by With the onset of cold weather, owners of vehicles equipped with gas systems often encounter malfunctions in the operation of the gas equipment. Causes and nature of these malfunctions are discussed by a representative from VipGaz Center.
For modern gas-cylinder systems, there is no difference between winter and summer operation. However, it is during the cold season that installation errors and incorrect system settings become apparent. We will touch on the main points further. Meanwhile, there are also some recommendations for second-generation gas-cylinder equipment. Where to install gas equipment in Kyiv to avoid issues, you might have already guessed.
GBO 2: The Better the Heating, the Less Condensate
Reducers-evaporators under the “gas carburetor” technology during the winter period may require more attention from the car owner. The reason is that condensate collects in the unit’s sump, which should preferably be drained on time. Condensate forms in the summer as well, but during the warm season, a 10,000 km service interval is sufficient for timely removal of benzene resins and other inclusions, always present in propane-butane. In winter, however, the inclusions do not have time to evaporate due to short drives at low revs in city conditions.
If you are unfamiliar with the drain procedure, consult our specialist.
The accumulation of condensate is also facilitated by the early switching of the car to gas mode. Remember that the coolant temperature should reach at least 40°C before you switch to propane. Furthermore, starting a cold engine and driving “on cold” gas increases the wear of the reducer-evaporator. An incorrect mixture composition at this moment accelerates valve wear.
What Happens to Condensate in GBO 4?
The distributed gas injection system is controlled by electronics — an electronic control unit (ECU). Therefore, driver intervention is not required here, processes occur automatically and absolutely correctly. Even draining condensate is not necessary — this option is simply absent as there’s no need for it. The manual switch function is available, of course, but it is more intended for emergency situations when the fuel runs out or the fuel pump fails.
If you abuse cold starts and insufficient heating on GBO 4th generation, not only the reducer is affected, but also the gas injectors: the condensate, which is harmless for the engine and burns off in the cylinders without a trace, deposits on the injector rods, increasing the wear of friction surfaces. At some point, the valve may “stick” in one of its positions or the injector “miscalibrates” due to wear (changing the opening-closing time of the rod), which in cases with non-disassemblable injectors cannot be “treated” — replacement is required.
Main Installation Errors
Major issues with a car running on gas in winter arise due to incorrect incorporation of the reducer-heater circuit into the car’s cooling system. The first sign of a mistake is insufficient heating of the heater. Similar symptoms occur with low coolant levels. Additionally, mistakes in arranging gas equipment components onboard the car are not uncommon. For example, due to an unsuccessful location of the reducer, its heating circuit might become airlocked or the body itself is blown by incoming air streams at high speeds. To avoid such problems, turn to certified installers. See which documents a service company should have to legally install gas equipment on our website.
