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- Path: sparky!uunet!ogicse!qiclab!gasco!eeh
- From: eeh@gasco.uucp
- Newsgroups: rec.autos.tech
- Subject: Re: Natural Gas Power - Good or Bad???
- Message-ID: <1992Aug19.224922.8658@gasco.com>
- Date: 19 Aug 92 22:49:22 GMT
- Article-I.D.: gasco.1992Aug19.224922.8658
- References: <1992Aug13.162206.28621@PacBell.COM>
- Sender: eeh@gasco.uucp (Eric Hutchinson x1589)
- Distribution: na
- Organization: Northwest Natural Gas, Portland, OR
- Lines: 52
- Nntp-Posting-Host: pictor
-
- In article <1992Aug13.162206.28621@PacBell.COM>, pebrier@srv.PacBell.COM (Paul Brierley) writes:
- >
- >
- > I have a question for the wisdom of the net:
- >
- > My father has been eagerly looking into buying a new diesel pickup (probably
- > a 1-ton extended cab for pulling a 5th wheel trailer), but keeps delaying
- > because each maker seems to keep coming out with a "better" diesel engine.
- >
- > Now he has heard that Chevy is coming out with a Natural Gas truck, and
- > he is very interested in it. Being ignorant to this technology, we'd
- > sure like to hear about all the plusses and minuses.
- >
- > - Is it cheaper to run?
- > - How does the engine run? More or less power?
- > - Is it cleaner (i.e. exhaust, oil changes, etc.)?
- > - Can you get refills during a long road trip? Or should he get one
- > that can run on gasoline as a backup?
- > - For a price, he can set up a filling station from his home gas service.
- > This takes a long time, but should be cheaper.
- >
- >
- > Any other info you can fill us in on? Please e-mail to me, as I don't
- > always have time to check the net. And thanks a million in advance
- > for helping us out! I've told my Dad what a great resource the net
- > is - now's my chance to show him.
- >
- > Paul Brierley
- > pebrier@srv.pacbell.com
- > 510.823.4870
- > --
- > --- Paul Brierley Pacific*Bell --
- > --- pebrier@srv.pacbell.com San Ramon, Calif. --
-
-
- Not being a garage jockey I can only answer based on what I've heard around
- our office. In answer to your questions:
-
- 1) It should be cheaper simply because natural gas is a less expensive fuel.
- Mileage is about the same per gallon but the fuel cost less per gallon.
- 2) My understanding is that there is little if any difference in performance.
- 3) It is supposed to be much cleaner. Life expectancy of the engine is
- increased because the fuel burns cleaner and leaves fewer deposits in
- engine/oil.
- 4) Refills on a road trip may be a problem. However, every conversion I've
- seen is also set to run on gasoline at the flip of a switch. On the
- bright side if you vacation in Canada you may be okay. They are supposedly way ahead of us in the number of refueling stations.
- 5) Home refueling stations are available but I have no idea what they cost.
-
- Your best bet is to contact you local natural gas company. They're all
- involved heavily in this area and should have someone that can answer your
- questions with more specifics.
-