newby ques: can you have cng & gas in same car?

[jpgart]

I'm brand new to this field but highly interested. I've just started reading up and saw one conversion that appeared to be 'switchable' from gasoline to cng and back with a flip of a switch. Does this really exist. More importantly, is it proven technology. I'm asking from the CNG starved state of NC. Thanks! jpgart

[Tax Counsel]

Re: newby ques: can you have cng & gas in same car?

Yes, multiple fuel ("Bifuel") cars & trucks do exist. Although the automakers have ceased production on these vehicles, our most recent examples include gas and cng-powered Chevy Cavaliers, Ford Contours, and F-150 pick-up trucks.

While many would say that the technology is "proven", some of the hardware in these bifuel vehicles can be prone to failure. For example a part called a "compuvalue" in some bifuel Fords is very expensive and fails more often than most drivers would reasonably expect.

The models listed above are in addition to conversion kits which have been EPA-approved for several other models.

[jpgart]

Re: newby ques: can you have cng & gas in same car?

Thank you. Is there a place where I can read about people's experiences with bi-fuel vehicles. Experiences like reliability. Ease of switching from one fuel to another (and time/tools it takes). The only way to have CNG for my driving would be bi-fuel and I'd like to read of what it's really like. Thanks - jpgart

[jcap1958]

Re: newby ques: can you have cng & gas in same car?

I'm brand new to this field but highly interested. I've just started reading up and saw one conversion that appeared to be 'switchable' from gasoline to cng and back with a flip of a switch. Does this really exist. More importantly, is it proven technology. I'm asking from the CNG starved state of NC. Thanks! jpgart

Yes you can have dual fuel sytems. The General Motors pickup trucks made in the 1993 to 1995 timeframe were dual fuel vehicles. Plan on the CNG having much less range than your gas tank. Also plan on using the gas in your gas tank periodically so that it doesn't get old and varnish your gasoline fuel system. The CNG will produce about 70 to 75% of the power that your vehicle produces with gasoline. It is not entirely the BTU content of the fuel, but the gasious fuel displaces some of the potential air your engine can consume.

[CNGfamily]

Re: newby ques: can you have cng & gas in same car?

... Ease of switching from one fuel to another (and time/tools it takes)...

There are at least a couple different versions for CNG bi-fuel vehicles... I had a '95 Sonoma (conversion) that would default to run on CNG until a low pressure remained in the CNG tank and it would automatically switchover to regular gas (without stalling, when it was properly tuned). This vehicle could not be switched from CNG to gas from the driver's seat unless you ran low on CNG (but could be done manually from outside the vehicle by turning off the 1/4 manual shutoff valve under the driver's door). Other vehicles, like the Ford F-150 have a switch on the dash that must be set prior to starting the engine (and these also auto switchover to regular gas when CNG runs low).

Hope this helps

[RickBlack]

Re: newby ques: can you have cng & gas in same car?

Sure you can our shop is currently installing two different aftermarket kits,both kits work well.these are not fogger kits.we install an cng injector in each cylinder.the kits come with there own switch which also shows the amount of fuel left in your tank,should you run out of cng it automaticly switches to gasoline.most vehicles we convert the customer cant tell the difference between cng and gasoline.
Rick Black

[freedml]

Re: newby ques: can you have cng & gas in same car?

There are also 'factory' bi-fuel cars such as the Ford Contour and Chevy Cavalier.