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
We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today. [ About Us ]
Today's Featured Article - An AC Model M Crawler - by Anthony West. Neil Atkins is a man in his late thirties, a mild and patient character who talks fondly of his farming heritage. He farms around a hundred and fifty acres of arable land, in a village called Southam, located just outside Leamington Spa in Warwickshire. The soil is a rich dark brown and is well looked after. unlike some areas in the midlands it is also fairly flat, broken only by hedgerows and the occasional valley and brook. A copse of wildbreaking silver birch and oak trees surround the top si
... [Read Article]
All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy
TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.
