Date: Fri, 9 Jul 1999 07:18:48 -0400
Reply-To: Bulley <gmbulley@BULLEY-HEWLETT.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Bulley <gmbulley@BULLEY-HEWLETT.COM>
Subject: Re: Propane Regulator
ACK! Don't undercoat your propane tank!!!
The reason it is painted a light color (usually powder blue, white, or
silver, noted here for those who don't know which colors are "light
colors"), is to shed/reflect heat. Under your car can be a hot place to be,
particularly in traffic in the summer.
As the LP gets hot, more of it wants to be a gas, and increases the
pressure in the tank. When the pressure gets high enough, there is a
"pop-off" safety valve that will expel propane to keep the tank from
rupturing. The hazard: the "pop-off" valve could expel at just the moment
that a butt-sucking smoker uses the parking lot or highway for his personal
ashtray, with semi-predictable results.
Better to use another coat of paint if you want more protection.
G. Matthew Bulley
Bulley-Hewlett & Associates
www.bulley-hewlett.com
Cary, NC USA
888.468.4880 tollfree
-----Original Message-----
From: Paul Travassos [SMTP:ptravassos@HOME.COM]
Sent: Friday, July 09, 1999 1:57 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Propane Regulator
<< File: ATT00000.htm >> Hi,
I just had my propane tank out to repaint and to re-valve it. I warned the
shop that the new regulator had to be the same size as the old one to fit
into the little plastic cover, but as dreaded, the replacement they came up
with is about two inches longer or so. As I've been told that there is no
direct replacement for the original regulator, I was wondering what other
listees may have come up with to accomodate the larger size regulators with
a cover.
The shop also replaced the inlet valve (which I've heard is an autostop
valve, is this correct?) with just a regular straight through one. Does
this represent any safety concerns, for example, do most gas station
attendants know what they are doing so they don't overfill the tank?
My tank was pretty rusty (it's all cleaned up and painted now), so I've
decided to treat it with a good layer of asphalt based undercoating. Any
reservations here from anyone?
thanks,
Paul Travassos, '85 Westy
Victoria BC
