HBO installation in winter. What to check, what to replace, what to remember?

There are almost three million cars with gas installations on our roads. Their operation is much cheaper, but especially in winter they require special care.

Otherwise, with the advent of low temperatures, problems with daily operation will begin. Of course, a gas-powered engine will not work well if the LPG installation is not properly chosen.

Proper LPG installation is essential

Therefore, its assembly should be trusted only by proven mechanics. First of all, specialists must diagnose the engine and determine what installation is necessary so that the car does not cause problems. Secondly, they must find out if the power unit needs to be repaired. Installing the unit is beneficial only with a serviceable engine.

HBO installations are divided into two groups - mixers of the simplest type (price from PLN 1600 to 1900) and more complex - sequential (cost - depending on the generation - from PLN 2100 to 4800). The first ones are installed only on old cars, so it’s not worth discussing with a mechanic who recommends installing more modern equipment. Moreover, its operation should not be more expensive. The LPG engine and the installation itself require special handling, especially in winter.

Air filter

A feature of the gas is that it is burned by the so-called suction. Therefore, if the engine parameters are set with a new or clean air filter, then if it is clogged, for example, after a summer trip to the mountains, the engine may lose speed. Then there is not enough air in the gas mixture. Therefore, in gas burner installations, it is necessary to install a new filter at least once a year. The best option is to change the engine oil.

Cooling system

The job of the coolant in propane-fueled vehicles is also to heat the gas, allowing it to expand. So if there is too little liquid in the radiator, the gas can even freeze the gearbox. Then the car will be immobilized. So, let's take a look at the cooling system.

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Spark plug

In cars with a gas installation, you do not need to use special spark plugs. The cheapest ones will work just as well if they are replaced frequently – like every 20. km. Gas is more difficult to ignite, so if the spark is weak, the engine will run unevenly, and the so-called. misfire. Therefore, we do not recommend adjusting the spark plug gap yourself.

ignition wires

Sometimes, instead of spark plugs, faulty high-voltage cables can be the cause of problems with starting a car or uneven engine operation. Punctures form on them, therefore, the ignition spark is too weak. We ourselves can verify the quality of the cables. It is enough to lift the hood with the engine running. Of course in the evening. Then we can see how sparks appear on the wires, i.e. breakdowns. These cables must be replaced. Preventively, the old ones must be replaced with new ones, every 80-100 thousand. km.

Simplicity is not an advantage

Adjustment before winter is especially important in cars that are equipped with the simplest settings, i.e. mixing. Due to their design, they often become unregulated. And then we may have problems even with driving in the lower rev range. A visit to the diagnostician is all the more advisable because the currently sold gas contains more propane (gas is a mixture of propane and butane). This, in turn, means that if technically perfect installations themselves adjust to a new mixture, then in the simplest ones this should be done by a diagnostician. Therefore, we must carry out periodic inspections at least twice a year, preferably in spring and autumn. Remember that a car, or rather an engine, behaves differently at positive or negative temperatures.

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Follow the gas station

If you had gas from a reliable source, many problems could be avoided. As with gasoline or diesel, selling gas is also unfair. Therefore, it is better to pay extra five to ten cents more and buy fuel at a branded gas station. Thanks to this, the risk of trouble on the track will be lower, and on such a LPG (with a full tank) we will drive 10-30 km more.

Gas is important too.

The driver of a car running on gas must not forget to fill the tank with gasoline. Firstly, the engine is always started by supplying this fuel to it, and secondly, if there is too little gasoline in the tank, water will condense in the tank, which will lead to freezing of the fuel system. To avoid this, it is enough to fill the tank halfway.