Hello Dave, saw your editorial,
[snip]
>
>Hey guys, how much propane is in the system any way? 2 lbs?
>
>That is about how much propane is in 12 cans of spray paint! Yes I said
>spray paint. Since 1968 the manufacturers stopped using Freon as a
>propellant and substituted propane. That is why it says on the cans
>"Do not use near fire or flame. Do not dispose of in fire." It is an
>excellent propellant and because of the same characteristics it is an
>excellent refrigerant. And though propane is a green house gas, it is
>not a chlorinated hydrocarbon (ozone depletor).
>
>2 lbs of propane has less explosive hazard as 1/2 gal of gasoline.
>And if the propane escapes from the system, it assumes a gaseous
>form which has a much lower density than gasoline has at STP (Standard
>Temperature and Pressure, meaning 1 atmosphere (14.7 psia) and 70
>degrees F.) Therefore in the event of a leak an enclosed space
>will contain a lot more explosive hazard from liquid than gas.
>
>A leak of 2 lbs per month will dissipate harmlessly and the propane
>within the system is devoid of oxygen and thus will not burn. I think
>the only reason it is not used for this application is because of the
>public perception that it is dangerous. But remember the earliest
>refrigerant was ammonia gas (NH3) which is poisonous! Thank goodness
>we have moved on from there.
>
>I find it confusing that the driving public willingly accepts the
>hazard of driving around with enough stored chemical energy to
>propel them 500 miles horizontally (or many thousands of feet
>vertically) but shriek at the thought of a little bit of propane
>in the cooling system. And the hazard from gasoline is dwarfed by
>the hazard of driving small cars with little crash worthiness on roads
>shared by brain dead, cell phone using, book reading dolts driving
>minivans, sport utes and plush, 4X4 pickup trucks!
>
>Thanks. I feel much better now. I'll get off of the soapbox now.
>
>Dave Massey St. Louis, MO USA
...and agree completely. Have these folks forgotten how dangerous
common gasoline is ?? A propane leak so small that the man has
given up trying to find it is surely nothing to worry about !
My latest near-death experience was the result of a young woman
in a big shiny new sedan, talking on her cell phone and working
on her lap-top computer (my guess = real estate agent) while
passing me in the fast lane of a divided highway, but then slowly
crowding me out of my right lane before she was past, nearly
running me off the right side of the road - and into a bridge pier !
Nearly ruined my day, my shorts, and my `new' Renault Encore com-
muter car that I just spent all weekend getting road-worthy.
Our greatest menace, as LBC or other little car drivers, is probably
distracted / impaired / brain dead drivers of BIG cars and trucks,
and all the gasoline and high-speed mass that they involve.
Thanks for letting me borrow your soap box.
Tom Tweed
SW Ohio
former LBC, Pinto, Motorcycle owner still beating the odds.
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