fuel pressure FIAT IDEA 2008 1.G LPG Supplement Manual

4
FIAT IDEA LPG
KNOWING YOUR CAR
Introduction
The LPG version of the car features two
fuel systems: one for petrol and one for
LPG.
Like the petrol system, the LPG system
is the phased, sequential multipoint type
with special injectors.LPG Multipoint injection system
This product is produced in strict collab-
oration with prestigious suppliers in the
LPG sector.
The injection system used on the car is an
efficient system in terms of engine per-
formance and is based on the injection of
LPG in a gaseous state.
In this four-injector system, one for each
intake manifold, the fuel is injected directly
into the engine heat transfer ducts there-
by metering the LPG very precisely im-
proving combustion and, at the same time,
excluding any possibility of flame return.
By adapting the electronic control tech-
nology of petrol engines to meet LPG
specifications, important results in terms
of driveability and controlling exhaust
emissions have been obtained.
Engines running on LPG have almost the
same torque/power specifications as when
running on petrol and, as a result, car per-
formance is also comparable. What is LPG?
LPG (the acronym for Liquefied Petrole-
um Gas) is a mixture of gas used as a safe
and economical primary energy source.
Its main components are: propane gas and
butane gas mixed in various proportions.
These gases are a product of petroleum
refinement and are also naturally present
in oil fields and methane-producing de-
posits.
In its natural state this mixture takes the
form of a gas, but as the pressure in-
creases, at room temperature, it can eas-
ily be turned into liquid.
LPG is a fuel with a low environmental im-
pact because it reduces the pollution pro-
duced by vehicle exhaust gases.
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6
FIAT IDEA LPG
When oven painting, the LPG
tank should be removed from
the car and later carefully re-
fitted by a Fiat Dealer. Al-
though the LPG system has numerous
safety features, it is advisable to close
the manual tap on the tank whenever
the car is not used for a long period, is
transported on other vehicles or moved
in an emergency as a result of a break-
down or accident.
Active safety
The car has the same active safety speci-
fications as other versions.
The Fiat Idea LPG is equipped
with a gaseous LPG injection
system designed specifically
for the car: it is therefore
strictly prohibited to alter the config-
uration of the system and components.
The use of other components or ma-
terials could cause malfunctioning and
lead to a reduction in safety. Please re-
fer to a registered Fiat dealer for any
assistance necessary. When towing or
raising the car, to prevent damage to
the gas system parts, follow the in-
structions in the Owner’s Handbook in
the ‘Towing the car’ chapter.
It should be pointed out that
in some countries (including
Italy) there are legal restrictions in
force for parking/garaging motor ve-
hicles with gas that has a higher den-
sity than air. LPG comes under this
category.
WARNINGPASSIVE SAFETY -
ACTIVE SAFETY
Passive safety
The car has the same passive safety spec-
ifications as other versions. Specifically,
tank mountings (located in the spare
wheel housing) have been designed to pass
impact tests in accordance with Fiat safe-
ty standards.
When running on LPG, the flow of gas (in
a liquid state) leaving the tank, passes
through the specific pipe to the pressure
regulator, where there is a safety solenoid
valve that stops the flow of LPG when the
key is turned off or when the driver se-
lects a fuel change (decision to run on
petrol).
Together with the regulator solenoid
valve, a second solenoid valve, in the tank,
closes the LPG pipe at the tank outlet.
In the event of impact, the two solenoid
valves are closed, after which the engine
cuts out due to the fuel cut off system.
The LPG tank meets the legal safety stan-
dards of the countries in which the ver-
sion illustrated in this Supplement is mar-
keted.
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7
FIAT IDEA LPG
FUNCTIONAL SYSTEM DIAGRAM
Description of the functional system diagram Fig. 2
1LPG tank - 2Multivalve assembly and safety devices - 3LPG refuelling filler - 4LPG piping - 5Pressure regulator - 6LPG injec-
tors - 7LPG in gaseous state filter element - 8LPG injection system electronic control unit - 9LPG-petrol switch and LPG gauge
- 10Petrol tank.
F0H0778mfig. 2
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8
FIAT IDEA LPG
LPG TANK
The vehicle has a (pressurised) tank A -
Fig. 3for LPG in a liquid state that is
toroidal in shape and located in the spare
wheel housing, where it is suitably pro-
tected.
The LPG in the tank Ais always in both liq-
uid and gaseous state, in a physical balanced
condition.
The liquid, which cannot be compressed,
dilates by around 0.25% for each increase
in temperature of one degree. For this
reason a suitable space allowing the in-
crease in volume of the liquid for all fore-
seeable temperature increases is guaran-
teed (e.g. car parked in the sunshine in
summer), without compromising tank in-
tegrity.
There is a safety valve that automatically
limits tank refilling (during refuelling) to a
maximum level of 80% (liquid) of its total
capacity.Periodically (at least once
every six months) it is advis-
able to let the LPG in the tank
run out and, at the first refu-
elling, check that it does not exceed the
maximum capacity of 31 litres (with a
tolerance of 2 litres excess) (see in-
structions in ‘Capacities’ paragraph in
this Supplement). If the value exceeds
31 litres, please go to a Fiat Dealer im-
mediately.
LPG TANK CERTIFICATION
The LPG tank is certified in accor-
dance with current regulations.
In Italy, the tank has a life of 10 years
as from car registration. If the car
has been registered in a different
country from Italy, the life of the
LPG tank and test/inspection proce-
dures may vary depending on the
laws in force in that particular coun-
try. In any case, when the time lim-
it in the individual country has run
out, go to a Fiat Dealer to have the
tank replaced.There is a plate on the tank B - Fig. 3con-
taining the following information:
- homologation country identification and
homologation number;
- type of gas for it has been designed
(LPG);
- name of tank manufacturer;
- tank test pressure (30 bar);
- maximum refilling percentage (80%);
- tank dimensions;
- nominal tank capacity in litres;
- tank manufacture date (month/year);
- tank serial number.
fig. 3F0H0775m
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13
FIAT IDEA LPG
Switch from petrol to LPG
When running on petrol: press button A
- Fig 7, the switch to LPG will take place
automatically at the first significant accel-
eration.
During switching:
– the LPG gauge Bcomes on;
– the yellow OFFLED goes out (petrol
operating mode);
– the green ONLED comes on, switch-
ing from intermittent to on constantly
(LPG operating mode);
There are 5 LEDs B(1 red and 4 green)
on the left of the switch that display the
amount of LPG in the tank.
When the amount of LPG remaining falls
below about 1/5 of the capacity of the
tank, only the red (reserve) LED remains
on, signalling the need to refuel.
IMPORTANT Where starting the engine
in external temperatures of below -10°C,
switching times from petrol to LPG in-
crease to allow the pressure regulator to
become warm enough.IMPORTANT The buzzer warns the dri-
ver that the engine is running on petrol;
therefore they must refuel with LPG be-
fore it runs out.
THE buzzer can be deactivated by press-
ing switching button A.
Do not switch between the
two operating modes whilst
starting the engine.Switching from LPG to petrol
When running on LPG: press buttonA -
fig. 7.
During switching:
– the LPG gauge Bgoes out;
– the yellow OFF LED comes on con-
stantly (petrol operating mode);
– the green ONLED goes out (LPG op-
erating mode).
LPG used up
If the LPG runs out, switching to petrol
takes place automatically with:
– the yellow OFFLED on constantly;
– the green ONLED flashing;
– an acoustic warning sounded by the
switch buzzer (fast frequency).
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16
FIAT IDEA LPG
MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE
Additional operations to the Maintenance Schedule in the Owner’s Handbook.
Thousands of kilometres
Visually inspect the condition of: LPG piping and connectors and
LPG tank fastening
Replacement of filter inside the pressure regulator
Paper filter replacement (LPG in gaseous state)
Check operation and parameters of fuel supply system
using self-diagnostic socket20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180
●●●●● ●●●●
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22
FIAT IDEA LPG
CAPACITIES
Petrol
Petrol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . litres 47
– reserve . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . litres 5÷7
LPG
– maximum refuelling
capacity (*) . . . . . . . . . . . . . litres 31
(*) The figure already takes into account
the 80% tank filling limit and the residual
fluid required for the pump, it is the max-
imum permitted capacity. There may be
slight variations to this figure as a re-
sult of: differences between the supply
pressures of pumps in the network,
pumps with different supply/cut off
specifications, tank not completely in
reserve condition.Note than when using a fuel such as LPG,
the range is very variable because, in ad-
dition to the vehicle driving and mainte-
nance conditions, it also depends on the
composition of the gas which may vary,
not only seasonally, but also from suppli-
er to supplier. LPG is, in effect, a compo-
sition of gas (butane and propane) mixed
in a way that may not be standardised.
The trip meter indication on range is in-
dicative and refers to petrol operation on-
ly.
During LPG operation, the ‘Instant con-
sumption’ and ‘Average consumption’
readings are not significant, whereas all
other functions remain valid.
IMPORTANT Only use LPG for mo-
tor vehicles. If, when refuelling with LPG,
the tank is filled with more
than the 31 litres, seek imme-
diate assistance from a Fiat
Dealer. Periodically (at least once
every six months) it is advisable to let
the LPG in the tank run out and, at the
first refuelling, check that it does not
exceed the maximum capacity of 31
litres.
The LPG supply system is
equipped with a "consump-
tion" function linked to the LED display
of LPG level on the switch; this function
activates only after a consistent varia-
tion in fuel level has been detected. You
are therefore advised to fill up with fu-
el at the first LPG refuelling to obtain a
more precise indication of the “level".
WARNING
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