Four tanks underneath...

[CNG Advocate]

Hi, I'm the proud owner of a 96 dodge ram 2500 (12 passenger) van, dedicated natural gas.
I'm just wondering about the four tanks that I can see underneath my vehicle.
I understand that one of the few drawbacks of natural gas is that the compressed air takes up more space than liquid gasoline... but I'm wondering if it REALLY takes up that much more space?
I fill up and can go about 170 miles before having to fill up again.
Am I using ALL of those tanks? Or is it possible that I could possibly have tanks underneath that aren't hooked up or something like that? It just seems like that's a lot of tanks and maybe I should be able to go further...
Thanks for your insight!

[Lakewood90712]

Re: Four tanks underneath...

Range sounds about right. At a true 3600 psi SLOW FILL@ 70 deg. f. , a 100 liter liquid capacity tank will hold 8 gge of cng ( in the laboratory).

In the real world , not in the lab , That will be about 6.5 gge useable.

IIRC , the dodge each tank will hold about 3gge (in the lab ) .

Time for the dodge experts to chime in.

[gringostar]

Re: Four tanks underneath...

Hi, I'm the proud owner of a 96 dodge ram 2500 (12 passenger) van, dedicated natural gas.
I'm just wondering about the four tanks that I can see underneath my vehicle.
I understand that one of the few drawbacks of natural gas is that the compressed air takes up more space than liquid gasoline... but I'm wondering if it REALLY takes up that much more space?
I fill up and can go about 170 miles before having to fill up again.
Am I using ALL of those tanks? Or is it possible that I could possibly have tanks underneath that aren't hooked up or something like that? It just seems like that's a lot of tanks and maybe I should be able to go further...
Thanks for your insight!

Hi, I had that same van at one time. Luckily, you can turn off each of those tanks individually since there are 4. What you should do is do a little test. Turn each one on individually and write down how many miles you get out of each. In the end, you'll be able to see exactly how many miles your getting. I had a 1994 Plymouth CNG that went 75 miles more on dead E. Also, 4 is it. You get no more and no less.

[roldham]

Re: Four tanks underneath...

Just did some work on one of these vans with 4 tanks underneath. The owner had added 3 more tanks in the back for a total of seven. The crazy thing is that there is no master shut off valve, just the 7 valves on each of the tanks.

[cowboy]

Re: Four tanks underneath...

I have a 96 dodge van it has 3 tanks down under two where the stock gasoline tank would go and one on the left frame rail and it all so has one behind the front seats as it is a former power co truck no one rides in the back it also apears to be stock with a good fill 3600 at 70 degrees it will go right at 300 miles

[cnghal]

Re: Four tanks underneath...

My stock 95 with 4 tanks gets right at 200 miles before I have to switch to extra tanks. I have squeeked out 210 once with nothing but highway miles on a full fill.

[djkenney]

Re: Four tanks underneath...

I have an OEM Dodge Ram 1500 pickup truck with one large tank in the bed. What size of tanks can I install underneath were the normal tank would have gone if I were to check KSL for used tanks?

[pb4ugo]

Re: Four tanks underneath...

Hi, I'm the proud owner of a 96 dodge ram 2500 (12 passenger) van, dedicated natural gas.
I'm just wondering about the four tanks that I can see underneath my vehicle.
I understand that one of the few drawbacks of natural gas is that the compressed air takes up more space than liquid gasoline... but I'm wondering if it REALLY takes up that much more space?
I fill up and can go about 170 miles before having to fill up again.
Am I using ALL of those tanks? Or is it possible that I could possibly have tanks underneath that aren't hooked up or something like that? It just seems like that's a lot of tanks and maybe I should be able to go further...
Thanks for your insight!

I have a '99 version of the same van. I'm getting about 170 between fills, too. I was quoted about 200 before the previous owner had the fuel light turn on, but I have not been so lucky. I have not been able to get above a 2800 psi fill, though. I'm also due for a tune up, you may be too.