Fuel system and methods

A method of converting an engine to operate using a second fuel, comprising the steps of:

• drilling and tapping at least one hole in a lower intake manifold of the engine, wherein the hole extends through the lower intake manifold and fluidly communicates with at least one of an intake port and a combustion chamber of the engine;
• installing a fuel injector adapter in the hole, wherein the fuel injector adapter comprises a threaded stem configured to mate with the hole;
• inserting a second fuel injector into the fuel injector adapter, wherein the discharge end of the second fuel injector is inserted into a fuel injector opening of the fuel injector adapter;
• connecting the second fuel injector to a fuel rail, wherein the fuel rail comprises a connector having a cup shaped body portion with an open end for removably attaching the connector to the second fuel injector;
• securing the fuel rail to the engine;
• and
• installing the original fuel rails and the original fuel injectors in their original location on the intake manifold of the engine.

A fuel system for an engine, comprising:

• first and second fuel rails for a second fuel, wherein each fuel rail comprises a plurality of fuel rail openings spaced along the length of the rail;
• a fuel line connecting the first and second fuel rails, wherein the fuel line is flexible to facilitate installation of the first and second fuel rails on opposite sides of the engine, and wherein the fuel line is sized and configured to extend over the upper intake manifold of the engine;
• a plurality of connectors attached to the first and second fuel rails, each connector configured to fluidly connect the fuel rail to a second fuel injector, and wherein each connector comprises a connector opening configured to mate with a fuel rail opening, and wherein the fuel rail and connector openings are sized and configured to prohibit turbulent flow of the second fuel to the second fuel injectors;
• and
• a plurality of fuel injector adapters, each fuel injector adapter configured to receive a discharge end of a second fuel injector and position the discharge end in fluid communication with at least one of an intake port and a combustion chamber of the engine, wherein each fuel injector adapter comprises a cup shaped portion having a fuel injector opening, a threaded stem for attaching the fuel injector adapter to the engine, and an injector channel extending from the fuel injector opening to an outlet in the threaded stem, and wherein each fuel injector adapter is configured such that the second fuel from the discharge end of the second fuel injector is directed through the injector channel to at least one of the intake port and combustion chamber of the engine;
• and
• wherein the fuel system is configured such that the engine operates using the second fuel without removal of the original fuel rails and the original fuel injectors of the engine and without use of the original fuel rails and original fuel injectors of the engine, and wherein the original fuel rails and the original fuel injectors remain in their original location after the fuel system is installed on the engine.

An engine configured to operate using a second fuel, the engine comprising:

• an intake manifold, original fuel rails, and a plurality of original fuel injectors fluidly connected to the original fuel rails to deliver an original fuel to the engine;
• first and second fuel rails for a second fuel;
• a fuel line connecting the first and second fuel rails;
• a plurality of second fuel injectors fluidly connected to the first and second fuel rails to deliver a second fuel to the engine;
• a plurality of connectors attached to the first and second fuel rails, each connector configured to fluidly connect the fuel rail to a second fuel injector;
• and
• a plurality of fuel injector adapters, each fuel injector adapter configured to receive a discharge end of a second fuel injector and position the discharge end in fluid communication with at least one of an intake port and a combustion chamber of the engine;
• and
• wherein the engine operates using the second fuel without removal of the original fuel rails and the original fuel injectors and without use of the original fuel rails and original fuel injectors, and wherein the original fuel rails and the original fuel injectors remain in their original location after the first and second fuel rails, second fuel injectors, connectors, and fuel injector adapters are installed on the engine.