Propane vs Gasoline

mlts22 wrote:
In a gasser motorhome, definitely gasoline, although a gasoline generator takes some upkeep (fog it before storage, drain carb bowl, etc.)

I know that little Onan carb is especially sensitive to spoiling fuel, but I run marine Sta-bil in my full tank for winter storage and run the genny at near full power once a month. The electric end needs exercise anyway. No problems year after year this way and only costs me maybe a gallon of gas a month.

I should run the chassis engine this way too, but I haven't. Starts right up every time I ask her to. Perhaps a 10 minute run or so would be good; enough to clear the moisture out of the exhaust and more than enough to cycle fresh gasoline through the bowl.

Don't mind me. Thinking out loud here. I digress...

TX taxpayers paid to have my Chevy S-10 converted. ~80K miles on 100 octane propane. The price differential is not always there. Leaving/returning town regularly meant I could fill at distant propane supplier, the bigger ones have much better train personnel. Traded away in '07.

I live in Central TX, and availability of propane is fairly limited. Exchanges of 20# bottles are doable at a nearby Lowe's. A propane filler, OTOH, is a different story. The RV dealers have propane on site as well as a few RV parks. However, other places are hit/miss, sometimes you get propane filled up, other times, you get lame excuses ("DOT prohibits filling up bottles on weekends", "DOT only allows bottles to be filled in sunlight to get propane fumes to disperse", "Propane is only able to filled if the customer has an authorized explosives permit", etc.)

I eventually plan to get some property, and the rural propane sellers will give people DOT training so one can have not just a tank, but the filling station with a pump. This means that one doesn't have to heat/cool bottles in order to transfer propane.

All and all, gasoline has its advantages -- easy to get, fairly easy to store, and has more energy than propane. However, propane can be stored indefinitely while gasoline has to be changed out every couple months.

In a S&B house with a generator mounted permanently, I'd probably take a third option, diesel. Diesel stores longer than gasoline, and won't ignite due to vapor buildup.

In a gasser motorhome, definitely gasoline, although a gasoline generator takes some upkeep (fog it before storage, drain carb bowl, etc.)

In a diesel motorhome, the best choice would be a diesel engine because of the energy per unit volume of diesel. However, a diesel generator is a lot more expensive than a propane generator, and is bigger.

If I had a smaller diesel motorhome (a Sprinter class "B" for example) with a propane generator, when boondocking, I'd probably take a hitch mounted cargo rack, a 2000 watt Honda inverter generator, a couple gasoline cans, and an extended run tank. That way, the propane system is used mainly for the refrigerator and cooking, rather than being emptied in just a few hours by the generator. If I am just on a trip where propane is available on the road, I'd just leave the gasoline cans at home.

Propane for homes costs $2.25 gallon here only it is mostly BUtane in warmer climes. Since Mexico started importing Super Shell as PREMIUM Pemex, there is no need to think of using an alternative motor fuel. Gasoline costs $3.60 US gallon.

Until (hahahahahaha) a constitutional amendment is adopted forbidding the export of petroleum except via NAFTA, the oil companies are going to continue to play the pea and walnut shell game with petroleum products.

An obsolete 40 pound pot* or 100 pound cylinder heated to 30 degrees warmer than the empty vessel will gravitate propane so fast from vessel to vessel it would make a person's head swim. *The recipient vessel nor the donor vessel can be OPD devices. A male POL fitting on both ends, using liquid LPG motor fuel hose to take the pressure. But OPD vessels again, cannot be used. Paint the donor vessel flat black. Shade the recipient vessel.

My LPG bill now averages about fifty dollars a year. Electrical is minimalist. At .05 kWh for the 1st 150 kWh it costs me thirteen dollars for TWO months.

dahkota wrote:
...I am in the DC area and, even with power outages, gas and diesel are easier to get than propane where I live.

Well, I also live in the DC area - in suburban MD. When the Derecho came thru I could not get gasoline for days... propane was readily available, Indeed, my primary source of propane is a Rental shop that NEVER loses electric power as it has its own generators on site.

SaltiDawg wrote:

dahkota wrote:
Within 1 mile of my house there are 3 gas stations. There are 0 propane stations. The closest place I can fill up my propane tanks is 8 miles away (in which there are 13+ gas stations....

I thought the OP was talking about a residential generator's use of propane.

So was I. I have propane tanks, gas tanks, and diesel tanks, all portable. I am in the DC area and, even with power outages, gas and diesel are easier to get than propane where I live.

Hey PT,

Yeah, working heat, in winter, in The Great White North, is probably a good idea.

I hope "full time in the RV" was by choice and not necessity. That sure does sound good to me. I just sold a house for a guy that's going full time. His home base will be his son's place... but he won't be there much. He'll be hittin' the open road! Stoked for him!

Yeah, I can definitely see you have some propane issues to be concerned with there. If I had to guess, I'd say a third of our filling stations have propane filling including RV tanks, not to mention bottle exchanges at just about every grocery store. But that's like twice the dough, of course. I have no use for those.

See, ol' MEX gets it.

So what's your current propane situation down there south a' the border, eh MEX?

Hi KendallP,

Don't get me wrong--propane is a wonderful fuel. But in my case I can get it in just three cities--none of the small towns have filling facilities for a permanently installed tank. Therefore, it behooves me to conserve it as best as I can.

Now that I'm full time in the RV I'm going through propane at a "furious rate" for me. I used 17 bucks worth in three years--and now have used that much in 3 weeks.

I wish the tank were larger--but at least it does have a proper float rather than just a pressure gauge. I'll be filling up tomorrow--and filling up again in one week--I can't afford to be without heat.

The topic is regarding RV propane use... and probably, most relative to full-timers or long haulers vs. weekend campers like me. I mentioned domestic home use as the impetus for my recent thoughts on the subject.

I have no plans to convert the ol' Onan to propane, but I am happy to run the furnace and fridge with it. 'Course... along with low, parasitic draws, that's one of the benefits of the '86 vintage rig; My fridge is one model previous to the recalled units.

Pianotuna was one of the guys I was referring to. He's not a propane fan. His explanation as to why makes a lot of sense.

Also, MrWizard would prefer to fill gas tanks rather than propane. He converted to an electric fridge, but for good reason; if it wasn't already, his old one, perhaps should have been recalled... before it exploded on him.

Otherwise, a well-built propane fridge is an awesome appliance, IMO. Very efficient.