XPost: alt.home.repair

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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XPost: alt.home.repair

micky <NONONOmisc07@fmguy.com> 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.

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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.

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XPost: alt.home.repair

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?

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XPost: alt.home.repair

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/getmedia/126702bb-c40c-48f5-8131-0ee2712f3380/Propane-MSDS-Sheet.pdf

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