN engine and a benzene (gasoline) powered engine. But I have a light foot and don't hotrod so I never got the to top end.

I think that the truck got slightly lower mileage than a gas truck but at the time LPG was slightly lower in cost. My guess is that it was a wash, running LPG and gas were about the same cost. I have no idea with today's prices.

There was one unexpected benefit to running CNG. The truck owner said he only had to change oil one a year and even then it came out honey clear. CNG burns so clean your oil never gets dirty. That also increases engine life significantly. If you factor in the savings in oil changes and engine repair I think you will find running CNG is cheaper.

Now if you can just find some place to buy it in Texas :-( Every gas station in Canada sold CNG. There is one place in Austin that has it.

Thanks PvilleAngler, I appreciate the insight. I talked to a mechanic I trust yesterday and he indicated that his business has seen zero demand for this sort of conversion. It would be nice to talk to someone who does CNG or LPG conversions to get thier take....now I just gotta find one.

Back when I was growing up out in the country, there were lots of farmers using LPG. I guess that's gone by the wayside, but now that there is supposedly a cost differential of about 1/3 between CNG or LPG and gasoline, maybe the market will come around. About the only consumer stuff I've found is that Honda sells a CNG car, and also sells a CNG Refilling Unit that you connect to your natural gas line at home so you can fill your car up at home. That would be pretty sweet.

Thanks again. I'll keep researching....Greg

Better look at the LPG prices today...... $3.199 a gallon.

MSN had an article about CNG autos in UT (I believe), but they talked about how a it would cost $5 to fill up a honda civic. If you coverted it to a gallon of gas, it would cost .67 cents a gallon. You can get what is called a Phill, that hangs in your garage wall and will fill up you car at night. The Phill cost about $4500. CNG gas is much more expensive in Dallas, but if UT can do it, why can't we?

you also need a windsheild permit to use butane. in the l980's it was $80/year.

excuse me windshield.