Questions about LPG engines

Tractors with LPG pros and cons? Do they operate cheaper than gas? How do they start when it gets cold outside? What does it take to fill them? Does it take more gallons of LPG per hour than a gas? Are they hard to work on? Thanks

LPG has a higher octane than gasoline so can run a higher compression ratio which generally allows more power. That said, the BTUs of LPG is lower than that of gasoline so gallon per gallon one cannot expect the same work so an LPG fueled tractor may require more fuel to achieve the same amount of work. With the two fuel prices closer today than decades ago I really don't know how actual operating costs would compare.

Cheaper to operate than gasoline, probably so as the cylinder walls are not washed down because the fuel is drier so engine longevity is much much higher. I have seen a truck engine with over 100,000 miles on it, torn down for a valve job, and you could still see the factory hone marks on the cylinder walls. Won't happen with gasoline.

When properly set an LPG engine won't be any more difficult to start in reasonably cold winter temperatures than a gasoline engine. Properly set is the key. Unlike gasoline engines of old before fuel injection there is no stumbling to get the right choke setting, once running they stay running.

Hard to work on? No. They are a gasoline engine with different fuel supply. Ignition advance curves, etc. can be a little different but today I wouldn't expect you would need to make modifications of any kind on something you purchase.

Unlike gasoline carburetors the fuel delivery system for LPG is pretty bullet proof and will probably last many years without any attention.

Filling----knowledge is the biggest part of the equation which addresses the safety issue.

We had a nurse tanks on trailers for filling from. The tanks had liquid lines to fill the tractor with. Once hooked up we vented tractor tank pressure into the atmosphere via a bleeder device hooked to the vapor return fitting on the tank. Lowering the tank pressure allows it to be replaced with the liquid from the nurse tank.

A pump would be safer and better. We never had any safety problems in over 30 years of using and filling our MM & MF tractors.

Hello mnjoe,
Not cheaper then gas.
About as easy as regular gas engines.
Propane source.
Yes, less BTU's per gallon.
No.
If you need more info, ask againg.
You're welcome!..........Guido.

Filling by venting wastes a lot of fuel. I estimate about a gallon of fuel wasted per five gallons of fuel. I now have a homemade pump made from a power steering pump.

my Super M gas has more power than a neighbors 3010 propane.

As someone else said ,no raw gasoline washing the cylind walls down on startup. IMO, they start much eaiser in cold weather, no choke,. Oil, when it is time to change, looks like you just poured it out of the can. I think you could run synthetic oil indefinately. You have to change oil in a gasoline or deisel engine because it becomes deluted with fuel. That's what makes the oil turn black. LP does reduce the HP slightly.

Hello,
Here is a propane puller that my neighbor runs at the local sled pulls.........STRONG PULLER!
Guido.