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Does propane change with age?



 
 
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  #1  
Old April 9th 21, 06:38 PM posted to rec.autos.tech,alt.home.repair
micky
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Posts: 39
Default Does propane change with age?

Does propane change with age? The web says No, but....

I have a can/bottle of propane that is at least 10 years old.

I'm using it as one of several ways to find the vacuum leak in my car.

I used it 2 years ago and got nowhere, but I'm being more diligent this
time. I have an old valve to which I've added some windshield washer
tubing, so that I can reach anywhere (although the curve that won't go
away from the tubing makes it hard to get to some places).

But I'm used to propane having a strong, distinctive, maybe pungent
smell, even just a whiff of it, and this stuff, Berzomatic brand. 14oz.
fwiw in a tubular blue can (shaped like a salami), has barely any smell.
In fact I wasn't even sure the valve was opening. Only because frost
was forming on the valve (that screws to the bottle) was I sure
something was coming out.

Also, when I didn't find a leak, I removed a small hose from the air
cleaner box and I attached the hose from the propane bottle. Barely any
change in the sound of the engine. Wouldn't have noticed it if I were
not listening for it. Should I have attached it somewhere else? Or
is propane just not a good test substance? I also have MAPP gas if
you think that would work better.

This is somewhat complicated because these Toyota engines idle at
2000rpm to start and slow to 750 after 3 or 4 minutes.

So I'm rushing to test while the engine is cold and it's all the time
lowering engine speed and changing the sound it makes anyhow.



40 years ago, I had a car that stalled if you didn't give it extra gas
until it warmed up some. AFAIK, that car was considered in need of
repair. But now it seems, with a microprocessor that can start with a
fast idle (better or faster than the fast idle cam) and lower it later,
Toyota just covers up this problem by providing 2000 rpm idling, instead
designing the engine to not have the problem. Am I too cynical? Do
other makes of cars do the same thing?


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  #2  
Old April 9th 21, 06:49 PM posted to rec.autos.tech,alt.home.repair
Rod Speed[_1_]
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Posts: 273
Default Does propane change with age?

micky > wrote

> Does propane change with age?


Not enough to matter.

> The web says No, but....


> I have a can/bottle of propane that is at least 10 years old.


> I'm using it as one of several ways to find the vacuum leak in my car.


> I used it 2 years ago and got nowhere, but I'm being more diligent
> this time. I have an old valve to which I've added some windshield
> washer tubing, so that I can reach anywhere (although the curve that
> won't go away from the tubing makes it hard to get to some places).


> But I'm used to propane having a strong, distinctive,
> maybe pungent smell, even just a whiff of it,


That's an additive that's added so you notice a gas leak.

> and this stuff, Berzomatic brand. 14oz. fwiw in a tubular
> blue can (shaped like a salami), has barely any smell.
> In fact I wasn't even sure the valve was opening. Only
> because frost was forming on the valve (that screws
> to the bottle) was I sure something was coming out.


It wouldn't be surprising if some of the smell additives
do age, but that doesn't matter for your use.

> Also, when I didn't find a leak, I removed a small hose from the air
> cleaner box and I attached the hose from the propane bottle. Barely
> any change in the sound of the engine. Wouldn't have noticed it if I
> were not listening for it. Should I have attached it somewhere else?
> Or is propane just not a good test substance? I also have MAPP
> gas if you think that would work better.


> This is somewhat complicated because these Toyota engines
> idle at 2000rpm to start and slow to 750 after 3 or 4 minutes.


> So I'm rushing to test while the engine is cold and it's all the time
> lowering engine speed and changing the sound it makes anyhow.


> 40 years ago, I had a car that stalled if you didn't give it extra gas
> until it warmed up some. AFAIK, that car was considered in need
> of repair. But now it seems, with a microprocessor that can start
> with a fast idle (better or faster than the fast idle cam) and lower
> it later, Toyota just covers up this problem by providing 2000 rpm
> idling, instead designing the engine to not have the problem.
> Am I too cynical?


Yep.

> Do other makes of cars do the same thing?


Yep, coz plenty do better with a faster idle till they warm up.
  #3  
Old April 9th 21, 06:56 PM posted to rec.autos.tech,alt.home.repair
Peeler[_3_]
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Posts: 21
Default Lonely Obnoxious Cantankerous Auto-contradicting Senile Ozzie Troll Alert!

On Sat, 10 Apr 2021 03:49:07 +1000, cantankerous trolling geezer Rodent
Speed, the auto-contradicting senile sociopath, blabbered, again:

<FLUSH the trolling senile asshole's latest troll****>

--
Richard about trolling senile Rodent:
"Rod Speed, a bare faced pig and ignorant ****."
MID: >
  #4  
Old April 9th 21, 08:03 PM posted to rec.autos.tech
Hank Rogers[_4_]
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Posts: 12
Default Does propane change with age?

micky wrote:
> Does propane change with age?


Have you tried lighting it with a match?

Using a diamond brand kitchen match should provide a definitive
answer. Caution, that air cleaner box may explode.


  #5  
Old April 10th 21, 01:59 AM posted to rec.autos.tech,alt.home.repair
rbowman
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Posts: 159
Default Does propane change with age?

On 04/09/2021 11:38 AM, micky wrote:
> But I'm used to propane having a strong, distinctive, maybe pungent
> smell, even just a whiff of it, and this stuff, Berzomatic brand. 14oz.
> fwiw in a tubular blue can (shaped like a salami), has barely any smell.


Have you been tested for covid lately?
  #6  
Old April 10th 21, 02:28 AM posted to rec.autos.tech,alt.home.repair
\[email protected]
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Posts: 2
Default Does propane change with age?

On 4/9/21 8:59 PM, rbowman wrote:
> On 04/09/2021 11:38 AM, micky wrote:
>> But I'm used to propane having a strong, distinctive, maybe pungent
>> smell, even just a whiff of it, and this stuff, Berzomatic brand. 14oz.
>> fwiw in a tubular blue can (shaped like a salami), has barely any smell.

>
> Have you been tested for covid lately?


BernzOmatic propane should have the same "rotten egg" smell as
residential natural gas. Both have Mercaptan added to give it the odor.

See the MSDS data sheet here
https://worthingtonindustries.com/ge...MSDS-Sheet.pdf
 




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