LEHR 9.9 Propane Outboard

[macr]

9.9 is now available...hopefully the 40-50hp range is not too far away.

[RobertB]

I played with the idea back in the 1990's of converting my wife's car to propane. Figured out that the changes to the engine are really pretty simple, it is mounting the tanks safely that is the real issue - and having any luggage room left.

Now, lets talk boats. Where do you mount the tank(s), especially for higher displacement engines? What tanks are rated for salt water exposure?

I prefer not to even touch the subject of where to fill tanks without taking them off the boat and driving them somewhere.

[trdprotruck]

I played with the idea back in the 1990's of converting my wife's car to propane. Figured out that the changes to the engine are really pretty simple, it is mounting the tanks safely that is the real issue - and having any luggage room left.

Now, lets talk boats. Where do you mount the tank(s), especially for higher displacement engines? What tanks are rated for salt water exposure?

I prefer not to even touch the subject of where to fill tanks without taking them off the boat and driving them somewhere.

I clicked and enlarged the picture and it talks about composite tanks for the LPG. I actually like the idea of having a LPG outboard since hopefully it would require less maintenance/winterization and improved reliability. With the way the government is regulating our gas, the ethanol content is only going to go up which means a lot of problems for small engines.

[Russ]

I actually like the idea of having a LPG outboard since hopefully it would require less maintenance/winterization and improved reliability.

The maintenance on my OB is changing the oil and lower gear oil. That would be the same with propane. Eventually, I'll have to change the fuel filter, so that wouldn't be necessary. Winterization on my OB is flushing the cooing system, same would apply to propane. So I'm not seeing the draw for me. And as stated, gasoline is available everywhere and easily stored on our boats. Propane would require some fancy tank mounting system. Then how do you refill it?
I have a friend in NJ who bought a propane generator. Worked out well after Hurricane Sandy because he could find places to fill it where others were waiting in line at the gas station to fill their cans.

Propane does burn cleaner and if I had a work vehicle it might be worth considering. At the rate I use my motor, I expect to change my plugs in about 10 years.

--Russ

[trdprotruck]

I actually like the idea of having a LPG outboard since hopefully it would require less maintenance/winterization and improved reliability.

The maintenance on my OB is changing the oil and lower gear oil. That would be the same with propane. Eventually, I'll have to change the fuel filter, so that wouldn't be necessary. Winterization on my OB is flushing the cooing system, same would apply to propane. So I'm not seeing the draw for me. And as stated, gasoline is available everywhere and easily stored on our boats. Propane would require some fancy tank mounting system. Then how do you refill it?
I have a friend in NJ who bought a propane generator. Worked out well after Hurricane Sandy because he could find places to fill it where others were waiting in line at the gas station to fill their cans.

Propane does burn cleaner and if I had a work vehicle it might be worth considering. At the rate I use my motor, I expect to change my plugs in about 10 years.

--Russ

This basically is a 4 stroke outboard so you still have all the regular oil maintenance. When you have an older carbed 2 stroke or the EPA forces us to start running E-15 gas in your newer outboard, you will start to see a lot more maintenance will be required with the new type of gas. This is where propane will shine.


Give this a read:
http://www.iptv.org/mtom/story.cfm/lead ... 3617_lead2

All the marine manufacturers are against E-15 and even the big 3 car manufacturers and Toyota says it will damage their engines.