Date:         Thu, 13 Feb 2003 20:36:02 -0500
Reply-To:     David Brodbeck <gull@CYBERSPACE.ORG>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         David Brodbeck <gull@CYBERSPACE.ORG>
Subject:      Re: Propane Conversion for Vanagon--head north!
Comments: To: 80 Westy Pokey <pokey@VANAGON.ORG>
In-Reply-To:  <200302131745.PUR34421@vmms5.verisignmail.com>
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII

On Thu, 13 Feb 2003, 80 Westy Pokey wrote:

> Also, here is the text from a British VW club magazine (I
> forget which one) from last summer:

> Since the engine is an injected DJ model, Jason had to
> disable the petrol injectors when switched over to  gas. This
> is so because the engine must be started on petrol. (I have
> not discovered why this is necessary because on a cold engine
> the running is much smoother on gas).

I'd guess it's necessary because, on a cold day, there may not be enough
heat available to properly vaporize the propane until the engine is warmed
up.

I remember Bob Hoover writing a series of posts on the Type 2 list about
converting a Type IV *aircooled* engine to propane.  He used the engine
oil for vaporization heat, which as a side benefit had all the benefits of
an external oil cooler.  In fact, he found that at highway speeds the oil
ran a bit *too* cool because of all the heat being removed from it by the
propane.

Those of you who live in International Falls may want to consider tank
heat, as well; propane boils at -39F at standard pressure, so it won't
vaporize enough to pressurize the tank below that temperature. ;)

             _ _
  __ _ _   _| | |  | David M. Brodbeck (N8SRE)              Ypsilanti, MI
 / _` | | | | | |  +-----------------------------------------------------
| (_| | |_| | | | @ cyberspace.org
 \__, |\__,_|_|_| "Everything is linear if plotted log-log with a fat
 |___/             magic marker." -- Mar's Law