Trinituner People: My CNG Experience

Nissan910 · Street 2NR Joined: 05 Jun 2008 Tech posts: 33 My 2NRide:

this thread is for CNG users to share their experiences and for non CNG users to get a sense of the pros and cons of the system.

As a recent CNG user, i must say that i am very impressed with the CNG kit in my car. With a 2000 cc engine, it is $14 dollars to fill the cng tank, which gives me enough power to do general driving. When i need more power, i simply flick the switch, and the engine gives full power with the premium gas i use.

It is an excellent mix of power and economy.

They are adding more CNG stations, which should make the fill up process more convenient. On the East West corridor, there are CNG facilities in the new Beetham Gas Station, the Gas Station by Maritime Plaza, by the Kay Donna Gas Station and also at Automotive Components ltd in Arima. Before this experience i thought that CNG tank takes a long while to fill, however it is very quick to fill, just as quick or quicker than filling up a normal tank of gasoline. With one tank of CNG, i can get 100 miles.

It would be good to get a sense of how many CNG users are out there, though of course many of them would not be on this forum. I am planning on writing to PEake's Gas Station in Cocorite to lobby them to install a CNG facility for the users in the West.

I am unsure of how compatible CNG kits are with newer cars with higher compression engines, but in this belt tightening era, a CNG kit can be a good investment.

It is also said that CNG works better with manual cars.

Advantages
Huge savings
Nice mix of power and economy
Easy switch between gasoline and CNG
Much cleaner gas, with a higher octane rating (130),
Less Emissions

Disadvantages
Initial Cost
Loss of some trunk space
Approx 10% less power on CNG
Restriction of about 60% of airtake which is necessary for the CNG kit to work properly. This can have a slight impact on the normal gasoline performance.

Regarding safety of the CNG system:

"In today’s world there are constant advances in all aspects that concern security in case of automobile accidents; in gasoline vehicles the fuel is transported in thin sheet metal tanks that are very fragile when impacted and can explode. CNG is stored in steel cylinders with 6 to 8 mm thick walls; this literally makes it the most resistant component of the vehicle. The steel fuel pipes are also more resistant than the gasoline ones; even if there were to be an accidental breakage or leak, instead of the dangerous gasoline spill on the ground underneath the vehicle, the very light CNG will rise rapidly and dissipate into the air"

CNG Resources

THE CNG OPTION: http://www.indiacar.com/infobank/cngoption1.htm
CNG TUNING How to do it: http://tinyurl.com/q9t4ez

sensiman · Posted: Mon May 25, 2009 12:26 pm Post subject:

What's the initial cost?

QG · Posted: Mon May 25, 2009 1:00 pm Post subject:

Nissan910, you have the Laurel HC35 rb20 sohc?

A padna of mines has one with CNG tank with a switch.

Good thread though.

Nissan910 · Street 2NR Joined: 05 Jun 2008 Tech posts: 33 My 2NRide:

Nope, i have a four cylinder 1997 Mazda Cronos

QG · Posted: Mon May 25, 2009 1:09 pm Post subject:

oh okay.

wagonrunner · Posted: Mon May 25, 2009 1:27 pm Post subject:

had it in a few vehicles.
1.5 PAY 323GLX
1.5 4G15 carb PBA Lancer
1.6 PAM 323.

tank took about $17 at high pressure, and that was enough to go from la romaine, - chaguaramas, and back to freeport, before i had to switch over.

Only reason i don't re-install it now, is stations are too few, and far between.

eitech · Posted: Mon May 25, 2009 7:09 pm Post subject:

100 miles ain't much at all

Nissan910 · Street 2NR Joined: 05 Jun 2008 Tech posts: 33 My 2NRide:

100 miles (160 kilometres) for 14 dollars is good for me. Gives approx 60% saving on fuel cost.

bushwakka · Posted: Mon May 25, 2009 8:23 pm Post subject:

yea $14 is rel good.....my only concern is that 10% power loss u talkin abt and the air intake restriction.....never heard of CNG in a subaru either

also, the CNG tank is quite heavy not so? takes up trunk space.....thats a con as well

Nissan910 · Street 2NR Joined: 05 Jun 2008 Tech posts: 33 My 2NRide:

yeah, the 10 % loss is no big thing, because as soon as you need more power, you can just press the switch to get full power on the gasoline.

The air intake restriction can also be overcome, as it should not be so hard to make a device that can open the airflow fully, or restrict it similar to how the throttle plate does turn... just with a press of a button.

bushwakka · Posted: Tue May 26, 2009 10:08 pm Post subject:

^yea i was thinking along that same line......but as simple as it sounds, it may be hard to bring that idea to reality for laymen like me and u? that cud be pioneered into a CNG kit and we cud patent it and make meeeeeelions? wha u say? Laughing