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There cerainly ARE some negatives. The big one is the simple fact that you get less work from a gallon of propane than you do from a gallon of diesel or gasoline. So, unless you are getting your propane dirt cheap, it's very expensive to use. I assume there some places in the midwest where is propane is more of a bargain that others - but that is the exception and not the rule. In general, a propane engine uses almost twice the dollars worth of fuel to do the same work as a diesel, and 1 1/4 - 1 1/2 times more than with gasoline. First - propane has less energy per gallon than gasoline or diesel Second- propane usually cost more per gallon than gasoline or diesel Third - an engine run on propane provides less power for reasons other than the lower fuel BTUs Propane has 21,500 BTUs to the pound
Propane has 91,500 BUs to the gallon Gasoline has 20,400 BTUs to the pound
Gasoline has 114,000 BTUs to the gallon Diesel has 19,300 BTUS to the pound
Diesel has 130,000 BTUs to the gallon Today 2/11/08 - National fuel price ranges are: Propane $2.30 to $3.75 per gallon (residential)
Gasoline $2.98 to $3.15 per gallon (taxed)
Diesel(off road) $2.90 to $3.30 per gallon
Diesel (highway) $3.03 to $3.79 per gallon Here are some figures on cost of running three engines doing the same work at the same power rating with the three fuels: 12,000 watt propane generator set can make 10,500 watts for 38.5 hours on a 100 gallon tank.
At $2.59 per gallon that costs $259 to run 38.5 hours, thus $6.73 per hour. At $3 per gallon it costs $7.79 per hour. 12,000 watt gasoline generator set can make 10,800 watts for 58.8 hours on a 100 gallon tank.
At $3.33 per gallon that cost $333 to run 58.8 hours, thus $5.66 per hour. At $3.10 per gallon it comes to $5.28 per hour. 12,000 watt diesel generator set can make 11,200 watts for 83 hours on a 100 gallon tank.
Farm fuel at $3.07 per gallon that costs $307 to run 83 hours, thus $3.70 per hour.
Highway diesel at $3.76 per gallon costs $376 to run 83 hours, thus $4.53 per hour. Now - a typical farm tractor - Deere 3020
Rated in horsepower hours per gallon of fuel Propane - 55 horse rated at 8.46 HHG
Gasoline - 64 horse rated at 10.3 HHG
Diesel - 65 horse rated at 12.7 HHG A road driven pickup truck - 2000 Ford F150 4WD
5.4 liter engine Propane - 10 MPG city, 14 MPG highway
Gasoline - 13 MPG city, 18 MPG highway Diesel - note that since there aren't any 1/2 diesel trucks being made - here are the specs on a 1990 1/2 ton 4WD Chevy with a 6.2 liter diesel
15 MPG city, 20 MPG highway
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