Posted by Owen Aaland on December 21, 2007 at 22:24:29 from (65.165.246.41):
In Reply to: OT: The Ice Cream Man posted by Merlin in Rushford on December 21, 2007 at 16:46:00:
The reason they use propane is because it is cheaper for them. They continually compare the costs of running on propane, gasoline, and diesel. Other than buying a bunch of diesels in early 2003 when they couldn't get enough new chassis's converted fast enough, the diesels are usually used in areas where the trucks are driven too many miles to make it back to the depot before requiring refueling.
The trucks come off the assembly line in Flint MI as gasoline incomplete trucks with temporary fuel tanks. They are delivered to Monroe Truck Equipment which is adjacent to the assembly plant where they are converted to the Bi-Phase Liquid Fuel Injection system. Bi-Phase is owned by Schwans Food Company.
Cost of conversion is about $5000 per truck which is recovered in about a year and a half compared to running on gasoline.
Propane is purchased on national contracts. The propane company owns the storage tanks and refueling system at each depot. If you purchase 40 to 50 million gallons a year you can get it for a pretty good price. Their delivered price here with road taxes included is cheaper that I am paying on a commercial contract for heating my shop.
Service intervals for oil changes are about double the miles compares to a gasoline engine. Generally about 6000 on the 8.1L engines in most of their trucks. Most engines will run the 150,000 miles they use them with only plugs and wires, sometime a water pump.
When they first started running propane in the late 70's the Federal tax credits were enough to pay for a new chassis every 5 years.
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