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What is LPG Gas?
LPG – liquefied
petroleum gas is a hydrocarbon fuel
comprising propane, Butane or propylene,
either separately or as a mixture of any
of them. The gas can be liquefied under
moderate pressure. The liquid will
expand to approximately 270 times its
volume when it is allowed to revert to
vapor. This feature enables L.P. Gas to
be stored as a compact liquid but be
burnt as a dry gaseous.
For automotive use ,
the product is similar to the L.P. gas
used in domestic, commercial, industrial
and leisure applications. In addition
its specification is controlled to
insure constant vehicle performance with
clean, smooth combustion under all
driving conditions.
L.P. Gas is non
toxic, non corrosive, free of lead and
heavier then air. It is produced by
refinery fractionation of oil or is
stripped from naturally occurring
natural gas. There is a plentiful supply
of L.P. Gas in Australia
What about Safety
Aspects?
The use of LPG in
vehicles is controlled by state
government regulations and national
codes. There is substantial, practical
evidence that L.P. Gas powered vehicles
are equally safe, if not safer overall,
then those with petrol systems. The tank
is a strong pressure vessel and can
withstand collisions with minimal
damage. It contains a device to prevent
accidental overfilling. In all states,
stringent requirements apply to all
aspects of L.P. Gas storage, handling
and installation.
How is Changeover
Made from L.P. Gas to Petrol in a
“Dual-Fuel”System?
Simply press a
selector switch on the dash for
uninterrupted change of fuel. This world
NORMALLY be done when the vehicle is
stationary and with the engine at
moderate revolutions per minute.
To insure petrol
carburetor components remain lubricated,
operation on petrol once each week is
recommended. [This recommendation does
not apply to EFI engines.
The change from
petrol to normal L.P. Gas usage requires
a few second pauses in a natural
position on the switch, to allow
consumption of the small amount of
petrol in the carburetor. This step
should be performed ONLY when the
vehicle is stationary.
Is much of the
Vehicle Manufacturers Equipment Altered?
Normally not
especially when the conversion is to
‘‘duel- fuel.’’ All vehicle emission
controls, sensors, catalytic converters
and computer models must remain intact
and without interference.
Does L.P. Gas
Operation involve some Loss of Power?
When compared with
sugar grade petrol the answer is
‘‘YES.’’ But the difference is rarely
noticeable. However, L.P. Gas vaporizes
completely before it enters the engine,
resulting in smoother application of
power across the range of operating
conditions.
What Fuel Consumption
can be Expected?
Over economic is true
criteria. liter for liter, L.P. Gas
produces less energy out put than
petrol. Up to 10% more L.P. Gas by
volume is used to travel a given
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