CNG Conversion? Cold Air Intake?

[Christensen]

I have a couple of questions...Has anyone out there done a CNG (compressed natural gas) conversion to thir rig? I am concidering thanks to the $4 gasoline and $.64 CNG.

Also I have a E350 V10 that I am picking up this week and I am wondering if anyone has found a cold air intake for them that may improve mileage. Or for that matter if anyone has found any other tricks that help.

Thanks

[jage]

Lay off the Lead Foot is the best thing I've found. I get 11.6 at 75mph and 16-18 staying around 60.

[mmocken]

CAI's tend to increase the noise from the engine...not sure if it effects a van with all the extra sound insulation

[Greg In Austin]

I think Jage has the idea..... keeping your foot out of it will help.

Even in our fuel-miserly Prius!
We drive 70mph and get 48mpg.
We drive 65mph and get 54mpg
We drive 55mph and get 60+mpg (up to 69mpg).

It will be an interesting experiment to transfer what we have learned about driving the Prius over to the 2008 Ford E350 EB 6.0L PSD.



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[mmocken]

I find that tailgating Semi's works well too...pick up 2 MPG

Originally Posted by gregmckay

I think Jage has the idea..... keeping your foot out of it will help.

Even in our fuel-miserly Prius!
We drive 70mph and get 48mpg.
We drive 65mph and get 54mpg
We drive 55mph and get 60+mpg (up to 69mpg).

It will be an interesting experiment to transfer what we have learned about driving the Prius over to the 2008 Ford E350 EB 6.0L PSD.



.

[jlrray]

I used to work in the CNG industry, so i got a couple tips...

CNG conversions are not nearly as efficient engines as fully dedicated ones. Cause of the difference in octane ratings (your engine was designed for gas and CNG is the equiv. of 120 octane (if i remember correctly). Anyway, its less efficient. If you want more information, you can contact lauren @ raymundo engineering and she has lots of information on that type of stuff - but she has a dedicated NGV rig.

But you're absolutely right on the fuel and they aren't bad (the conversions) . Plus, you can get a slow fill dispenser and install it at your home and then just fill overnight. No more gas stations. If you get a conversion, you will have access to almost all NGV filling stations throughout the country. I think lauren had a map of everywhere she can fuel. Most of them are like company fleet maintenance yards, but they work!! The advantage of the conversion is that you can use gas when you need to, and then switch to cng when you can find a spot. Who knows, it might be perfect.

If you call lauren, tell her I said Hi.
Joe