LPG Question from wannibe

[proliner]

I do not currently own an airstream, although I am actively looking. My brother owns a SOB MH. He told me there is an additive that is put into LPG in the north so that it doesn't freeze... As in, don't buy southern LPG as it will cause a freeze up in the winter in the north. Is he pulling my leg, or is he a victim of a running pratical joke....

[azflycaster]

Propane freezes at -187 Celsius, that's -304 Fahrenheit.

[Shacksman]

Originally Posted by azflycaster

Propane freezes at -187 Celsius, that's -304 Fahrenheit.

I'm living in Canada, eh. Where do I get the antifreeze?

[TBRich]

Originally Posted by azflycaster

Propane freezes at -187 Celsius, that's -304 Fahrenheit.

I don't think we have to worry, eh, Richard??

[2airishuman]

Originally Posted by proliner

He told me there is an additive that is put into LPG in the north so that it doesn't freeze...

hi 'liner and welcome to the forums...

u are allowed 9 more posts before buying a 'stream is required....

i've read that the formulation for liquified petroleum gas (the p doesn't stand for propane) does change from season to season...

in part to improve the freezing point and for other reasons...

here is a VERY basic reference on the issue...

lpgas-wiki-fied....

cheers
2air'

[lewster]

Originally Posted by proliner

I do not currently own an airstream, although I am actively looking. My brother owns a SOB MH. He told me there is an additive that is put into LPG in the north so that it doesn't freeze... As in, don't buy southern LPG as it will cause a freeze up in the winter in the north. Is he pulling my leg, or is he a victim of a running pratical joke....

proliner,

The 'additive' to which you refer might be the ethyl mercaptan, which gives the LPG it's distinctive odor. Otherwise, it has no smell to warn you of a leak!

Pure LPG is often 'blended' with butane with the blend varying by geographic location and the seasons. Butane is cheaper than LPG, which is why it's used as a blending agent, but it freezes at 32* F, so you have to watch out when filling tanks in a warm (read South) location and then traveling to the cold, cold North! I get calls on this problem every winter when the Snowbirds go home early and lose the use of their LP appliances due to the large amount of butane used in FL.

[Fyrzowt]

Originally Posted by lewster

proliner,

The 'additive' to which you refer might be the ethyl mercaptan, which gives the LPG it's distinctive odor. Otherwise, it has no smell to warn you of a leak!

Pure LPG is often 'blended' with butane with the blend varying by geographic location and the seasons. Butane is cheaper than LPG, which is why it's used as a blending agent, but it freezes at 32* F, so you have to watch out when filling tanks in a warm (read South) location and then traveling to the cold, cold North! I get calls on this problem every winter when the Snowbirds go home early and lose the use of their LP appliances due to the large amount of butane used in FL.

So - do you have to make fuel/air mixture adjustments between the two fuels, or does the temperature handle that...provided you purchase it in the proper climate?
I hope my question is clear
Dave

[Wayne&Sam]

When I was a boy, we had snow 12 feet deep, walked to school- uphill both ways- and it frequently got down to -304. But those were the good old days.

[olddog299]

Originally Posted by Fyrzowt

So - do you have to make fuel/air mixture adjustments between the two fuels, or does the temperature handle that...provided you purchase it in the proper climate?
I hope my question is clear
Dave

As a resident of the "cold,cold North" it's best to burn off your tanks by mid-Fall during bird hunting / leaf-peeping season and refill with some fresh, Northern-blended fuel. I fell prey to this problem on the way to Louisiana last year during a cold snap in Tennessee. It disappeared when I got to Mississippi...

No adjustment is required - just avoid the issue by having your tanks filled in autumn. The biggest part of the problem is when tanks are low and the humidity level is high just at or near the freezing point of water. To make sure I have "fresh" fuel, I use a gas thief arrangement to provide gas for a lantern and my BBQ. Even with 30 pound tanks, it is easy enough to use up the "old" gas over the summer.

[canadianguy]

Originally Posted by lewster

The 'additive' to which you refer might be the ethyl mercaptan, which gives the LPG it's distinctive odor. Otherwise, it has no smell to warn you of a leak!

I don't think ethyl mercaptan is added to LPG. Ethyl mercaptan is a whole lot nastier smelling than the leaking LPG I've smelled. It is added to natural gas for leak detection purposes though.

I've used propane down to about -10 without trouble, but it can get cold enough that the pure propane with no butane at all can still gel up. It doesn't have to freeze, it just has to get cold enough that it will liquify without any compression at all.

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

Hi, according to the link 2air posted, [post #5] "A powerful odorant, Ethanethiol" is used for propane.

[Pick]

Butane is cheaper than LPG, which is why it's used as a blending agent

Ahhhh, that's why propane costs twice as much here in Florida. Twice the profit!

Local RV places are up to $4 for bulk fill. Propane distributors are closer to $5.

[lewster]

Originally Posted by Fyrzowt

So - do you have to make fuel/air mixture adjustments between the two fuels, or does the temperature handle that...provided you purchase it in the proper climate?
I hope my question is clear
Dave

NOPE!

No adjustments are necessary to your air/fuel mix to accomodate alternative LP blends.

Glad I'm in the Pac NW now, where LP is $2.49-2.79 a gallon and I need a double tank fill.

What's with FL anyway? Diesel was consistently $.40-.50/ga,llon above premium. Here in OR, it's between a dime and a quarter more.

I STILL think it's a CONSPIRACY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!