"Dealer Conversion"

[greerengineering]

I have a 2000 Tahoe and the seller said the CNG system was a "dealer conversion" and that it was the same as an OEM system but instead of being installed by the factory, it was installed by a dealer. Is there any truth to that? If so, is there any information available that describes the 2000 Tahoe OEM CNG system? I'm also in need of the window sticker to use for the differential cost part of the tax credit form. Any help is appreciated! Thanks!

[Lakewood90712]

Re: "Dealer Conversion"

[QUOTE=greerengineering;14543]I have a 2000 Tahoe and the seller said the CNG system was a "dealer conversion" and that it was the same as an OEM system but instead of being installed by the factory, it was installed by a dealer. Is there any truth to that? QUOTE]


NO

[CraziFuzzy]

Re: "Dealer Conversion"

There were dealers in AZ back in 2000 converting vehicles, but these are not 'factory' conversions. My Expedition was converted when new by a ford dealer in phoenix using a Technocarb conversion kit. It is certainly not a factory job though.

There is the advantage though, that unlike the Ford Factory bi-fuels, my expedition has no 'CompuValve', and instead uses all common worldwide available parts (Mostly italian).

[afvman]

Re: "Dealer Conversion"

Greenengineering,

Every conversion SHOULD have an underhood sticker with information on the conversion shop, cylinder capacities, expiration dates and contact info.

Any EPA certified system MUST have a label with the details.

Check to see if you can find one.

If not, take some pictures of the equipment and we'll help you identify where it came from.

B/R,

afvman

[greerengineering]

Re: "Dealer Conversion"

Greenengineering,

Every conversion SHOULD have an underhood sticker with information on the conversion shop, cylinder capacities, expiration dates and contact info.

Any EPA certified system MUST have a label with the details.

Check to see if you can find one.

If not, take some pictures of the equipment and we'll help you identify where it came from.

B/R,

afvman

Thanks for pointing me in the right direction. I'll do some recon today and look for the sticker. BTW are you still living in OH? I spent a couple of years living there, some of which was near Canal Winchester. It's a nice area.

[greerengineering]

Re: "Dealer Conversion"

I was unable to locate any CNG sticker under the hood. I'll try to take some photos and gather some information to post here.

[CNGfamily]

Re: "Dealer Conversion"

I was unable to locate any CNG sticker under the hood. I'll try to take some photos and gather some information to post here.

I too have a 2000 Tahoe... if I have your twin, I'd be happy to share any info I have, just let me know

note that I'm not the original owner and don't have the sticker, etc.

[helmsman]

Re: "Dealer Conversion"

I just saw a Tahoe that looks identical to your description on eBay...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Chevrolet-Tahoe-LT-2000-Chevrolet-Tahoe-LT-CNG_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ6156QQihZ003QQitemZ130247461208QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

Amusingly enough, it's a 2000, and in Arizona.

[Highmarker]

Re: "Dealer Conversion"

FYI,

Most (if not all) of these '00 and '01 SUVs were converted by dealers under what was known as Option 3 of the EPA. Option 3 was done away with in April of 2002. It essentially allowed a CNG kit manufacturer to legally sell and install their kits while they were going for FULL EPA certification; all they had to do was prove that the vehicle was cleaner on CNG than on gasoline. Of course, you know what happened. This opened the door for any kit manufacturer to legally sell and install their kits without ever going for FULL EPA certification. Most of the kits installed in Arizona during 2000 and 2001 were from Eco Fuel out of Canada. If your vehicle has the FMS console then it is an Eco Fuel system. I know some people have had these systems for 8 or 9 years with no problems at all. However, some people have had serious problems with them. These systems are good clean systems, just not EPA certified. In fact, the state of Utah does not allow a vehicle with a kit installed under Option 3 to be eligible for the Clean Fuel Clean Vehicle Tax Credit.

Your best bet is to locate the dealer who installed the kit and sold the vehicle. If there is anything in the glove box, or maybe pull a carfax report. This might show something done at the dealer.

[CNGfamily]

Re: "Dealer Conversion"

... I know some people have had these systems for 8 or 9 years with no problems at all. However, some people have had serious problems with them. ...

I got mine from Murphy about two years ago (ECO system). Even with the dinky 4 GGE tank I'm able to run CNG about 80-90% of the time. The only issue I've had to date is that I needed to get the pressure transducer replaced.

[CraziFuzzy]

Re: "Dealer Conversion"

I've only had me 2000 dealer conversion (Technocarb, not ECO) for a few months, but with it's 7 gge tank, we still run on CNG most the time. I did have to rebuild the regulator, as it had a leaky gasket, but it was easy enough to do with the rebuild kit I got straight from Technocarb.

[ashtonmotors]

Re: "Dealer Conversion"

Those Eco Fuel kits are great kits. We see alot of them come through our shop. The regulators will frequently start to leak antifreeze after about 8 or so years but other than that they are really reliable.

Regarding the EPA stickers, I have never seen a certified EPA sticker under a hood yet. We have factory Ford CNG vehicles and factory Chevy vehicles in our shop every day but none of them seem to have any EPA certified stickers under the hoods. I know that these are certified vehicles, so what is with the stickers?

[larrycng]

Re: "Dealer Conversion"

The underhood label and/or a label at the fueling connector has been a requirement of NFPA 52 for several versions, section 6.11.1 in the 2006 version

I know one guy that was working at the company doing many of the conversions in Phoenix, and I'd bet tha he made sure there were stickers.

There were 2 version of the company I'm thinking of, the first version had a lot of problem and a not so good reputation. The second version of the company really cleaned things up. They were using ECO systems. I also ran an IM240 on their dyne with my LP F-250 -- ran clean.
When I was there, there was a big bunch of higher buck SUV's in parking lot waiting to be converted.

later

Larrycng

[ajgiorgi]

Re: "Dealer Conversion"

I just got a newsletter from ngv global stating that BAF got EPA and CARB certification for f series and e series vans. It also said that dealers would be selling them already converted to customers. Nice.

Check it out for yourself.

http://www.ngvglobal.com/en/market-developments/baf-secures-carb-epa-approvals-for-ford-f-series-02085.html