Propane autogas vs. diesel

Propane autogas pays off. If you have a diesel-fueled fleet, you know all the additional costly expenses that come with today’s diesel technology. Propane autogas will empower you to save more over time by offering a lower total-cost-of-ownership.

• Lower total cost of ownership. The costs of diesel add up quickly: expensive fuel, additional fluids, and pricey particulate filters. These are the most influential reasons why propane autogas vehicles save more money, from purchase to retirement of the asset.

• Powerful vehicles. Choose from a wide selection of OEM-supported vehicles that are EPA- and CARB-certified — without sacrificing the horsepower, torque, and towing capacity you’d get from their conventionally fueled counterparts.

• More uptime. With propane autogas, you can skip the downtime typically caused by diesel’s extra repairs and maintenance. Propane autogas vehicles also provide superior cold-weather performance compared with diesel.

• Affordable, flexible infrastructure. Fleets can choose private, on-site refueling infrastructure scaled for their needs or take advantage of flexible public or private refueling networks.

• Safe for everyone. Propane autogas vehicles operate quieter than diesel models, allowing drivers to better focus on their passengers and the road. Standard safety features designed for propane autogas vehicle fuel systems provide added peace of mind for everyone.

• Clean, American-made fuel. By using propane autogas, your organization can reach its sustainability goals without additional, costly emissions technology. You’re also supporting our country’s economy — nearly 90 percent of propane supplies are produced in the U.S.

Save on the 'the 3 Fs' 

Propane autogas lowers fleets’ total cost-of-ownership by saving more money in these three key areas.

1. Fuel. The cost of wholesale propane falls between the price of oil and natural gas, the fuel’s two sources. As a result, propane autogas is consistently less expensive than diesel, even as fuel prices fluctuate.

2. Fluids. New, lower-emissions diesel technology comes with an added inconvenience: diesel emissions fluid to purchase, store, and change. This is on top of needing more oil by volume compared with propane autogas. In cold temperatures, diesel vehicles also require anti-gels to prevent clogging of fuel filters and lines. Propane autogas provides reliable performance without additional fluids.

3. Filters. To meet emissions requirements, new diesel technology requires diesel particulate filters that must be cleaned every 200,000 miles. Excessive idling will accelerate cleaning intervals. Either way, extra maintenance expenses are piled on top of additional upfront costs.

Spend time on the road, not on repairs

New diesel vehicles may offer fewer emissions than older diesel technology, but they’re also susceptible to expensive, time-wasting repairs that aren’t an issue with propane autogas.

• Common diesel headaches. Without proper preventative maintenance, diesel fleets can expect to spend time and money replacing injectors, exhaust gas recirculation valves and coolers, turbochargers, dirty aftercoolers, and irregular closed crankcase filters.

• The cost of idling. Today’s diesel engines are designed for minimal idling, which should not exceed five minutes. Excessive idling fouls injectors and damages EGR valves, turbochargers, and diesel particulate filters. It has also been proven to increase the need for engine emissions regenerations, which increases downtime and maintenance expenses.

Other considerations for propane autogas

• Maintenance facility needs. Switching from conventional fuel to propane autogas is quick and cost-effective because the requirements for a propane autogas vehicle repair facility are generally the same as those for conventionally fueled vehicles. Other alternative fuels, however, may require different facility requirements than conventional fuels, like additional gas detection and ventilation equipment — costing fleets more to switch. Contact your local Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) for applicable codes regarding building or modifying a propane autogas-powered vehicle repair or maintenance facility.

• Propane dispenser specifications. There is a variety of technology available to use in your refueling station. It’s important to choose a dispenser that will deliver a similar user experience to gasoline, is the correct dispenser for your vehicle, and will meet all applicable codes and regulations.

To learn more about the benefits of propane, visit Propane.com.