Using a propane conversion kit for your auto is not something new. People have converting gasoline engines to run on propane for many years. Today with the price gasoline skyrocketing, it is only natural to see the increase interest in alternative fuels. Forklifts and other heavy duty vehicle having been widely using propane but it is certainly adaptable to the home auto. If you search the web for propane kits for cars, you will find there are widely available profession propane conversion kits. If you like to tinker around your car, you could also convert your gasoline engine to propane by yourself. You only need to have a few key pieces to do the conversion.

Before I jump in with my propane conversion, will I really save on gasoline? How many MPG can I expect after the conversion? Propane by its nature has a bout 10% less BTU's than gasoline. What this means is the car running on propane will get pretty close to what the auto manufacture list as miles per gallon on gasoline. Propane today sells for around $2.00 - $2.25 a gallon compared to gasoline at $3.79 a gallon. Do the math. Even if you lose 10% of your mileage, the cost benefit of propane is a no brainer.

Propane burns cleaner than gasoline. This in term means your engine will be cleaner than if you are using gasoline. With a car running on propane, you will not only be saving money but also reducing your contribution to pollution. You are driving green.

In considering propane conversion kits for cars, you need to make sure it is EPA certified. In 1997, EPA passed a regulation mandating that all vehicles converted from gasoline to alternative fuels such as propane must use only certified EPA kits. In this day and age, make sure you are getting what you paid for.

Propane conversion kits will require a fuel tank that meets transport authority specifications. These regulation tanks have above average rupture resistance and are very durable. In case of a rear-end collision, you don't want the tank exploding. That is why your gas tank is designed the way it is.

Let's examine the myth that propane will make your engine lose power. This is possible with some kits. However, if you use a dedicated carburetor conversion kit to propane, you will not lose power. The propane is delivered into the engine just the way gasoline is introduced. Most good kits will use a oversized demand regulator for better engine performance.

I hear that if I run propane through my engine it will run hotter and burn my valves. This is definitely not true. Since propane is lower in BTU's than gasoline, it will run just as cool as running on gasoline. Naturally, it has to be set correctly for the proper air to fuel mixture. Sounds just like running gasoline through your engine.

Will converting my gasoline engine to propane void my warranty? Yamaha and Mitsubishi are more lenient regarding this. The other manufacturers have not truly said what they will do. If your warranty is already passed, then this isn't an issue for you.

How hard is it to do the conversion? If you can put a swing together or install a light switch by following the directions, you probably could do it yourself. For me, I am not that secure in my mechanical abilities but if I have a friend who is mechanically incline, then this little project could be completed on a Saturday afternoon.