CNG Accord
#1
CNG Accord
My relationship with the Honda Accord began back in 2002 when I bought my first one for $1,500. After puting more than a combined 750,000 nearly trouble free miles on three different Accords since then, I decided to experiment with Compressed Natural Gas. Yesterday I found an 05 Accord EX with a sequential injection CNG conversion already installed. At $1.50 per gas-gallon equivalent, I had to pick it up and try it out. If all goes well I should save nearly $3,000 per year in operating costs.
I'm certain I will have questions about the system as I get familiar with it, but I'm wondering if anyone else has experience with an Accord CNG conversion. Any insights to share? I'm pretty excited about this and looking forward to seeing it in action. I'm keeping my dependable 03 for awhile...just in case, but I've read and heard many great stories from satisfied CNG users. I'm hoping I can be one, too.
I'm certain I will have questions about the system as I get familiar with it, but I'm wondering if anyone else has experience with an Accord CNG conversion. Any insights to share? I'm pretty excited about this and looking forward to seeing it in action. I'm keeping my dependable 03 for awhile...just in case, but I've read and heard many great stories from satisfied CNG users. I'm hoping I can be one, too.
#4
Natural gas is scrubbed of H2S. What would be the source?
Problem w/ CNG is availability of refill stations and expense of personal refill station ($5K-$10K retail).
Does this retrofit work in closed loop w/ O2 sensors or only open loop operation?
I think US could benefit from use of CNG, but extensive amount of expensive infrastructure for refueling is the problem.
good luck
Problem w/ CNG is availability of refill stations and expense of personal refill station ($5K-$10K retail).
Does this retrofit work in closed loop w/ O2 sensors or only open loop operation?
I think US could benefit from use of CNG, but extensive amount of expensive infrastructure for refueling is the problem.
good luck
#5
There are several CNG fill stations near my house, and since it is a bi-fuel system, I don't have to worry about range anxiety.
Although the sytem is capable of working close loop w/02 sensors, the intaller opted not to hook up the O2 sensor cables; it relies solely on a mapping procedure to copy how the engine responds to idle, load, and cruise in various driving conditions and then reads the gasoline injector pulse times to deliver appropriate amounts of CNG to each cylinder. The installer did a terrible job with the conversion and I have made several changes to the mapping and hardware configuration with great results. The best result being that I am saving about 61% per week in fuel cost (about $120) with no significant loss in performance, maybe a little slower acceleration, but I have outgrown my urge to be the first off the line and now I focus more on the bottom line.
Although the sytem is capable of working close loop w/02 sensors, the intaller opted not to hook up the O2 sensor cables; it relies solely on a mapping procedure to copy how the engine responds to idle, load, and cruise in various driving conditions and then reads the gasoline injector pulse times to deliver appropriate amounts of CNG to each cylinder. The installer did a terrible job with the conversion and I have made several changes to the mapping and hardware configuration with great results. The best result being that I am saving about 61% per week in fuel cost (about $120) with no significant loss in performance, maybe a little slower acceleration, but I have outgrown my urge to be the first off the line and now I focus more on the bottom line.
Last edited by Drpepper; 09-25-2012 at 12:08 PM. Reason: grammar and spelling
#6
Last time I checked Houston had 2 CNG refill stations and none were helpful to my location. Personal refill looks to be too expensive w/ several years of payout to recover initial costs.
good luck
good luck