How can I get from San Diego to Denver?

[Richard]

I am interested in driving a cng civic from San Diego to Denver
Colorado. I figure with a 8 gallone tank, and driving at 65 mph I can
coveraround 320 miles between fuels. Does AAA carry natural gas in case
I run out of fuel.

[CraziFuzzy]

Re: Mileage

AAA does not carry CNG. They will, however, tow you to a CNG facility within your towing range (depends on what level membership you have). The trip to Denver would not be easy. You could get to central Utah just fine, but the stretch without stations between there and Denver is about 375 miles. The alternative would be to go up through Rock Springs, as I believe the longest leg there would be the 230 miles segment from Rock Springs to Cheyenne.

Basically, the missing link for the trip would be filled if there was a station in Grand Junction, CO. This is an example of the advantage of bi-fuel'd vehicle. You could also, look into the addition of a second tank in your trunk.. The trip would be no problem then, with upwards of 500+ mile range.

[Beej]

Re: Mileage

I agree with Fuzzy, your best bet is the northern route thru WY. It'll take longer but the time spent will be well worth the savings in fuel. The key is to just stop at every station you pass. You never know the pressure you're going to get at the pump anymore so never pass up the opportunity to fill up. Plus you won't get a full 3600 psi in UT and that will affect your expected mileage per tank. Plan it out, make sure you have maps of all the stations you want to use and a couple back ups where possible, know their hours, payment, etc. Proper prior planning ... and all that.

Off topic, I suppose there are benefits of a bifuel in this case, but I do find it interesting how many posts I read here about all the problems they have switching between NG and the liquid stuff. Is it REALLY that much better to have a bi?

[Green GX]

Re: Mileage

Check out the trip planner at:

cngprices.com.

And if you have an internet ready cell phone, you can use:

mobile.cngprices.com

Bill

[CraziFuzzy]

Re: Mileage

Off topic, I suppose there are benefits of a bifuel in this case, but I do find it interesting how many posts I read here about all the problems they have switching between NG and the liquid stuff. Is it REALLY that much better to have a bi?

I can't comment on the factory bi-fuels, as I have heard about problems switching as well, but my wife drives an aftermarket (technocarb) converted bi-fuel 2000 expedition, and it has no problem switching from gas to ng and back. It doesn't autoswitch like the factory models, it only goes by the selector switch, so maybe that is the simplicity that makes it work more reliably. Basically, when she is driving on NG and steps on the gas, and it doesn't do anything, she reaches down and flips to petrol. A second later, she gets a shudder or burst of power, and it comes alive on gasoline.

Her drive varries greatly from day to day (traveling to bank branches all over our area), so there are times she just doesn't ahve time to fill up. The big gasoline tank really helps out in this case. IT also lets us use the vehicle for long trips, and for towing, which would not be all that possible if it was dedicated.

I, however, always drive the same route, so my dedicated crown vic makes sense.

[mecklen]

Re: Mileage

Google and cngprices.com indicate that Rock Springs to Cheyenne is 257 miles. The farthest I've gone in my GX is 230 miles (drive at 65 mph). You might be able to do it, but I'd drive slower than 65 and have a cell phone and my AAA card ready.

Please let us know how it goes. I've contemplated a Salt Lake -> Boulder trip myself.

[Carson Passey]

Across the country

This has been done many, many times. The problem is that some fuel stations take credit cards and some take fleet cards.

The other consideration is that where you fill up plays a huge part. For example, there are about 7 NGV fueling stations in Las Vegas. Only one works on the weekends. Most are owned by the government and the many people I have corresponded with have a difficult time fueling on them...

In Utah, for example, there is two wonderful fuel stations, but one, in Richfield, Utah, is out of the way unless your going on I-70. Near, Provo, there is a Flying Jay in Springville. This station is easy to use, has six places but there is a high demand. Last night at 10 p.m. however, there was a cool 3700 PSI for the fueling....which is nice. In Orem, on 800 North, the situation is quite different. Many fill up stations but one slow compressor.

http://www.altfuels.org/cleannbk.html

It is tricky... But done often....

[mecklen]

Re: Across the country

This has been done many, many times.

What exactly has been done many, many times? Driving from Salt Lake to Denver (or Boulder) in a Honda GX with an 8 gge tank? I'd love to hear from folks who have done this.

Who out there has driven from SLC to a Colorado destination in an 8 gge GX? Please speak up!

[OhMyGas]

Re: Across the country

Are there any privately owned 'fill-station' available on the longer stretches?
I.e. Phill or other FM units.
granted it will take a while to fill, but waiting for a AA tow also takes time. But an hour or 2 may just be what is needed - and so might be the break to relax.
I suggest to add to cngprices.com another category of fill-station for privately owned ones. Of course only of the persons are willing to share, maybe only post the zip-code on cngprices and use the PM system here on cngchat to communicate.
I am willing to share mine - the closest pyblic station is 22miles and a 1-1.5h fill on my phill would get you there.

[TheBundo]

Re: Across the country

What exactly has been done many, many times? Driving from Salt Lake to Denver (or Boulder) in a Honda GX with an 8 gge tank? I'd love to hear from folks who have done this.

Who out there has driven from SLC to a Colorado destination in an 8 gge GX? Please speak up!

He means driving 257 miles. It can be done, but strong hypermiling techniques should be used from the beginning of the tank, and 55mph or so max, considering there are no alternatives. And the station better be working on the far end.

[Curtis]

Re: Mileage

Everything said here is correct. You figured that your max range is about 320 miles. It is possible under ideal conditions but rerely do we get so lucky. Some thing to figure in when driving distances are as follows.
1) 99% of the time you'll not be able to get a complete fill based on Heat Expansion (if nothing else) and lower compressor pressures.
2) some areas are only 3000 psi to begin with.
3) Terrain (mountains & hills) and wind direction can mess with your mpg.
4) forget the A/C if you need to maxamize range.
5) call ahead to your intended station if it's at the edge of your range before you start out for it.
6) cngprices.com is your best friend, but double check info because a station that went down an hour ago isn't going to show up there.
7) If you're going to make a run at an extreme range, fill your tank the night befor (if possible) and top off at the highest pressure available to you just prior to departure to maxamize your range. If you can't do an overnight cool-down of the tank, go eat lunch and then hit it again to squeeze the last little bit in the tank.

And by the way, I'm moving this over to the roadtrips forum.

[gasx]

Re: How can I get from San Diego to Denver?

I've been considering a GX for months but this is the thing that kills me.
this forum could easily come up with a dozen fill stations across the west that would make travel so much easier. Yuma, Bishop up 395 (so people could hit Mammoth), Grand Junction, Blythe, etc.. also a seperate issue,...why not the next generation of GX actually have a small compressor pump built into the car? all one would then need is a "quick connect" fitting at the house and a section of hose? sorry fuelmaker but Phil appears way overpriced.

[Curtis]

Re: How can I get from San Diego to Denver?

Gee, that makes sense. It all seems so simple when you put it like that.

I'm just confused about the dozen new stations that we could come up with...
They're about $500,000 each + property. Where exactly is this group hiding all this hidden potential.

I'll start working on a Phill unit the size of a portable tire inflator. I don't see why Honda can't throw it in next years model.

[John Mitton]

Beware Rock Springs...

My friend just drove to Denver from SLC along I-80 in a bi-fuel truck. He said the Rock Springs station is notorious for only having around 2500 psi

[Richard]

Re: Thank you for the helpful advice

THANKS TO EVERYONE FOR THEIR INPUT ON MY ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE FROM SAN DIEGO TO DENVER Colorado. AFTER READING EVERYONES COMMENTS AND DOING SOME ADDITIONAL RESEARCH I DECIDIED IT WASNT WORTH THE RISK. I have decided to tow it instead. Can i two a honda g with the front wheels in a dolly. Can anyone adives me if I can tow a honda GX with the front wheels in a car dolly?