During the summer of 2008 it seemed to come on me all at once, even though there was a gradual learning curve as to what is was the simplicity of the solution seemed like something anyone could understand. As the price of gasoline climbed up towards $4.00 and the pain at the pump increased the solution of a low cost fuel seemed to be more and more desirable. The first time I saw a CNG pump and CNG vehicle was about 6 years ago at a gas station mini mart in Orem Utah, this particular station is now out of business due to highway reconstruction but I remember sitting there fascinated as I watched a Questar Gas truck filling up using a high pressure hose which looked like something out of a science fiction movie. I went over and looked at the pump it seemed like a rocket refueling station. I noticed the price of $.64 and thought those lucky Questar guys, why was it they got cheap fuel and I didn’t.

At the time I didn’t even consider a CNG vehicle since the price of gasoline was still under $2.00 and information about CNG conversions was non-existent. It wasn’t until June of 2008 and gasoline peaked at $4.12 that people started to look for another alternative. Yes George Bush was still president and the economy seemed to be chugging along but the high gasoline prices seemed like a hot poker up the tailpipe of anyone driving a gasoline vehicle. There seemed to be very few alternatives. Just bite the bullet and take the hit. Fortunately for those states that already had CNG refueling infrastructure in place CNG conversions started rolling out. CNG vehicles were shipped into Utah from out of state, local mechanics that could import CNG components started converting vehicles. CNG trainers started training, CNG entrepreneurs started planning about CNG conversion facilities and it seemed like the CNG industry (in Utah at least) was on its way. But there were those who viewed some of the CNG conversion community as a group of criminals, at least unless you had the blessing or certification of the EPA.

Through some back room meetings and illogical thinking patterns the Utah Department of Public Safety (the board which oversees the rule-making for the Utah safety inspections) decided to change their 2009 rules, these new rules would make all non-EPA Certified CNG Conversions illegal to drive in the state of Utah. On January 15, 2009, through one of its spokesperson, the Department of Public Safety appeared on local television (KUTV, Channel 2 on Get Gephart) and announced that more than 4000 CNG Vehicles were now illegal to drive since only “EPA Certified Systems” could pass a yearly Utah Safety Inspection but this decision didn’t stand long. By the end of January the Department of Public Safety and Commissioner Lance Davenport in particular were sued for illogical and illegal rule-making.

By March 6th 2009 the Utah Highway Patrol were served an injunction to “stop rejecting CNG conversions simply on the basis that they were not EPA Certified”.

I distinctly remember the night the Get Gephart piece was aired, I was attending a CNG United safety training in Ogden Utah, as me and other CNG mechanics talked about the announcement we felt like the Utah Highway Patrol had taken one of their black high top boots and placed it on the neck of any aftermarket CNG converter and all those who drove non-EPA certified CNG vehicle. CNG mechanics and shop owners had spent 1000′s of dollars and hundreds of hours learning about and promoting CNG conversions at their own expense. The next week myself along with about 10 other CNG converters got so fed up that we started a counter group to get to the bottom of what had happened. The group was called C.C.A.T.S. Certified CNG Automotive Technicians for Safety.

From their website we read their purpose:

“Who are CCATS and where did they come from?
CCATS (Certified CNG Automotive Technicians for Safety) was officially organized on January 13, 2009. It was formed in response to the UHP ruling that only converted vehicles with the “EPA certified” stickers were safe to drive in Utah. CCATS members contend that ALL CNG INSTALLS whether EPA or not need to be tested for Safety and Emissions. If an install is safe and clean it should be deemed legal.”

As the year went on the price of gasoline dropped to $1.39 a gallon, CNG conversions nationwide slowed down but no one really knows what damage the ill thought out rule making by the Utah Public Safety Commissioners did to the CNG Conversion community here in Utah or even nationwide. This episode of name calling and punishing behavior brings out how emotional people get when it comes to CNG.

Now a few years later things have changed a little, CCATS is only a website, CNG conversions are still moving forward but everyone is looking at their cost and not whether or not non-EPA certified are legal or not. In the next few months people will focus on where their next paycheck is coming from. As the government sector grows larger than the private sector eventually the proverbial straw that broke the camels back will be in the way of one more tax or agency regulation and the workers will start refusing to pay.

To Order or for more information call me @ 801 427 2284 or E Mail me at younkin@gmail.com Thanks, Jim

Aspirated CNG Systems

Basic Carburated CNG System $399
Basic Fuel-injected CNG System $399
Closed-loop Fuel-injected CNG system 4 cylinder $475
Closed-loop Fuel-injected CNG system 6 cylinder $475
Closed-loop Fuel-injected CNG system 8 cylinder $475

Sequential Injection Systems

8 Cylinder Sequential Injection System $2600
6 Cylinder Sequential Injection System $2400
4Cylinder Sequential Injection System $2200

Call Jim @ 801 427 2284 to purchase or for more info

Our Aspirated systems will work on any gasoline vehicle and with special tuning are adaptable to Diesel/CNG applications. The Diel 4595 closed-loop controller is the heart of our systems for fuel-injected vehicles, unlike some of our competitor’s controllers ours is fully programmable with the program and tuning cable readily available, we also offer technical support with each system sold.

A brief description of aspirated (mixer) CNG systems.

The 2 main components in an aspirated CNG system are the pressure regulator and the mixer. The addition of a controller system which includes a ECU and Stepper Motor to regulate natural gas flow was added when closed-loop fuel-injected engines came out in the 80′s. The basic system with the regulator and the mixer still remains the most popular and most used system worldwide.

An aspirated CNG system starts with the High Pressure CNG Tank, the tank is connected to the filler and the pressure regulator with high pressure steel tubing, there may be a valve or high pressure filter between the tank and regulator.

On carburated vehicles the in-cab controller switch will be the control for the system with a 3 way switch and manometer (electronic pressure gauge), this switch when operated will turn off the gasoline through the use of an electronic shut-off in the fuel, as the gasoline runs out you switch to natural gas which is introduced through a mixer-plate above or below the carburator. The natural gas is then regulated by manifold vacuum by the regulator.

On fuel injected vehicles the simple mixer system is the same with the addition of injector emulators, these are spliced in or plugged into the vehicles injector wires and turn off the injectors when the CNG system is turned on.

A closed-loop controller is an addition to an aspirated system which uses the oxygen sensor along with the throttle position sensor and an RPM signal to operate a stepper motor (electronic valve) to control the amount of natural gas introduced into the system depending on a rich or lean condition.

A brief description of a Sequential Injection CNG system.

The Sequential Injection system still has a high pressure tank, filler, filter and regulator, the regulator is different in that it puts out a steady pressure as opposed to variable pressure. The Natural Gas is then injected by natural gas injectors which are controlled by the gasoline injector pulse. This system also uses its own MAP (manifold absolute pressure) sensor, natural gas pressure sensor, natural gas temperature sensor and coolant temperature sensor to operate and control the system.

Advantages of an Aspirated CNG System

1) Affordable ($400 to $525 without tank)
2) Easier to install
3) Less components to fail
4) Can be used on carburated vehicles
5) Tuning and setup simpler

Disadvantages of Aspirated Systems

1) Slight power loss
2) Less fuel regulation (chance of check engine lights)
3) Old technology, works best on older vehicles

Advantages of Sequential CNG Systems

1) More controlled CNG operation (fewer check engine lights)
2) Less power loss
3) Works good on newer vehicles
4) Modern system using multiple sensors to regulate Natural Gas

Disadvantages of Sequential CNG Systems

1) More expensive ($2000 up without tank)
2) Harder to install (need to remove intake manifold in many cases)
3) Harder to tune, will need tuning software and tuning expertise

I have installed many Sequential and Aspirated CNG systems, as stated they both have their advantages and disadvantages. Unfortunately due to a soft economy money is scarce and many people looking to convert are opting for the less expensive aspirated systems.

Eventually the mandated expired or was ignored and today the Honda Civic GX is the only OEM CNG vehicle available, it is dedicated, CNG only with a range of under 300 miles.

By setting the precedent that all CNG conversions must be certified and since you can only certify new vehicles added to that all the legal hoops a company must jump through to sell conversions most of the EPA certified system suppliers have stopped selling in the United States, these are suppliers inside and outside of the U.S.. Anyone today who wants to convert to CNG has 3 problems, 1) no information is available about CNG conversions in general, 2) no U.S. manufacturer of CNG systems will sell or talk to anyone in the U.S. for fear of EPA regulations and 3) all aftermarket (non-EPA Certified) systems used to convert vehicles in the U.S. must be purchased outside the U.S..

The EPA may not be the biggest stumbling block for converting to CNG but they continue to cause the most concern to would be converters.

One of the biggest concerns people have about converting to natural gas is the cost and the legality of the conversion. The cost varies depending on the system and tank used, but the legality of Natural Gas conversions as a whole is still up for debate depending on who you talk to and that persons perspective or special interest. An EPA regulator for example may say, if asked if CNG conversions are regulated “why of course you should make sure that all your conversions should pass all EPA regulations (if you can understand them?) and are blessed by the beloved EPA. As everyone knows the EPA has our best interests at heart, they always make all of their regulations and mandates as user friendly as possible. Their goal has always been to help promote small business and everyone has a high opinion of them. NOT……As with most governmental agencies and their minions they spew out incomprehensible technobabble in the form of regulations. Then if you don’t comply or comprehend these regulations there is always a hefty fine for your troubles (or so they say). When a mechanic thinks about Natural Gas conversions they will ask about the year of the vehicle its engine size and considers what type of system would be best suited for that vehicle. The question of fueling and tank placement will come up but the issue of EPA regulators is far from a mechanics mind. A mechanic is a problem solver a bureaucrat is a problem producer. Mechanics get paid to solve problems, the more problems they solve the more money they make, on the other hand a bureaucrat is more valuable to his agency and is able to inflate his budget and salary by spawning more regulations. So in this case there are people who get paid to solve problems and there are people who get paid to create problems. (at least for business owners) Now just wait a minute, bureaucrats solve problems like global warming, human and animal rights, safety in the workplace, drug trafficking, homeland security, tax collecting,letter delivery and the list goes on and on. I should say that some governmental agencies are more beloved or least feared than others but on the whole they create more problems than they solve.
In the United States we have the Bureaucratic cart before the CNG converting horse. CNG Conversions can’t survive the hard blows from the regulation hammer, we need to put the producers at the front of the CNG conversion industry with safe NFPA 52 standards and just don’t assume that just because a person wants to do a CNG Conversion that they are doing something criminal….

There is another way and you don’t have to go through the sacred government EPA Certified portal, lets just do it ourselves, on our own, the way every other county has done it worldwide. One system at a time, one customer at a time from the consumer up and not from the almighty government down. Sell affordable systems, provide training , customer and technical support and don’t beat everyone over the head with high prices, confusing regulations and limited choices in automobiles they can convert.

Converting to CNG needs to be easy, yes it needs to be safe but whats the big deal with all the sword rattling over the “tampering” issue when it comes CNG conversions? Do you see anyone getting upset when a tuner takes off his catalytic converter or if he bolts on a turbo or super charger? Are there EPA cops lurking around Diesel shops that hop up their rides with chips and aftermarket computers? Is there a pencil sharpening regulator hiding outside the homes of vehicle owners who live where there are no emission testing and they drive poor running vehicles with check engine lights on or their vehicles go smoking down the road. Even though many of these vehicles could be blatant examples of tampering if you looked at it that way but when you buy a car it is your car not the governments. I think some people just take this non-tampering EPA-regulating thing too far when it comes to Natural Gas conversions. If you don’t believe me try to do a CNG conversion without the EPA’s stamp of approval and some people think you are right down there next to Lucifer….

The dirty little secret is that there has always been a good old boys club when it comes to CNG conversions in the United States, you scratch my back and I will scratch yours. In the case of environmentally stimulated CNG conversions you first have the environmental groups that complain to a governmental agency like the EPA about too much pollution, bad air quality, etc, etc, then the EPA comes out with an “endangerment finding” that gives them teeth to go after the polluters. With this “endangerment finding” they spew out complicated regulations and offer AFV’s as a solution to the air quality problems. Since these AFV’s (and especially Natural Gas Conversions) must be “certified” the converters will spend 10′s of thousands dollars to jump through all the governmental hoops necessary to get the governmental handout necessary to produce these clean burning vehicles and cover the high cost of the certification process. In the end as the handout dries up so do the conversions.

I have to say here that if a person is willing to jump through all of the governmental hoops more power to him but this hoop jumping is not the only way to CNG heaven, just convert your car. The carrot and stick method the government uses sometimes to get people to act is getting old, modern vehicles are so clean nowadays that a person can’t even kill themselves by running their cars in their garage. In the end each person is responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of their cars, its not big brothers problem. CNG is a clean economical solution to high gasoline prices and foreign oil dependence and everyone should be able to participate in its benefits.

So the price of gas goes up and everyone wants to jump on the CNG Bandwagon, the investors, the dreamers, the educators, the regulators, the politicians, the everyday driver and the list goes on and on, the only problem is that there is one big CNG road block, no CNG conversions available at a decent price for the common man also no one has any money (after a few years of Obamanamics) and the rules and regulations bogeymen is still around. Yes there are New vehicles with EPA Certs for $40K that will give you a few government handouts for the purchase of them and there are a few older OEM CNG Vehicles still on the road but there still isn’t a conversion system that is readily available for the daily driver, why is that? I will tell you why, the average driver in the United State drives a vehicle that is so over-regulated with strict standards and Emission testing that if they are faced with something as revolutionary as converting to natural gas and their check engine light comes on they go screaming to the closest governmental agency or dealership for protection. Another problem is jealously and infighting in the CNG community, in 2007 and 2008 as the price of gas rose to above $4.00 1000′s of vehicle owners in Utah converted their vehicles to natural gas. There were certain EPA certified converters that just didn’t like the competition the non-EPA converters were givng them, so they went crying to the Utah Highway Patrol and got them to outlaw any Natural Gas Vehicle conversions that did not have an EPA Certified systems they did so using their state mandated safety inspections. This rule change was short lived (the UHP was taken to court and lost) but it did show how some individuals in the CNG community have a propensity to run to government agencies and try to punish behavior they don’t like or agree with.

Anywhere else in the world the CNG mechanic and consumer would have a choice of CNG systems and Factory CNG Vehicles, in the United States we have little choice, CNG converters that install non-EPA certified systems must buy their components and systems from outside the U.S. (U.S. CNG suppliers will not sell to non-EPA aftermarket converters for fear of the EPA and its regulations) A modern non-EPA sequential CNG system is virtually identical to a certified system, the major difference is the tuning and testing.

A word about EPA Certified systems, they are only available for new Ford and Chevy trucks and a handful of new Ford and Chevy cars. What determines whether or not a company is willing to develop a EPA-certified system for a particular new vehicle is its marketability to Fleets, since the expense to certify will need to be balanced by the government handouts and rebates the vehicle owners receive. This EPA only legal model leaves out most of the vehicles in the U.S. Aftermarket non-EPA systems on the other hand are less expensive, adaptable to most any vehicle and subsequently without the extra expense of tuning, testing etc. are more affordable to the customer. The bureaucrats, politicians and other CNG enthusiasts that promote EPA-certified CNG systems need to understand that their approach no matter how well intentioned would only convert less than 1% of the nations vehicles even if everyone that drives a new Ford and Chevy truck could afford the conversion and actually did convert.

Regardless of what bureaucrats, politicians or CNG pundits try to feed us the American public just want to convert what they are driving as inexpensively as possible. The high cost of gas and the lagging economy has made it abundantly apparent that the EPA-certified model for CNG conversions will not work for the general public.

I really don’t want to see another new CNG website touting all of the advantages of Natural Gas conversions only to add, oh by the way non-EPA certified conversions are illegal and unless you have $30 to $40 K for a new car or truck or you want to drive a Honda GX (which will only go about 200 mile on CNG only) or you want to drive a 10 to 15 year old truck or a Caviler or Contour or old Ford cop cars you are out of luck.

lets face the cold hard facts that the top down, regulate first then wait for the Government to provide the funding just does not work, the interest and growth has to come from the industry and vehicles owners in other words the bottom up, they need an affordable viable option. Lets push the old top down may I please have another handout model aside and start a bottom up do it on our own dime with safe inexpensive systems that everyone can afford….

Here is a page from an Electro Diel system, I really don’t want to pick on them but this translation is typical, this is page 2 without the pictures. At http://electronicadiel.com/images/pdf/datos/5100english.pdf

I will try to write (what I think they mean) underneath.

1 – Selection of the communication port.
(Selecting a communication port)
In the program begins will have to verify the communication with the DielMax
device.
(Before you begin programming you need to be sure you are communicating with the tuning program.)

Observing the Display ( Fig.A ).
(What is shown on the display)

In case of existing communication among the PC and the DIELMAX the display
will have to be in green color.
(When your PC and the DIELMAX tuning program are communication the display will turn Green)

Contrary case the COM in the drop-down menu
must enable another option of port itself ( Fig.B )
(If the display is red try a different port from the drop-down menu)

In the majority of the Pc’s they will detect over a port, in this case that he
evidence entrance signals in the viewfinder must elect itself that ( Fig.C )
(When you are communicating the viewfinder will turn green).

2 – Indicators of Service Setting ON : They light up when he finds show in motion.
(The arrows will light up yellow and green when the computer is controlling)

3 – Menu board for parameters configurations.
(Use this tab to change parameters)

4 – Automatic & Manual Steeper change position.
Automatic: The steeper moves in order of the Lambda sensor variations
(Automatic: The Stepper Motor changes positions in relation to the O2 sensor voltage).
Manual: The steeper will be fix in a static positio. This is a recommended operation when the lambda
sensor have a malfunction.
(Manual: This setting fix’s the stepper motor in one position. Use this setting if the O2 sensor fails).
Note: When the Lambda Sensor was repaired are recommended accomplishing again the
process of Autoadaptation
(After you repair the O2 sensor turn the system back to Automatic).

On page 7

VERIFICATIONS:
(Possible Problems)

If not exist no one of signals on screen, the port of communication must be verified and check the good condition interface’s cable|connections .
(If you are not getting a signal check your connections and make sure you have a working cable).

with help of the Lambda Sensor Visualization (A) verify the correct functioning of the lambda sensor, chord with the normal parameters established by the manufacturer itself. If the important deviations exist one must proceed to substitute the same one and or controlling systems of escape and the vehicle’s catalyst.
(Use the O2 sensor gauge determine if the sensor is functioning correctly, if they are out of range they need to be corrected by repairing the device).

NOTE: The correct function of the DIELMAX Device, This will depend on the status of system of emissions of the vehicle, chord with the parameters and pieces established for the manufacturer of the same one.
(The DIELMAX system will only work correctly if the vehicles systems are functioning correctly).

comparing the measurement taken by the vehicles sensor meters C, if they detect unreal or out of range moral values they must verify RPM’s and TPS connections. In the event of the RPM, changing factor K if the vehicle’s instrument verifies a different measurement ranked.
(To verify if the gauges are reading correctly compare them to the vehicles gauges).

It would be much easier if the CNG systems available in the United States were made in the United States with understandable instructions. This won’t happen since no non-EPA CNG kit manufacturer in the United States will sell their kits in the United States for fear of governmental regulation reprisal. The EPA and the IRS strike fear into most American Citizens and apparently most of the CNG Component supplier and many would be converters. There are 3 type of individuals that think about aftermarket CNG conversions, the first type wants a conversion, has the money, finds a converter and gets it done, there is a second type that wants a conversion but lack the funding, the third type may or may not have the funding but are scared away by the EPA boogieman rumors and unfounded misinformation about Aftermarket CNG Conversions.

There will be another rise if the gasoline prices, it may not be until after the elections but those who have converted will be able to reap the benefits.

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