XPost: alt.home.repair   
   From: rod.speed.aaa@gmail.com   
      
   micky  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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