2012 - Volume #36, Issue #2, Page #26
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Kohler Propane Engines Run Cleaner
Kohler engines are going propane with new models to be introduced late in 2012. The new engines run cleaner than equivalent gasoline engines. The 19 to 29-hp engines are so new, the company doesn’t even have pictures of them yet. However, interest is high, given their environmental and practical fit.“They are a highly efficient, environmentally friendly option akin to the gasoline version in our Command Pro EFI engine line,” says Heidi Farmer, Kohler Engines.
Unlike gasoline and in particular ethanol, propane can be stored indefinitely. It burns more efficiently than gasoline and produces less carbon monoxide and other gases. Engines also run cooler on propane, producing less stress and longer life.
Equipped with closed-loop electronic fuel injection (EFI), the Command Pro engines are virtually unchanged in the propane versions. Engine operation and load monitoring sensors and the microprocessor controls constantly adjust the fuel/air mixture without regard to the type of fuel being used.
Components designed to handle propane fuel have been added to the original gas engines. Additions include a pressure regulator and upgraded delivery lines, as well as injectors that can handle the pressurized gas.
The propane engines are designed to meet the needs of commercial zero-turn lawn mowers. Municipalities with concern about ozone levels are increasingly limiting the use of gasoline-powered engines.
Kohler spokesmen indicate the propane engines will enjoy the same no-choke, easy start as the original gas versions. Credit is given to the closed-loop EFI for its immediate feedback and the propane’s constant pressure.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Kohler Dealer Locator Assistance (ph 800 544-2444; www.kohlerengines.com).
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