Fuel System - General Information
BI-FUEL MODELS WITH LPGWARNING:
^ AVOID INHALING PROPANE GAS OR OCCUPYING CONFINED AREAS CONTAINING PROPANE. PROPANE IS HEAVIER THAN AIR. THE HEAVIER GAS CAN DISPLACE OR PUSH FRESH AIR OUT OF AN AREA. IN LARGE QUANTITIES, PROPANE CAN DISPLACE ENOUGH OXYGEN TO MAKE THE SURROUNDING AIR UNFIT TO BREATHE AND POSSIBLY CAUSE ILLNESS. IF A PERSON BREATHES PROPANE GAS OR AIR THAT LACKS OXYGEN DUE TO THE PRESENCE OF PROPANE GAS, HEADACHE, DIZZINESS, AND WEAKNESS IN THE EXTREMITIES CAN OCCUR. IN SEVERE CASES, PROLONGED BREATHING OF PROPANE-FOULED AIR CAN CAUSE SUFFOCATION. IN THE EVENT OF ILLNESS FROM INHALING PROPANE GAS, MOVE THE VICTIM IMMEDIATELY TO FRESH AIR AND CONTACT A PHYSICIAN OR MEDICAL EMERGENCY PERSONNEL FOR ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION OR OTHER REQUIRED TREATMENT.
^ DO NOT NEEDLESSLY VENT PROPANE FUEL DURING SERVICE, AND DO NOT OPEN THE 80% STOP-FILL VALVE WHILE A VEHICLE IS INSIDE A BUILDING. WHEN SERVICING THE FUEL SYSTEM, FOLLOW THE RECOMMENDED PROCEDURES TO SHUT OFF THE FUEL TANKS AND RUN THE ENGINE OUT OF FUEL BEFORE DISCONNECTING THE FUEL SYSTEM COMPONENTS. IF THE FUEL TANK(S) ARE BEING SERVICED, HAVE THE FUEL EVACUATED BY TRAINED PERSONNEL AT A LOCAL PROPANE FUEL STATION. LIQUID PROPANE FUEL VAPORIZES AT NORMAL BAROMETRIC PRESSURE AT TEMPERATURES ABOVE -42°C (-44°F), AND EXPANDS TO 270 TIMES ITS VOLUME AS A LIQUID. UNNECESSARY VENTING OF PROPANE FUEL CAN CREATE FIRE AND HEALTH HAZARDS WHICH COULD CAUSE PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH.
^ BE ALERT FOR SITUATIONS THAT MAY CAUSE THE PROPANE FUEL SYSTEM TO VENT FUEL. THESE INCLUDE EXTREMELY HOT DAYS, PARKING NEAR A SPACE HEATER, OR HOISTING A VEHICLE UP NEAR A CEILING HEATER. RELEASE OF PROPANE FUEL IN A CONFINED AREA THROUGH THE PRESSURE RELIEF VALVE COULD OCCUR. THE RELEASE OF PROPANE FUEL IN A CONFINED AREA COULD RESULT IN AN ACCUMULATION OF FLAMMABLE VAPORS. IF FUEL IS VENTED NEAR A HEAT SOURCE, A FIRE OR EXPLOSION COULD OCCUR.
^ DO NOT USE PAINT DRYING OVENS FOR PROPANE FUELED VEHICLES. THE HEAT OF PAINT DRYING OVENS WILL INCREASE THE PRESSURE IN THE FUEL TANKS. THIS COULD CAUSE VENTING OF PROPANE FUEL VAPOR INTO THE OVEN AND RESULT IN A FIRE FROM THE HEAT OR SPARKS IN THE ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT. IF THE FUEL IS CONFINED INSIDE AN OVEN AN EXPLOSION MAY OCCUR. WHEN REFINISHING THE BODY PANELS OF A PROPANE FUELED VEHICLE USE SPOT PAINTING AND DRYING METHODS.
^ IF A CONFINED AREA, SUCH AS A LUBRICATION PIT, HAS BEEN SUBJECTED TO PROPANE GAS THE AREA SHOULD BE INSPECTED FOR ADEQUATE OXYGEN LEVELS BY A LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT BEFORE BEING ENTERED OR PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH MAY OCCUR.
^ THE FUEL SYSTEM PRESSURE MUST BE RELIEVED BEFORE ANY COMPONENT CAN BE REMOVED. THE FUEL TANKS MUST BE EVACUATED PRIOR TO TANK REMOVAL. REMOVAL OF COMPONENTS WITHOUT PRESSURE RELIEF OR TANK EVACUATION CAN CAUSE PROPANE FUEL TO ESCAPE INTO THE AIR AND CAUSE INJURY OR DEATH.
NOTE: The fuel tank must be purged if the interior of the tank has been exposed to air or if the tank is new. The moisture in normal air contains moisture that forms ice crystals at propane storage pressures.
1. Open the outlet valve and release air pressure in the fuel tank.
2. Inject at least 20 ml (1 ounce) of anhydrous methanol for every 9 kg (20 lb) of propane capacity. Rotate the fuel tank until the entire interior surface has been exposed to the anhydrous methanol.
3. Connect the tank to be purged to the propane vapor source.
CAUTION: Do not purge the tank with liquid propane. Liquid propane turns any moisture into ice crystals which prevents flushing. To prevent moisture accumulation, purge the tank at a maximum pressure of 103 kPa (15 psi).
4. Open the supply valve on the fuel tank and close the purge line valve.
5. Open the source valve and allow propane vapor to enter the tank.
6. When the tank pressure reaches 103 kPa (15 psi), close the source valve and open the purge line valve. When the propane vapor is released into the atmosphere the anhydrous methanol containing any moisture will be released to the atmosphere.
7. Pressurize and purge the tank a total of 5 times.
8. Pressurize the tank with propane vapor to 103 kPa (15 psi) for a sixth time and close all valves.
9. Disconnect the tank from the propane vapor source and store it at the 103 kPa (15 psi) pressure. This will prevent moisture from entering the tank.