Omega Owners Forum

Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length
Advanced search  

News:

Please play nicely.  No one wants to listen/read a keyboard warriors rants....

Pages: [1] 2 3 4  All   Go Down

Author Topic: Bit of a wierd LPG problem.  (Read 7917 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

tigers_gonads

  • Omega Lord
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Gender: Male
  • Kinston Upon Hull
  • Posts: 8592
  • Driving a Honda CR-V which doesn't smell of pee
    • Honda CR-V
    • View Profile
Bit of a wierd LPG problem.
« on: 23 May 2019, 13:41:55 »

During a rather spirited drive home last Tuesday evening, the car decided to refuse to run on lpg.
Got the thing home on petrol and set about a bit of fault finding.
Plugged the Stag software in and it came up with "Low gas pressure".
Map pressure with engine running was around 0.3 bar.
Gas pressure was indicating around 0.6 bar.
Checked the both the fuel gauge on the tank and the in-car indicator indicated approx 15 litres / 1.4 volts left.
Dug out a 12 volt battery and applied it to the tank solenoid which gave a satisfying clank so no problem there  :y
I had a old PS02 sensor in the shed so swapped it over and hey presto, everything working so thought no more of it  :)
This morning, i've just been for a blast down the A63 (late for a job interview).
Had the interview and came home at a more legal pace and parked the thing up.
Went back to it half a hour later to find it refuses to run on lpg again  :(
Took the wife to work and knowing it will be getting low on fuel anyway, I popped to the garage and plugged in.
I managed to force 36 litres into the tank which indicated I still had about 10 litres left.
Started the car and it runs perfectly on lpg again  ???
Got it home and plugged in the laptop again to check for codes. NO codes present  ???

Now this kit has been on two cars of mine and must be getting on for 7 or 8 years old.
Am I looking at a tank problem or something else ??

 
« Last Edit: 23 May 2019, 13:52:29 by tigers_gonads »
Logged

Entwood

  • Omega Queen
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Gender: Male
  • North Wiltshire
  • Posts: 19566
  • My Old 3.2 V6 Elite (LPG)
    • Audi A6 Allroad 3.0 DTI
    • View Profile
Re: Bit of a wierd LPG problem.
« Reply #1 on: 23 May 2019, 14:02:22 »

I had a problem with mine some years back that sounds similar .. car would run for a while on LPG, refuse, then run OK about an hour later. .....  but this only happened when the tank was less than 1/2 full... if more it ran on LPG perfectly ... had me stumped :(

Local LPG installers also highly puzzled, but found that the filter, and the pipes to the filter were full of what looking like a rusty powder. Further investigation (and a new tank) found that the lpg pickup pipe had a large band of corrosion, complete with a 1/2" hole about half way down.

Seems that while full the hole mattered not as liquid LPG made its way to the evaporator, to do its thing ...  when the level dropped the "hole" allowed gaseous lpg to enter the pipework (under pressure) and go through the now defunct evaporator to run the engine... once the tank had cooled down to a certainpoint there was insufficient pressure in the tank to run the engine, and it would stop. Leave it to stand, pressure builds back up, engine runs ...  :(

Suspected cause of the corrosion was a "scratch" in the stainless steel surface of the pickup pipe on fitting, allowing the corrosive liquid LPG to contact the internal steel and thus corrode ....

As I say .. new tank solved the problem ... :(
Logged

tigers_gonads

  • Omega Lord
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Gender: Male
  • Kinston Upon Hull
  • Posts: 8592
  • Driving a Honda CR-V which doesn't smell of pee
    • Honda CR-V
    • View Profile
Re: Bit of a wierd LPG problem.
« Reply #2 on: 23 May 2019, 16:52:27 »

I had a problem with mine some years back that sounds similar .. car would run for a while on LPG, refuse, then run OK about an hour later. .....  but this only happened when the tank was less than 1/2 full... if more it ran on LPG perfectly ... had me stumped :(

Local LPG installers also highly puzzled, but found that the filter, and the pipes to the filter were full of what looking like a rusty powder. Further investigation (and a new tank) found that the lpg pickup pipe had a large band of corrosion, complete with a 1/2" hole about half way down.

Seems that while full the hole mattered not as liquid LPG made its way to the evaporator, to do its thing ...  when the level dropped the "hole" allowed gaseous lpg to enter the pipework (under pressure) and go through the now defunct evaporator to run the engine... once the tank had cooled down to a certainpoint there was insufficient pressure in the tank to run the engine, and it would stop. Leave it to stand, pressure builds back up, engine runs ...  :(

Suspected cause of the corrosion was a "scratch" in the stainless steel surface of the pickup pipe on fitting, allowing the corrosive liquid LPG to contact the internal steel and thus corrode ....

As I say .. new tank solved the problem ... :(






Yeh, that lot rings a bell  :(
Something else I just remembered.  The in tank fuel gauge has over the last 6 months or so has been acting a little strange.
Sometimes taking a while to read full scale and just before it normally indicates red, it would start to show 2 or even 3 greens for a few miles before indicating red  :(
TBH I was thinking that I had dirt on the potentiometer which was shorting it out and giving a higher voltage reading for a few miles before the float dropped past the dodgy bit  ???

It was all supplied by Lazy Dockers mate (can't remember his name)
Can anybody remember what physical size the doughnut tanks were ?
This one accepts around 46 litres on a cold day  ???

Also which tank supplier is recommended by OOF this week  :)
Logged

TheBoy

  • Administrator
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Gender: Male
  • Brackley, Northants
  • Posts: 105839
  • I Like Lockdown
    • Whatever Starts
    • View Profile
Re: Bit of a wierd LPG problem.
« Reply #3 on: 23 May 2019, 17:27:20 »

I'd run it down and look for signs of corrosion like Entwood's experience by removing the valve gear.

I think if you change the tank, you are supposed to recertify it  :-\
Logged
Grumpy old man

tigers_gonads

  • Omega Lord
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Gender: Male
  • Kinston Upon Hull
  • Posts: 8592
  • Driving a Honda CR-V which doesn't smell of pee
    • Honda CR-V
    • View Profile
Re: Bit of a wierd LPG problem.
« Reply #4 on: 23 May 2019, 18:22:08 »

I'd run it down and look for signs of corrosion like Entwood's experience by removing the valve gear.

I think if you change the tank, you are supposed to recertify it  :-\



Makes sense that lot  :y
Logged

tigers_gonads

  • Omega Lord
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Gender: Male
  • Kinston Upon Hull
  • Posts: 8592
  • Driving a Honda CR-V which doesn't smell of pee
    • Honda CR-V
    • View Profile
Re: Bit of a wierd LPG problem.
« Reply #5 on: 23 May 2019, 18:50:47 »

Looking at Tinleys site, I can change both the outlet valve and inlet valve c/w float for about 55 quid  :y
The inlet valves come in 2 flavours.   A standard one and a 80% fill one. 
Which one is for me ?
Logged

TheBoy

  • Administrator
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Gender: Male
  • Brackley, Northants
  • Posts: 105839
  • I Like Lockdown
    • Whatever Starts
    • View Profile
Re: Bit of a wierd LPG problem.
« Reply #6 on: 23 May 2019, 19:50:59 »

I seem to recall the pickup pipe is part of the tank, not the valveset
Logged
Grumpy old man

tigers_gonads

  • Omega Lord
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Gender: Male
  • Kinston Upon Hull
  • Posts: 8592
  • Driving a Honda CR-V which doesn't smell of pee
    • Honda CR-V
    • View Profile
Re: Bit of a wierd LPG problem.
« Reply #7 on: 23 May 2019, 23:36:55 »

I seem to recall the pickup pipe is part of the tank, not the valveset



Bugger  :(
Logged

Kevin Wood

  • Global Moderator
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Gender: Male
  • Alton, Hampshire
  • Posts: 36266
    • Jaguar XE 25t, Westfield
    • View Profile
Re: Bit of a wierd LPG problem.
« Reply #8 on: 24 May 2019, 00:52:44 »

I seem to recall the pickup pipe is part of the tank, not the valveset
It is on a 4 hole tank, but part of the multivalve on a single hole tank.

I saw a similar problem once. Some cowboy had fitted the tank upside down. ;D

If this is the issue, then the tank will be getting seriously cold by the time it starts playing up.

If it's still at ambient temperature I'd suggest a front end problem (poor coolant flow to vapouriser or clogged filter perhaps?).
Logged
Tech2 services currently available. See TheBoy's price list: http://theboy.omegaowners.com/

Kevin Wood

  • Global Moderator
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Gender: Male
  • Alton, Hampshire
  • Posts: 36266
    • Jaguar XE 25t, Westfield
    • View Profile
Re: Bit of a wierd LPG problem.
« Reply #9 on: 24 May 2019, 00:55:14 »

I'd run it down and look for signs of corrosion like Entwood's experience by removing the valve gear.

I think if you change the tank, you are supposed to recertify it  :-\

Oh, that reminds me... 164,000 miles later. :-[
Logged
Tech2 services currently available. See TheBoy's price list: http://theboy.omegaowners.com/

Sir Tigger KC

  • Get A Life!!
  • *****
  • Online Online
  • Gender: Male
  • West Dorset
  • Posts: 23425
    • 2 Fords
    • View Profile
Re: Bit of a wierd LPG problem.
« Reply #10 on: 24 May 2019, 11:07:31 »

I'd run it down and look for signs of corrosion like Entwood's experience by removing the valve gear.

I think if you change the tank, you are supposed to recertify it  :-\

Oh, that reminds me... 164,000 miles later. :-[

Ssssh! You're not supposed to admit to that sort of thing on here!  :o  ::)  ;D
Logged
RIP Paul 'Luvvie' Lovejoy

Politically homeless ......

TheBoy

  • Administrator
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Gender: Male
  • Brackley, Northants
  • Posts: 105839
  • I Like Lockdown
    • Whatever Starts
    • View Profile
Re: Bit of a wierd LPG problem.
« Reply #11 on: 25 May 2019, 09:32:30 »

On both mine, certification wasn't that expensive - around MOT pricing IIRC - and there was a place near work.  So I did it as a no-brainer, to avoid any potential insurance battles later down the line.

In the case of TBE, then meagre reduction in road tax (£10) meant the certification has more than paid for itself.  Obviously the superior Silver Bullet, being pre 2001, got no reduction for duel fuel.
Logged
Grumpy old man

tigers_gonads

  • Omega Lord
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Gender: Male
  • Kinston Upon Hull
  • Posts: 8592
  • Driving a Honda CR-V which doesn't smell of pee
    • Honda CR-V
    • View Profile
Re: Bit of a wierd LPG problem.
« Reply #12 on: 25 May 2019, 14:40:03 »

Sorry for the delay in replying, work and other stuff got in the road  :(

Kev ........... thinking back over the winter, I did have a period when the heater was absolutely crap but cleared itself after a couple of fast trips so your idea of crap in the water system is something to look into  :y
Its been about 4 years since I changed the oil cooler / anti freeze so it must be getting pretty grotty in there and maybe needs a good flush  :-\

At the moment, the lpg tank is about 2/3 full and normal service has resumed.
I'm off the van for a few days from Tuesday so once i'm home and the tanks as low as I can get it, i'll undo a few nuts and see if there is any sign of corrosion in the tank and report back  :)

I take it then that if the feed tube in the tank has perforated, I can change the tank and re use the valves / solenoid ect  :-\
Logged

TheBoy

  • Administrator
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Gender: Male
  • Brackley, Northants
  • Posts: 105839
  • I Like Lockdown
    • Whatever Starts
    • View Profile
Re: Bit of a wierd LPG problem.
« Reply #13 on: 25 May 2019, 19:29:03 »

Is it a 4 hole tank, or a single hole tank?
Logged
Grumpy old man

zirk

  • Omega Queen
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Gender: Male
  • Epping Forest
  • Posts: 11431
  • 3.2 Manual Special Saloon ReMapped and LPG'd and
    • 3.2 Manual Special Estate
    • View Profile
Re: Bit of a wierd LPG problem.
« Reply #14 on: 25 May 2019, 22:49:42 »

First thing I would,be doing is to see whats going on with the water temp through the Vap, ie is the Temp Sensor saying its not hot enough, especially if youd having or had Cabin Heater issues.

By all means changed the coolant, but before you do wack some Dish Washer Tablets and skme Fernox or Simular (Home Heater and Radiater Flush), add about 2 egg cup fulls premixed with the Tablets. My money is on the Vap being part blocked or fiilled up with crap

When this issue happens touch the Vap it should hot enough not to leave your hand on it for too long.
« Last Edit: 25 May 2019, 22:54:47 by zirk »
Logged
Pages: [1] 2 3 4  All   Go Up
 

Page created in 0.041 seconds with 22 queries.