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#21
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.. wrote:
> > Then I'd guess it's a converted gaseous fueled engine with a > system utilizing a coolant level or temperature start/run lockout. It was a propane-fueled engine. Like most automotive propane systems, it had an evaporator to convert the liquid fuel from the tank to gaseous fuel for the engine. The propane, in changing to a gas, has to absorb heat from somewhere. In this case, that somewhere was the engine's coolant. There were hoses that carried the coolant in and out of the evaporator. When it wouldn't start, I noticed frost on the evaporator and the hoses where they attached to it. When I took a hose off to look inside, I saw the evaporator was full of slushy ice, though the coolant in the rad was pure liquid. Because there was not enough antifreeze in the coolant, the propane was freezing it. This blocked the flow of coolant, and ( likely) caused the moisture in the area of the expansion orifice (not necessarily the correct technical term) to freeze, blocking the supply of fuel. After I added the additional anti-freeze, the coolant was able to dissolve the ice in the evaporator, things operated as expected, and the truck started. ( The ice in the evaporator may have melted some while I was setting up to add the additional anti-freeze, but would have most likely just formed again had I waited and tried to start it again without adding more.) At the time I thought it was quite unusual for this to happen, but I've since found out this is a relatively common occurence with propane engines. |
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#22
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"nooobody" > wrote in message news:xn5yd.540484$Pl.540368@pd7tw1no... >. wrote: >> >> Then I'd guess it's a converted gaseous fueled engine with a >> system utilizing a coolant level or temperature start/run lockout. > > It was a propane-fueled engine. Like most automotive propane systems, > it had an evaporator to convert the liquid fuel from the tank to > gaseous fuel for the engine. The propane, in changing to a gas, has to > absorb heat from somewhere. In this case, that somewhere was the > engine's coolant. There were hoses that carried the coolant in and out > of the evaporator. When it wouldn't start, I noticed frost on the > evaporator and the hoses where they attached to it. When I took a hose > off to look inside, I saw the evaporator was full of slushy ice, > though the coolant in the rad was pure liquid. Because there was not > enough antifreeze in the coolant, the propane was freezing it. This > blocked the flow of coolant, and ( likely) caused the moisture in the > area of the expansion orifice (not necessarily the correct technical > term) to freeze, blocking the supply of fuel. After I added the > additional anti-freeze, the coolant was able to dissolve the ice in > the evaporator, things operated as expected, and the truck started. > ( The ice in the evaporator may have melted some while I was setting > up to add the additional anti-freeze, but would have most likely just > formed again had I waited and tried to start it again without adding > more.) > > At the time I thought it was quite unusual for this to happen, but > I've since found out this is a relatively common occurence with > propane engines. > > And how do you figure the antifreeze you put into the radiator wound up in the evaporator? Since the engine wasn't running that antifreeze stayed in the radiator until the engine was started. It was just a coincidence. Bob |
#23
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Bob wrote:
> And how do you figure the antifreeze you put into the radiator wound > up in the evaporator? Mixing of the new anti-freeze with the existing coolant. Possibly helped by some further melting of the slushy ice in the evaporator while I drained the rad and added the antifreeze. |
#24
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But the dope was not going to buy it when I said the change of
antifreeze warmed it up some.What a putz! And by the time he added antifreeze the sun same up too. |
#26
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Al Bundy wrote:
> But the dope was not going to buy it when I said the change of > antifreeze warmed it up some.What a putz! > And by the time he added antifreeze the sun same up too. > Mixing antifreeze and water ALSO releases heat (try pouring a half gallon of antifreeze in a half gallon of water at room temperature, then feel the container holding the mixture, or stick a thermometer in it). |
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