Converting diesel to gas engine? Need help!

[nic26]

Originally Posted by Always_confused

Hi everyone,

I work for an NGO and I am no expert on this topic. I have been tasked to figure out if it was cost efficient to convert a diesel marine engine to gas engine? We are thinking of doing a project to convert 30 boats in a fishing village (in a developing country), to help the livelihood of the villagers and improve on the pollution in the village.
The boats are around average 3.2 GT with relatively small motors (average 16 Hp).

Just want to know if this is cost efficient/ easy to convert? Do you guys have any other suggestions that we can do to help this village?

Thank you

You do not really make sense, Who told you this idea and why? Diesel is the more primitive (think cheaper) material, and propably easier to come by in poor countries.

Now the technical side is that a diesel has a compression of about 21:1 and a gas engine of about 7-11;1. This means you would at least need new pistons to reduce compression if that is possible at all and quite a job then.

I dont know about the lubrication inside the engine but could be different as well and you have to add all the electrical stuff because you will need spark plugs in the gas engine for which you would have to drill precise holes into the cylinder head which normally takes a team of engineers just to find the right position and angle - and so on.

All in all you would try to convert a coal heating into a electrified A/C.

El

[AlanR]

If these people are fishermen, they will have access to tax-free red diesel fuel - gasoline might cost 4x more, and might well not even be available on the fishing quays.


Red diesel in the third world! There will be diesel or no diesel.

[friz]

Originally Posted by atoll

it might be more productive to investigate adding sails to the vessels!
up untill 200 years ago almost 100% of fishing vessels were sail powered.

Now there is a man in his cups! Or how about oars?

[Cadence]

Originally Posted by HopCar

What do you think a composting toilet is? Just run a hose from the toilet to the engine and feed the crew beans.

Brilliant! You just solved two problems, venting the head and powering the diesel. What more could the OP ask for? We might as well make light of this stupidity.

[CSY Man]

Originally Posted by AlanR

If these people are fishermen, they will have access to tax-free red diesel fuel - gasoline might cost 4x more, and might well not even be available on the fishing quays.


Red diesel in the third world! There will be diesel or no diesel.

No kidding, they have no clue about differences in diesel fuel: color of fuel or taxation be damned.
A good day is when you can feed the kids, never mind the color of the fuel.

[Cadence]

Originally Posted by CSY Man

No kidding, they have no clue about differences in diesel fuel: color of fuel or taxation be damned.
A good day is when you can feed the kids, never mind the color of the fuel.

[SVTwilight]

Do the locals and the environment a favor and stick with modern diesels....

[MaartenIH]

GTL diesel is diesel made out of gas (Gas To Liquid).
This will change your diesel engine in a very clean machine.
No smell, no smoke, as if the engine was running on gas.

[jguypaul]

You could use the Diesel to run a generator and use an electric motor.