LPG tank stuff...

Post Mon Jun 26, 2006 11:42 am

Hokay, having had an LPG kit (as removed from another m20 engined E30) sat in my garage for months, it's not saved me much money yet so I think I should fit it!

It would be a (theoretically) pretty simple job I hope, apart from the fact that I'm fitting a different tank. The cylindrical one that came with the kit would take up the whole boot in my cab (it won't fit up next to the rear seats), so I've got a toroidal tank instead. It's got a different valve setup from the other tank though, so I need to get round that somehow... Can I swap them over? How would I go about draining the tanks if I wanted to do that? Or can I use the one on the toroidal tank? With an extra solenoid perhaps? Where would I get one of those??! You get the idea - help!

The cylindrical tank (which I'm not gonna use):

The toroidal tank (which I am gonna use):

Post Mon Jun 26, 2006 9:35 pm

Both tanks appear to have valves, so why do you want to change it?
To drain either tank (again, why?), place the tank in the middle of a field and turn the knurled nut near the smaller pipe. When it stops hissing, then you can carefully loosen the ring of securing nuts. Don't get air into any tank you are going to re use. Current regulations require the valves to have an electrically operated solenoid valve on the tank, rather than the manual shut off (knurled nut).
You can probably get away with an additional solenoid valve mounted as close as possible to the multivalve, but it would be better to change it for a new one.

Post Mon Jun 26, 2006 9:49 pm

Just been looking through the rest of the pics, which I presume are of the donor car.
This installation appears to have been illegal. The reducer and gas lines ate too close to the exhaust, and the vapour pipe from the reducer to the air meter should be as short as possible for throttle response.
I also can't see any indication of an adjuster valve in the vapour pipe.
I would strongly recommend you invest about Ã‚£150-00 for a Leonardo gas ECU, stepper valve, software and lambda sensor to convert this to a second generation system

Post Tue Jun 27, 2006 9:38 am

Thanks for the help Brian

Sorry if (/that!) I sound thick about all this - I really don't know a lot about LPG yet...

Was gonna swap the multivalves with the thought that the one on the cylindrical tank would be easiest to use with the rest of the kit. Looking at it now though, they're pretty much the same aren't they?!

You can probably get away with an additional solenoid valve mounted as close as possible to the multivalve, but it would be better to change it for a new one.

New multivalve? From where? & how to swap it? That's where the draining of the tank comes in I'd guess...?

Just been looking through the rest of the pics, which I presume are of the donor car.

The pics are indeed from the donor car... where have you routed the lines on your car?

I would strongly recommend you invest about Ã‚£150-00 for a Leonardo gas ECU, stepper valve, software and lambda sensor to convert this to a second generation system

Ok! What are the benefits? Can I get it up & running as it is, then upgrade easily enough?

Cheers

Jon

Post Tue Jun 27, 2006 9:45 pm

brian, as you appear to be the resident oracle of LPG (in addition to everything related to wiggly volts and electric string) have you seen any good sites relating to LPG?

i reckon i will need to convert my 335i to be able to affort to keep it but find the idea of forced induction on LPG amusing (long term plans...). i can't find any decent info on LPG conversions as everyone wants to either covert it for me or get me to pay for the info. have you seen anything good on the web or is your knowledge all first hand?

Post Tue Jun 27, 2006 10:53 pm

We're going to have to clone Brian so that one of him can answer questions on here 24/7 and the other one can do spanner/multimeter/soldering work ;)

Post Tue Jun 27, 2006 10:58 pm

There's an idea for a top seller in the zone shop!

Post Tue Jun 27, 2006 11:58 pm

Ziggy wrote:Thanks for the help Brian

New multivalve? From where? & how to swap it? That's where the draining of the tank comes in I'd guess...?

The pics are indeed from the donor car... where have you routed the lines on your car?

I would strongly recommend you invest about Ã‚£150-00 for a Leonardo gas ECU, stepper valve, software and lambda sensor to convert this to a second generation system
Ok! What are the benefits? Can I get it up & running as it is, then upgrade easily enough?

Cheers
Jon

Tinley Tech, WTV-UK and lpgkitdirect are all DIY suppliers for multivalves, which need to be the correct one for the tank for the 80% fill cut off to work properly.

The gas pipe on my car roughly follows the rear metal brake pipes all the way from where it comes out of the torroidal tank to the front of the car.
Filter/solenoid valve is mounted on the front left suspension turret, and the reducer is mounted on the front left chassis rail in front of the turret.

Advantage of the Leonardo is that the system is easy to tune, and stays tuned, even with different (French) gas mixes. Also, you can set up things like over run cut off and have a rev limiter.
Can be fitted afterwards easily enough, although fitting the lambda sensor might be an idea when you're doing the major work.
Leonardo changeover switch is an almost perfect fit into a spare E30 switch position, by the way. Looks totaly like it belongs there, rather than that abortion on the under steering column panel.

Post Wed Jun 28, 2006 12:02 am

gareth wrote:) have you seen any good sites relating to LPG?

There's uk.rec.cars.fuel.lpg, egroups.com/group/lp-gas, and www.lpgforum.co.uk which are all faitly active and helpfull.

Post Wed Jun 28, 2006 8:28 pm

Brianmoooore wrote:
gareth wrote:) have you seen any good sites relating to LPG?
There's uk.rec.cars.fuel.lpg, egroups.com/group/lp-gas, and www.lpgforum.co.uk which are all faitly active and helpfull.

cheers!