What are the reasons for higher gas consumption after converting from gasoline to natural gas?
2 Answers
The reason for higher gas consumption after converting from gasoline to natural gas is that the ignition point of natural gas is relatively high, making it less easy to ignite compared to gasoline. Therefore, more gas is required to achieve successful ignition. Below is a detailed introduction about converting vehicles from gasoline to natural gas: 1. Overview: Natural gas burns noticeably slower than gasoline, which affects power output, and the starting performance will not be as ideal. Consequently, another direct issue is that the engine power of the vehicle will decrease after the conversion, typically by around 15%. 2. Others: The compressed natural gas (CNG) used in vehicles is in a gaseous state, even though it is under pressure. However, compared to the volume change of gasoline, it is relatively much smaller. In the special energy conversion mechanism of an internal combustion engine, the expansion and work efficiency of natural gas is far inferior to that of gasoline. Thus, despite the high calorific value of natural gas, it can instead bring about side effects.
I've worked on many gasoline-to-LPG converted vehicles and found high gas consumption is quite common. The main reason is natural gas has much lower energy density than gasoline, requiring more gas to achieve the same power over the same distance. If the ECU isn't properly calibrated after conversion, the ignition timing might be slightly advanced or delayed, leading to incomplete combustion and gas wastage. Some vehicles experience air-fuel ratio imbalance, or have clogged gas injectors - which gets worse when there are impurities in the gas line. Driving habits also contribute, like sudden acceleration causing the engine to gulp gas. I recommend finding a reputable repair shop for thorough system inspection, cleaning filters and injectors, while adopting smoother driving without frequent hard acceleration. This approach can significantly save gas while extending engine life, ensuring your conversion investment isn't wasted.
