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You all are great! Thank you so much. I am gong to have to get my wife in the truck flipping switches while I walk around and check everything out. I thought maybe one of them was a fuel pump cut-off switch (as the truck is fitted with an electric fuel pump that I assume shouldn't be running when the LPG is switched on) ... I could be wrong though. Thank you thank you!
Ha this is awesome! The truck is kind of a smattering of nations at this point huh? I don't have a name for it yet, but my 3 year old son keeps calling it the "Mohawk Truck" as he seems to think the canvas top looks like a mohawk. He also says "Dad, why does the mohawk truck have a wheel on it's nose?" Ha!Quote:
Originally Posted by digger
You may be correct if its dual fuel, but I'd rather think that there would be a single switch that would both turn off the electric fuel pump and open the solenoid valves on the tank and the LPG converter.Quote:
Originally Posted by Surf109
One of the switches on the centre panel would be my first guess.
Is there an LPG tank guage or LED level indicator somewhere on the dash? These usually have a switch on them for the change over.
BTW: It is common that a dual fuel vehicle starts on petrol and has a timer or similar to change over to LPG. Some also have a primer button/switch so you can get propane to the engine to start.
One point about LPG. The gas is dry so there can be a lack of lubricant to the valves, many people recommend if running on LPG you should regularly run for a short time on gasoline or add an upper cylinder lubricant mechanism into the air intake system.
There is an LED level gauge and switch over button. I will post a few photos below. I have never seen or driven any type of LPG so I know nothing.Quote:
Originally Posted by Lotz-A-Landies
Nice find!Quote:
Originally Posted by Surf109
In the tank picture the there is a round knob that shuts gas supply off to the line for when working on the system.
There will also be an internal valve that shuts supply if a line gets ruptured as a safety device.
On the switching panel one switch will be a rocker type.
Usually 3 positions, LPG/Off/Petrol.
When running on petrol turn it to off to shut the fuel line solenoid and run the motor till the fuel runs out of the carbie(or starts to miss).
Then slip it to LPG to open the solenoid for the gas line and jobs done.
Same procedure in reverse for going the other way.
The other switch may be a primer for cold starts, they aren't used much.
I'd recommend running it on petrol before parking it each night.
Once a temp slip it over to LPG and then back to petrol just before returning at night.
This keeps the system lubricated and doesn't dry out the carbie seals as Lotz-a-landies recommended.
The other thing is without warm water in the gas convertor under the bonnet the LPG will freeze.
This is why they are plumbed into the cooling system so keep an eye on coolant levels if it runs rough on LPG.
Quote:
Originally Posted by alien
Thank you so much! This is a huge help. So when I toggle between LPG / OFF / Petrol should I keep the motor running or cut the motor while switching between fuel types? It sounds like I should keep the motor running while switching to 'off' to allow each respective gas to deplete then switching to the other while the motor is still running, correct?
Thank you!
Yes.Quote:
Originally Posted by Surf109
You'll find, switching from lpg to gasoline, the lpg will stop straight away.
Yes: keep the engine running,
Fuel change over switch to Off, when the engine starts to run rough (running out of fuel) switch to the other fuel.
I don't know the process in the US/California, but LPG tanks in Oz need to be pressure tested and re-certified every 10 years. Also if it has rubber LPG fuel supply lines these should be checked regularly and replaced periodically. The hose is usually rubber/stainless steel mesh sandwich with cotton braiding over the outside. If it has copper fuel pipe, then you only need to check there is no damage/rubbing of the pipe and check the integrity of the joints periodically.
Awesome. Thank you!
Wow that is one old LPG system. The LPG tank will have been installed around 20-25 years ago by my guess, so you may be in breach of local regulations if you refill it. There will be a month and year date inside the control box of the tank indicating its last test date. In Australia anything over 10 years since the last test date is illegal to fill. I suspect you would be better off removing the system in its entirety and taking the tank to a bottled propane gas agent for safe disposal.Quote:
Originally Posted by Surf109
Anyway, the LED gauge on your dash won't read correctly unless the gauge sender in the tank control box is refitted to its position on top of the tank contents gauge. There will be a small dot on the plastic circle that you align with the empty mark on the gauge from memory. These valves have not been made for many years so I could be wrong.
Finally when changing from LPG to petrol, switch the dash switch all the way over to petrol, it will take a few moments for the petrol pump to refill the carby so you will be without engine power during that time.