Propane Motor Fuel Safety and Advantages
Propane is a safe and versatile fuel. Used in residential, commercial, industrial, and agricultural areas, it is an efficient and reliable source of clean energy. Using it as a motor fuel lowers your carbon footprint and helps you “go green.”
Propane Motor Fuel Advantages
- Clean burning. Propane is clean, non-toxic and listed as an alternative to traditional fuels in the EPA’s Clean Air Act.
- High performing. Propane is a premium-unleaded fuel with a high pump-octane rating of 113 without additives. Propane burns much more efficiently (approximately 90-95% efficient) than gasoline.
- Affordable. Propane is one of the least expensive alternatives to gasoline. On average, it is 30-40% less expensive than gasoline or diesel.
- Produced in the U.S. More than 90% of the propane currently used in this country comes from sources within the United States.
- Safe and versatile. Propane vehicle tanks are built to high manufacturing standards and tested at four times the normal operating pressures. These tanks are 20 times more puncture-resistant than gasoline, methanol or ethanol vehicle tanks.
- Extended engine life. Propane has fewer BTUs of energy per unit than gasoline. While this means it takes more propane than gasoline to power an engine, the advantage is that less energy is wasted in the combustion of propane. Engines run cooler on propane, which means less stress on internal engine parts and extended engine life.
- Extended service intervals. Propane does not gum up over time like gasoline because it is a gaseous and not a liquid fuel, so carburetor problems are not an issue. Propane combustion does not produce excess carbon and gunk like gasoline, so propane engines typically have a longer interval between oil changes.
Safety is an industry-wide responsibility that extends to anyone who handles propane.
Safety
- Propane is a flammable gas under pressure.
- Observe all manufacturer recommended safety precautions.
- If you smell propane, check for leaks before operating the mower using a soapy water solution.
- If you are operating the mower and smell propane, immediately shut off the engine and the cylinder, then leave the area.
- Work on the conversion shall be performed by a certified installer or authorized personnel in a well-ventilated building or outside.
- Just like a gasoline powered mower, a propane powered mower should not be stored inside without some ventilation.
