I'm interested in converting my '08 Ridgeline for CNG. Does anyone have any experience in doing this? There's a company in Utah called CNG Outfitters that will do it for $2850 plus the cost of the tank. Does that seem like a good deal? Is it true that a CNG installation runs in parallel with the existing gas system? Thanks!

 

I highly doubt that you'd also be able to retain the gasoline function.

at first the price seems kinda high.

But I will definitely say this, it is by far too big of a task to merit a DIY job.

You would have to learn so much stuff, and do a lot of research as to how to do it successfully, but then you risk damaging expensive equipment, driving to get replacement equipment, the costs of replacing the equipment, etc ,etc.

Needless to say, that $2850 seems like a fair price. It sounds high, but there's just so much stuff involved with the conversion, that once you start seriously considering it, it seems like a bargain, that's like a b16 swap for a civic.

 

If I had a place to mount the tanks, i would consider converting my VX engine. I think that is a reasonable price considering what the tanks cost, plumbing, fuel metering units, ecu converting, on and on. That is, if you at least have a 200+ mile range. I would question doing it on a stock engine though because the compression is too low to take advantage of it.

I also have a strange paranoia of carrying around a 2000 psi pressure vessel filled with a combustible gas.

 

but your vx should already get 50mpg stock.

 

Is that suppose to be good enough?

 

Bump for more info. Say you have a 98 Civic EX. What all would need to be done to be able to use CNG, besides higher comp. pistons and the GX ecu?

 

gas kicks ***. you sure can use cng and gas, all it takes is a flip of a switch. taxis have been using cng/gas for decades now.. well at least a decade

 

y would u do it to a ridgreline they dont even enough gas to complain about, you are goin to waste all that money on the system when u can use it twards normal gasoline, dont waste ur time

 

i would only do it because i heard if you convert your car to an alternative fuel that pollutes nothing like cng, then i would do it because like i heard, you turn your car into a smog exempt car

[freak] whatever price do it then sell it never smog again

 

I have not done it yet but I did find a place that will sell you the kit. $2800 seems high to me... i got a quote for me 2002 Mountaineer and it was under a grand for the kit. The tank is not included though. Are you going to use the Phill station? I also contacted them and was told I had to get the pump that is outside (3600psi)

You will be able to run either fuel, just flip a switch. Ridgeline may be a good vehicle to convert... you could use the "trunk" to mount the tank... the rest is under the hood other than the lines.

Good luck and keep us posted

 

there is also a growing market of LPG conversions. I am actually interested more in these as LPG filling is a bit more common than CNG.
I also do not know the cost of CNG but LPG is really cheap and basically no emissions either.
http://poweredbypropane.net/


Modified by boostedtsi at 4:17 PM 11/13/2008

 

Well, as far as I have seen, there is one station between Milwaukee and Chicago that sells it at the pump, and I called them to get the price and they said it's 1.44 per unit.

 

I guess that is why LPG conversions are a little more popular. Easier to get filled up and any propane distributor which are far more common. In my area of small population (like under 100K for 5 counties) there are at least 5 LPG filling stations.