dave@cylixd.UUCP (Dave Kirby) (09/23/85)
There was some question about how the rate of propane flow was regulated in propane-converted vehicles. If I remember correctly what the mechanic told me, there is a vacuum-operated valve that regulates the amount of propane pumped into the carburetor according to the amount of vacuum. Since instances of greatest power demand produce the least vacuum, this valve must operate inversely with the amount of engine vacuum, sending the most propane when there is least vacuum. Of course this means that if you leave the ignition on without the engine running, the thing will spill propane gas all over your engine compartment. Therefore, they installed a vacuum switch that turns off the propane flow when it senses two full seconds of absolute zero vacuum. BTW, if you hate flies, you will hate propane. The stuff they put in propane to make it stink (so you can detect leaks) will attract every fly from a mile radius if you have any leaks. Flies LOVE this stuff. When the service station fills your tank, some propane leaks out, and here come the flies. I had seriously thought about developing a propane-powered fly trap. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Dave Kirby ( ...!ihnp4!akgub!cylixd!dave) (The views expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of RCA Cylix. They may not even reflect my own.)
tmorris@convex.UUCP (09/26/85)
The local gas company in our hometown coverted all of it's
new Chevy trucks to propane. One by one , as the new trucks got about
55-60 K miles ,the camshafts wore out to the point that the engines ran
rough. When they were disassemled , the cam lobes and lifters showed extreme
wear. Other wearing surfaces did not seem as affected. The Factory guys said
it was an interaction between oil additives and the bypass gases from
combustion ,causing the rapid cam wear.
Other fleets of the same vehicles lived to a ripe old age.
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/ihnp4!inuxc!pur-ee!uiucdcs!convex!tmorris/
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