LPG Filling problems

[frankyworthy]

Hi

Any help welcome please.

I have a T25 Westy California high top 1990. 1.6 turbo diesel. LHD. Imported from Germany 7 years ago.

It has an underslung LPG tank from which the fridge, Eberspracher and cooker draw fuel. It is not for the engine.

When I fill up the fuel goes in very very slowly. Takes a good 5 minutes to get 2 litres in. 2 litres is quite a lot so I can manage but I think it used to take about 8 litres then seem full.

Also the LPG gauge has stopped working. I gather this is common but it definitely used to work. Are the 2 symptoms connected?

Thanks for looking

Paul Daly

[itchyfeet]

sorry no experience of the underslung but the large tanks for the engine pump very slow when they are full

[California Dreamin]

Are the two symptoms connected....Possibly, as the tank could be 3/4 full when you think it's empty.

When I first got mine I tried several times (on different occasions) to fill the tank, the first time I put 80p in it, the second about £1.40, all the time it was nearly full.

I'm pretty sure these tanks take 16 litres of LPG from empty.....when we come back from our 25 days abroad in the summer, the gas is usually reading 5 - 10% and it costs about £10.50 to refill it so 15 litres at 69p a litre is £10.35..so from that 16litres in total is about right.(note* 80% fill max valve)

Yes it's common for these gauges to go faulty and I will explain.

The gauge you see screwed on the front is operated by a magnetic attraction 'through the tank'. Internally (behind the 4 allen screws) there is a mechanism which consists of a bevel gear and right angled spindle with float. It is GERMAN engineering at it's very best 'APART FROM' one thing. The threaded spindle screws into the float and when it works loose the LPG simply leaks by the threads filling up the float chamber with liquid gas so it 'floats no more'!
The fix is to extract the mechanism (after emptying the gas....burning it all off) unscrew the float and refit using 'gas grade' PTFE tape on the threads so the float is liquid tight, rebuild and the gauge works. Did mine about 5 years ago and it still works.

It also sounds as though you might be filling it incorrectly......pull the trigger and lock it off with the trigger lock, the LPG will pump UNTIL full (well 80%) then stop automatically.
You could be mistaken if you keep trying to regulate the amount yourself as every time you let go of the trigger you release the pressure and some gas escapes, re-applying the trigger will try and replace that small amount lost (so you think you are getting more in but you're not).

Martin

[frankyworthy]

Hi

Thanks for that.

I will have a go at stripping the float mechanism down as you describe. I have also been filling it as you describe with the trigger lock on, then pressing the black button.

Have you any experience of the Eberspracher blower staying on either blowing cold or hot air continuously?

Cheers

Paul

[California Dreamin]

Hi

Thanks for that.

I will have a go at stripping the float mechanism down as you describe. I have also been filling it as you describe with the trigger lock on, then pressing the black button.

Have you any experience of the Eberspracher blower staying on either blowing cold or hot air continuously?

Cheers

Paul

There is a continuous 'cold' position...with rocker switch pressed forwards (towards the front). However, if you are rocking it backwards (onto heat) the ebber has a warm up cycle where it blows cold for about 1 - 2 minutes THEN the tone changes and you hear the pump 'ticking' about 3 clicks a second..it then takes a further minute or so before the air exiting starts getting warm.
IF you just get cold DESPITE having the rocker in the correct position and allowing the 3 - 4 minutes? there might be too low voltage. The ebber needs 11.7 volts to start and it could be that a partially charged leisure battery and aging wiring (voltage drop) isn't allowing the ebber the required umph! so it just sits there blowing cold air.
Best way to test this is to start the engine, check you are getting the 13.9 - 14.2 volts at the leisure battery and then try the ebber (still with the engine running) if it goes to 'heat' after the warm up cycle, you know you have a leisure battery/wiring issue.

PS: in regard of the LPG level indicator.....make sure you empty your tank before attempting to remove the float mechanism. This is best done by burning off the gas..... be careful not to melt your cooker lid/rubber trim etc.

Martin

[Oldiebut goodie]

What Eberspächer are you using to be able to run it on LPG?

[California Dreamin]

Hi

Thanks for that.

I will have a go at stripping the float mechanism down as you describe. I have also been filling it as you describe with the trigger lock on, then pressing the black button.

Have you any experience of the Eberspracher blower staying on either blowing cold or hot air continuously?

Cheers

Paul

Tagged on question me thinks ^^^^^^^^^but just in case..... The ebberspacher heater type fitted to the California was either petrol or diesel dependant upon your vehicles engine as it takes it's fuel from main fuel tank.

Martin

[Oldiebut goodie]

Hi


It has an underslung LPG tank from which the fridge, Eberspracher and cooker draw fuel. It is not for the engine.

Paul Daly

This is what I was going on!

[Oldiebut goodie]

Unless he means that he has a Truma who have now amalgamated with Eberspächer.