Date: Sat, 15 Feb 2003 18:12:58 -0800
Reply-To: Dana Morphew <kadm@PUGETSOUND.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dana Morphew <kadm@PUGETSOUND.NET>
Subject: Re: Propane Conversion for Vanagon--head north!
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed
I've got a propane "belly tank" that holds 13 gals (16 gals. water volume). It's in
great shape, has a gauge, and will fit under the rear seat. I'd like $175 usd, and
I'm in the Puget Sound area.
Dana
80 Westy Pokey wrote:
> Gary has his propane tank under the rear seat (it does steal
> a lot of room). I had contemplated doing a propane conversion
> in the past. Aside from the rear seat I felt my best options
> would be:
>
> 1) Twin long thin propane tanks replacing the stock on the
> drivers side and under the sliding passenger door.
>
> 2) A "Doughnut" tank that fits in place of the spare tire up
> front.
>
> I have seen both in Europe.
>
> Thanks,
> Chris
>
> ---- Original message ----
>
>>Date: Fri, 14 Feb 2003 09:43:07 -0800
>>From: "Mark Dorm" <mark_hb@hotmail.com>
>>Subject: Re: Propane Conversion for Vanagon--head north!
>>To: pokey@VANAGON.ORG, vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>>
>>Smoother running engine is one big plus.. esp at idle...
>>
>>As far as space for tank goes... is there any chance it
>>
> could be mounted on
>
>>the roof, albiet discretely, in a housing/cargo box...
>>
> something nice
>
>>looking... behind a packasport preferably (something like
>>
> that should have
>
>>been stock from the factory)
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>>From: 80 Westy Pokey <pokey@VANAGON.ORG>
>>>
>>>Speaking of Canadian Propane pioneers, check out Gary Lee's
>>>van at:
>>>
>>>http://www.telusplanet.net/public/gary2a/rack/propane/propan
>>>
> e.
>
>>>htm
>>>
>>>Also, here is the text from a British VW club magazine (I
>>>forget which one) from last summer:
>>>
>>>
>>>I inclose a review of my experiences since converting to
>>>
> LPG.
>
>>>LPG stands for ‘LIQUID PETROLEUM GAS’ and is a by-product of
>>>oil extraction. This gas used to be burnt off but is now
>>>liquified and kept under pressure in steel cylinders of
>>>various sizes. LPG or ‘AUTOGAS’ used in motor vehicles is
>>>propane. This is similar to butane, as used by campers, but
>>>is more volatile and remains usable down to lower
>>>temperatures. It is also less dense and therefore, lighter
>>>
> in
>
>>>weight per unit volume. It is also half the weight of petrol
>>>but the tank required to contain it is considerably heavier
>>>than a petrol tank of similar volume.
>>>
>>>My vehicle is a 1987 VW Caravelle GL Syncro. The Syncro is
>>>particularly suitable for conversion since its extra height
>>>can better accommodate the twin tanks I decided to fit.
>>>
> These
>
>>>were mounted forward of the rear axle on either side of the
>>>propshaft. I chose this in consultation with Jason
>>>
> at ‘Brymor
>
>>>Gas Conversions’ who undertook the conversion.
>>>
>>>In addition to the tanks the system requires a vapouriser.
>>>This reduces the presure, preheats the liquid and releases
>>>it, as a gas, into a gas pipe which delivers it to the air
>>>intake. There are three adjusters involved. There is one
>>>
> main
>
>>>over-all adjuster and one each for idle and running (this is
>>>adjusted at 2500 revs).
>>>
>>>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). On an injected system
>>>the switch-over from gas to petrol is triggered
>>>
> automatically
>
>>>when the throttle is dipped. There is a rev sensor.
>>>
>>>There are many safety features involving relay controlled
>>>solenoids in various parts of the circuit. Any failure and
>>>the gas is shut off at once.
>>>
>>>The conversion took two days. For the first 500 miles the
>>>mixture is set rich to ‘bed in’ the diaphragms in the
>>>vapouriser. A weak mixture was to be avoided to prevent
>>>
> back-
>
>>>firing at the air intake. After this period, it was re-tuned
>>>which produced a significant improvement in power and
>>>
> economy.
>
>>>However, I thought it could be further improved so I took
>>>
> the
>
>>>van to ‘Mosley’s of Llandeilo’ where Vince Mosley did a
>>>computer tune on his rolling road. He achieved a 30%
>>>improvement in power, torque and economy. That speaks
>>>
> clearly
>
>>>of the benefits of tuning under load!
>>>
>>>I have now covered 5000 miles on gas including pulling a
>>>large caravan and I am very pleased with the conversion.
>>>
>>>Points for:
>>>1. Economy. Where a fill-up was £54 it is now £30 and it
>>>covers the same distance.
>>>2: Environment
>>>3: clean engine oil.
>>>4: Smoother running engine.
>>>
>>>Points against.
>>>1: cost of conversion. (In my case with twin tanks-£1200)
>>>2: Weight.
>>>3: Space. (again in my case, not a concern)
>>>
>>>Recommendations:
>>>1: It is much preferable to convert an engine that is in
>>>
> good
>
>>>heart.
>>>2: Get the conversion done by a member of the ‘LPG
>>>Association because:
>>> A. You need a certificate for the insurance. (this
>>>
> should
>
>>>not incur a surcharge).
>>> B. The DVLA need to be informed and the certificate is
>>>the best way of doing it.
>>> C. The date that the tanks are commissioned is
>>>
> important
>
>>>(and appears on the certificate) because by law, they must
>>>be tested in ten years time.
>>>
>>>I hope this is of some help to those considering conversion.
>>>
>>>---- Original message ----
>>>
>>>>Date: Thu, 13 Feb 2003 09:11:35 -0800
>>>>From: Stuart MacMillan <macmillan@ATTBI.COM>
>>>>Subject: Propane Conversion for Vanagon--head north!
>>>>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>>>>
>>>>This is something I've thought about a bit too. These
>>>>
>>>conversions
>>>
>>>>disappeared with carburetors, unfortunately. US
>>>>
> automakers
>
>>>have put a lot
>>>
>>>>of dollars into designing complex systems for gasoline as
>>>>
>>>the fuel, I wonder
>>>
>>>>why that is?
>>>>
>>>>The Canadians are way ahead of us on this one. Take your
>>>>
>>>Vanagon there for
>>>
>>>>conversion. See:
>>>>
>>>http://www.autogaspropane.com/why_propane_auto.htm
>>>
>>>>Who will be the first to check this out??!!
>>>>
>>>>Stuart MacMillan
>>>>'84 Westy w/2.1
>>>>
>>
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>>
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