Natural Gas Compliant kits VRS Natural Gas Non-Compliant Kits
How does the CNG system work with your vehicles current fuel system without compromising the OEM fuel system in a NON-Compliant- KIT?
Your Fuel injection system will sense changes with an installed CNG dual fuel system and create a new set of parameters for operation. These changes are passed through a central processing mechanism; this integrates individual signals and interprets the fuel systems requirements. These requirements are then transmitted by electrical, mechanical, and hydraulic systems to the pumping and metering devices, which distribute the correct quantity of natural gas to the Throttle Body.
When the vehicle is running on natural gas, the signals transmitted are different from the signals that are sent when the car is running on gasoline. These signals are interpreted as faults by the electronic control unit (ECU) and the light "CHECK-ENGINE" turns on in the dashboard. To prevent the ECU from reading those wrong signals, devices called Emulators are used, CNG Interstate does not use these types of systems typically older than 1994 makes.
There are three electronic control modules that work with your vehicles electrical control systems.
#1 The Lambda sensor emulator (this device is non-compliant as it modifies signals going back to the cars ECU)
This device sends modified signals to the ECU, which is interpreted by the fuel system as normal. This keeps the electronic control unit (ECU) detecting any fuel system faults and keeps the Check Engine light off.
#2 The Injector emulator
This device is used to cut the fuel injector activation signal, this stops the two fuels from mixing. In addition, it is no longer necessary to control the injector's polarization because the signal is cut and simulated individually to each injector. Two types of these emulators exist.
- Multipoint injector emulator:
Injectors positioned in each induction manifold branch pipe just in front of the inlet pipe. - Single point injector emulator:
This type of emulator is used in vehicles where the engine is fed by one injector.
#3 The Timing advance processor
Due to the fact that natural gas has different thermodynamic properties, (CNG has higher OCTANE) the timing must be modified in order insure safe combustion temperatures and performance.
The Anti-contaminating system
A mechanical devise driving a valve by a stepper motor that allows or does not allows natural gas to enter the mixer. This motor is governed by a module, which in turn receives the signal of the lambda sensor, which shows the presence of oxygen in exhaust gases. The system works balancing the mixture constantly in order to reduce the level of emissions.
It is important to know that there are 5 types of CNG Systems
Generation I kits are very crude in design as they have no electronic feed back systems, they are 100% mechanical kits. Chances are you will never see a Generation I kit as they are used on carburetor systems with no emission control systems.
Generation II kits have some electronic systems to regulate Natural Gas Flow but still do not use feed back from any emission control systems on the vehicle
Generation III kits are explained in the example above. They use feed back from OBDI or OBDII to regulate the natural gas parameters.
Generation IV kits use no emulation and drive the system on OEM parameters set by the manufacture, These signals are driven through a separate ECU that does nothing more that capture the data from the OEM'S ECU as to not tamper with signals coming from the Original Equipment Manufacturer's specifications and data set by the EPA They are 100% OBDII compliant. Most if not all Multi Point Injected CNG or LPG kits operate this way. If the system has been installed correctly, any errors in emissions from Natural Gas or Propane will cause the Original Equipment Manufactures settings regulated by the EPA contained in the ECU to alert the driver with the check engine light. This is when the Vehicle is out of range from it's normal specifications and may or may not be related to the Natural Gas or Propane system. These error codes need to be diagnosed and fixed to pass OBDII Compliance testing.
Generation V kits are more commonly used as dedicated systems. These systems have no additional electrical devices attached to the system as they are driven 100% from the OEM's ECU. All Systems of this type must be EPA approved as they are tampering with original design of how that vehicle would normally operate. These systems will almost always be provided by the manufacture or a New SALE Vehicle.
A very important fact about Alternative Fuels in the automotive industry, Any changes to a vehicle AFTER IT IS SOLD is considered by definition AFTERMARKET these changes can be construed by definition as TAMPERING, currently there is not a clear definition of tampering as it would incriminate anyone who makes changes to a vehicles drive train or engine. Any products outside of what has a manufacture PART# cannot be labeled as OEM or original equipment manufactured. Many PC's (Private Companies), NLG's (National Lobby Groups), PIG's (Private Interest Groups) are trying to convince the public and decision makers that their products and information is Law, OEM, Factory,Truth, Safe,or Legal and that everything else is ILLEGAL and DANGEROUS. Products may be certified or may be compliant but in no way makes them different than any aftermarket products when it comes to factory warranties or guarantees in the event of mechanical failure. Currently one car is being produced and sold as a "NEW Factory OEM Natural Gas Car" The Honda Civic. All previous OEM Vehicles are old enough to be exempt from Manufacture Warranties and EPA Compliance.
CNG Interstate Uses only Generation IV and above Systems that do not compromise the (OEM) Original Equipment Manufactures OBDII Compliance parameters. To protect our intellectual property as well as our component relationships from any misrepresentation, slanderous and deformation of character or information sponsored by certain organizations and chat forums we choose not to give detailed information about the systems we currently use, we believe we have the best up to date technology for consumers and fleet operators. CNG Interstate offers a reward system for those individuals or groups that come forward with documented proof of deformation and slander to any company that is pushing forward and pioneering the move away from dependence on foreign. We want to stop all information supporting these illegal activities in causing FEAR and destroying the credibility to the CNG Conversion Industry. Join our AFACT team (Alternative Fuel Advocates Coming Together). All our systems and components are installed to NFPA 52 guidelines and most if not all installations have been inspected by a Certified CSA Inspector for safety. We Endorse the CSA of America (Canadian Standards Association of America), NFPA (National Fire Protection Agency), and the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency). We can receive EPA Certification on systems if desired, 50 or more vehicles required of the same year make and model. We currently do not have any facts, information or opinions about CARB (California Air Resource Board).
