LPG filling time

[325i]

Its been over 18 months since I converted my BMW 325i and overall it has been great. The conversion has more than paid back for itself which im very pleased about.

But now I have got a new job and will be doing almost double the milleage I was doing before and therefore i'm planning on keeping the car for even longer now.

The one thing which I was never really 100% happy with is the filling time. I know understand slow filling time is a common problem on LPG vehicles.

I have been doing some research and this very topic was mentioned not that long ago, http://www.lpgforum.co.uk/viewtopic.php ... 46&start=0

It shows that the filling time for some is a litre every 3 seconds, I am definetly not getting this at the moment so would like to know what I can do to speed things up.

Option 1 - fit a 4 hole tank. 4 hole tanks are around double the price of single hole and I believe the installation is more involving? Are they actually worth it and is filling time much quicker?

Option 2 - fit a different multivavle By reading the thread mentioned earlier it seems like different valves can speed up time. I'm not sure what valve I have. If i take a picture of it, will that help to identify it? What is the best/quickest multivalve?

Also, I currently use a adapter but If i replace this with a standard filler, will that speed up filling time?

That is my current system


I will speak to my installer next week but I thought it would be good to ask here to get some impartial feedback.

[Tubbs]

Even 18 months doesn't make it fall under the auspices of the code of practice. Especially the bit about fixed bayonet fillers and adaptor snot being used.
Anyhow. Take a pic of the valve, the tomasetto ones seem to be the worst for filling, the little plastic cap thing inside can get stuck/deformed and make them fill slowly.
The fix is to undo the fill pipe and push it in with the end of a biro. That often works to speed up the fill. A good valve and a single hole will fill at pretty much the same rate as a 4 hole. As long as the pipes not kinked.

[325i]

Ill take a photo of it tomorrow. To be honest I dont think its a fault as its always been that speed.

[andy evans autogas]

As with everything, it's all down to cost and personally I've only ever found 'multivalves' to have an 8mm OD fill pipe input, where as a 4 hole tank has an 8mm (or there abouts) ID. So providing you fit a 4 hole tank with JIC hose & filler and no reducing adapters you will get a faster fill rate .... 8mm ID ...or 8mm OD is the difference

[Tubbs]

Take a pic. It may have always been slow because of the plastic thingamijig inside the filler.

[325i]

I had a look at the valve today and it is a Tomasetto. It does say on it mod.at02, here is a pic of it


So my question is, are there better valves on the market which I can use instead which will speed up filling time?

[Tubbs]

Emer valves fill very well. But first I would undo the fill pipe and give the plastic thing a prod a couple of times and see if that helps.

[325i]

Is this something I can do myself or only a LPG specialist?

[325i]

I filled up today and it was taking around 5-6 seconds for one litre. Am I correct in saying this is slow as it should take around 3 seconds?

[Tubbs]

It wholly depends on the pump. If the tanks are miles away from the pump then they can be slow. If it's a tank behind the pump then it should be quicker.

[325i]

It wholly depends on the pump. If the tanks are miles away from the pump then they can be slow. If it's a tank behind the pump then it should be quicker.

At a countrywide outlet, the tanks are next to the pump and its still the same rate.

I'll try another station to make sure.

Also the tip you mentioned previously about the filler pipe, am I ok to do this?

[Tubbs]

I don't see why not. You may have a bit of gas in the pipe. But once you have loosened the nut it will soon go. It just depends on how competent you feel I suppose. No one can safely say 'yes it's ok' it's up to you really.
If it's a countrywide pump, they are generally pretty quick.

[325i]

Thanks, I'll try it on the weekend. I am an engineer but wasn't sure whether it had to be done by a LPG from a safety point of view.

Also, will replacing the current filler with a proper one make much difference?

[325i]

Looking to get some feedback from other lpg users. Roughly, what is your filling time? How many seconds does a litre take?

[antimony]

My local gas station used to be about 10 litres a minute, but apparently they "tweeked" something and now it start at about 18 litres per minutes, finishing at about 16 litres per minutes. So 56 litres takes just over 3 minutes.

[Active_Lad]

I guess we are talking averages here. Litres 1-10 probably take 4 seconds on average. Litres 50-56 (on a 70 liquid litre tank) about 40 seconds! I think it often depends on how gutsy the actual pump is rather than the distance from the main tanks. Morrisons at Spalding (tanks close to the pump) fill fairly quickly at the beginning then run out of puff before the tank is full so you end up with less than a full tank whereas my local has the tanks way over the other side of the forecourt and just keep giving until I lose my nerve!

[P0RSCH3]

About 3 mins from empty to full for 48 litres into a 60 litre tank on average. Often wondered what is happening when you get one of the pumps that does not positively cut out at full and the pennies just keep climbing for ever. Where is the money going?
Seeping past the shut off valve into the tank?
Pressurising the hose so the next customer gets a free blast on connection?
LPG is not going anywhwere and money is seeping slowly from my wallet into the stations profits?



GT

Eta Engineering
http://www.h-eta.co.uk

[rossko]

Seeping past the shut off valve into the tank?

Yes.
Liquid is incompressible. You're not being diddled.