Benefits and Drawbacks of Propane as Generator Fuel Source

Propane Fuel Tank for Generator in Indianapolis - Midwest Generator Solutions

When purchasing a new standby generator, you might feel overwhelmed with your options for fuel sources. Propane, a type of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), is one fuel choice people often choose to power their generators. Other common fuel choices include diesel, gasoline, LPG, and natural gas. You might wonder which fuel source is best. The answer really depends on your needs and preferences. Diesel, for example, has the highest energy density out of these fuel types, so diesel engines require the least amount of fuel per kilowatt hour. For this reason, among others, diesel is the best choice for high-output generators. Natural gas, on the other hand, burns cleaner than diesel and doesn’t require trips to the pump for refueling.

Propane has its own negatives and drawbacks, which consumers should consider before purchasing a generator that runs on it.

Eight Reasons You Might Want Propane to Fuel Your Generator

No Pumps? No problem.

If you have a gas- or diesel-powered generator, you’ll have to refill your tanks at a gas station when you run out of fuel. However, if the electricity is out at the station, you’re out of luck. With propane, however, this isn’t as much of an issue. Propane is readily available from dedicated providers and at gas stations (provided the station, at least, is open and will accept cash). You might also already have a large propane tank on your property if you have other devices that run on it. If so, running out of fuel is less of a risk.

Stable Without Stabilizer

Unlike gasoline and diesel, propane won’t degrade over time, which means you don’t have to use it up by a certain date. It’s “shelf life” mainly depends on the quality of the storage tank. Because of the fuel’s longevity, you also don’t have to add expensive stabilizers to keep it from going bad.

Fewer Cinderella Chores

There are certain kinds of maintenance that you’ll have to conduct for gasoline and diesel generators that you won’t have to do for one that runs on propane. Gasoline and diesel leaves carbon deposits in your engine and exhaust, which need cleaned from time to time. These fuels also leave residue in fuel lines and system parts, adding additional maintenance. Propane has none of these effects upon engines, making propane-fueled generators easier (though not necessarily less expensive) to maintain.

Keeping It Clean

Propane is considered a “clean-burning” fuel, as it produces less pollutants than diesel and gasoline. Specifically, it produces only half as much carbon monoxide (CO) as gasoline. If fumes or pollution is a concern, propane is a good energy source to choose.

Spill-Free

Because propane tanks are equipped with safety valves, they’re far less likely to spill than gasoline and diesel fuel, the storage containers for which have no valves. The safety valves in the tanks also trap fumes, whereas most gasoline and diesel storage tanks do not, at least not to the same degree. While evaporation isn’t so much a problem with diesel, it is with gasoline, which is highly volatile. If allowed to escape its container, it’s possible to lose much of your gasoline simply through evaporation.

Even if your propane does leak out of its tank, there’s no hazard involved. Propane in its unburned state is a “green” fuel. It poses no environmental hazard, unlike gasoline and diesel.

No Bones About the Cold

Diesel and gasoline becomes more viscous in colder weather, which makes them more difficult to use. Diesel, especially, has trouble starting well when the temperature drops to winter extremes, and it needs to run at certain temperatures to perform well. If diesel engines run at suboptimal temperatures, they encounter a problem called “wet stacking,” which can damage the engine and degrade performance.

Propane, however, doesn’t have such temperature-related problems. It is therefore a good choice for emergency power for residents in areas with very cold winters.

No Cracked Pipes

All the reasons stated thus far have compared propane to diesel and gasoline. We’ve yet to mention natural gas. On many levels, propane is on par with natural gas in terms of performance, safety, and pollution. But propane does have one advantage: availability. Propane is stored in tanks, whereas natural gas is delivered to homes and businesses via conduits. If damage occurs during a storm to these gas pipelines, your generator will lack fuel. Rural areas also oftentimes lack access to natural gas, so propane, LPG, diesel, and gasoline are the only fuel options.

More Bang

Compared to natural gas, propane provides more than twice as much energy per cubic foot. Natural gas provides about 1,040 BTUs per cubic foot, while propane provides 2,490 BTUs per cubic foot. This means that in the same time period, you’ll burn more than twice as much natural gas as you would propane. That’s not to say propane costs less than natural gas. It costs more. But if running out of fuel is a concern, propane is a better choice because it will last you longer.

Three Reasons You Might Not Want Propane to Power Your Generator

There are, of course, reasons why you may not want a propane-fueled generator. Three drawbacks include:

Long Miles

Propane isn’t as accessible as gasoline and diesel, and the propane tanks available at gas stations cost more than propane from a dedicated propane provider. These providers are often located outside city limits, which means you’ll have to drive miles to access it if you can’t get it delivered to your home.

Short Lived

Propane engines do have a shorter life expectancy than diesel or gasoline engines. Diesel engines reign supreme when it comes to how long the engines will last. A well-maintained diesel engine will provide thousands of hours more operating time than an equally maintained propane or natural gas engine. This means you’ll have to replace a propane generator before you replace a gasoline or electric one.

While this difference does exist, beware online sources that exaggerate the drawbacks and limitations of propane/natural gas generators as compared to diesel models. One website, for example, claims to prove that diesel generators are superior in every regard, but it compares a small, low-output propane generator to a larger, higher-output diesel generator. This isn’t an apples-to-apples comparison. It should also be noted that the writers of these blogs only sell diesel generators. Their opinions are hardly unbiased.

Fast Burn

Another drawback to propane fuel is that you’ll run through it faster than you will gas or electric. While propane generally costs less than diesel or gasoline, it has a lower energy density. Diesel has an energy density of 35.8 megajoules per liter (MJ/L), and gasoline has an energy density of 34.2 MJ/L). Propane, however, only has an energy density of 26 MJ/L, almost a third less of that of diesel and gasoline. Therefore, when it comes to comparing costs, you’ll ultimately spend less on fuel in an emergency situation if your generator runs on diesel or gasoline than if it runs on propane.