2009 FIAT PANDA fuel pressure

4
FIAT PANDA 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 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 system with four injectors, one for
each intake manifold, the fuel is injected
directly into the engine heat transfer
ducts thereby metering the LPG very pre-
cisely improving combustion and, at the
same time, excluding any possibility of
flame return.
By adapting the electronic control tech-
nology of petrol engines to meet the spec-
ifications of LPG, it has been possible to
achieve important results in terms of dri-
veability and controlling exhaust emissions.
Engines running on LPG have almost the
same torque/power specifications as when
running on petrol and, as a result, the per-
formance of the car is also comparable. What is LPG?
LPG (the abbreviation of liquefied petro-
leum gas) is a mixture of gas used as an
economical and safe 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 present naturally
in oil fields and methane-producing de-
posits.
In its natural state this mixture is in a
gaseous state but, as the pressure in-
creases, at ambient temperature, it can
easily be turned into a liquid state.
LPG is a fuel with a low environmental im-
pact because it reduces the pollution pro-
duced by vehicle exhaust gases.
603_97_595GB PANDA GPL Euro 5 16-12-2009 12:58 Pagina 4

7
FIAT PANDA LPG
SYSTEM FUNCTIONAL DIAGRAM
Description of the system functional diagram fig. 2
1LPG tank –2Multivalve unit and safety devices –3LPG refuelling fitting –4LPG piping –5Pressure regulator –6LPG injectors
–7Gaseous LPG filter element –8LPG injection system electronic control unit –9LPG-petrol switch and LPG gauge
–10Fuel tank.
10
12
3
7
564
9
8
F0Z0803mfig. 2
603_97_595GB PANDA GPL Euro 5 16-12-2009 12:58 Pagina 7

8
FIAT PANDA LPG
LPG TANK
The vehicle has a (pressurized) tank A-fig. 3
for LPG in a liquid state that is toroidal
in shape and located in the housing for the
spare wheel with suitable protection.
The LPG in the tank Ais always in a liquid
and gaseous state, in physical equilibrium
conditions.
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 full sun in
summer) without compromising the in-
tegrity of the tank.
In effect, there is a safety valve that auto-
matically limits the refilling of the tank
(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 the maximum ca-
pacity of 31litres is not exceeded
(27 litres for the VAN version) (surplus
of 2 litres is allowed) (see contents of
Capacities” paragraph in this supple-
ment). If the level is above 31litres
(27 litres for the VAN version) (surplus
of 2 litres is allowed) go to a Fiat deal-
er immediately.
LPG TANK CERTIFICATION
The LPG tank is certified in accor-
dance with current regulations.
In Italy the tank has a life of 10 years
from the registration date of the car.
If the vehicle has been registered in
a country other than Italy, the dura-
tion and the testing/inspection pro-
cedures of LPG tank can vary de-
pending on the national provisions in
force in that country. In any case,
when the time limit in the individ-
ual country has run out, go to a Fiat
Dealer to have the tank replaced.B-fig. 3containing the following infor-
mation:
– homologation country identification and
homologation number;
– type of gas for which it is 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. 3F0Z0804m
603_97_595GB PANDA GPL Euro 5 16-12-2009 12:58 Pagina 8

13
FIAT PANDA LPG
Switch from petrol to LPG
With petrol fuel supply: press the 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 LED OFF goes out (petrol
operating mode);
– the green LED ON 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 goes
below about 1/5 of the capacity of the
tank, only the red (reserve) LED remains
on to signal the need for refuelling.
IMPORTANT In the case of starting at
outside temperatures of below -10 °C, the
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 he must refuel with LPG before
it runs out.
THE buzzer can be deactivated by press-
ing the switching button A.
Do not switch between the
two operating modes whilst
starting the engine. Switching from LPG to petrol
With LPG supply: press the buttonA-
fig. 7.
During switching:
– the LPG gauge Bgoes out;
– the yellow LED OFF comes on con-
stantly (petrol operating mode);
– the green LED ON goes out (LPG op-
erating mode).
LPG run out
If the LPG runs out, switching to petrol
takes place automatically with:
– the yellow LED OFF on constantly;
– the green LED ON flashing;
– an acoustic warning from the switch
buzzer (fast frequency).
603_97_595GB PANDA GPL Euro 5 16-12-2009 12:58 Pagina 13

16
FIAT PANDA LPG
SCHEDULED SERVICING PLAN
Additional operations to the Servicing Plan in the Owner Handbook.
Thousands of kilometres
Visual check on conditions: 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 socket
Check mechanical tappet clearance and restore if necessary20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180
●●●●● ●●●●
●
●●●●● ●●●●
●●●●● ●●●●
●●●●● ●●●●
603_97_595GB PANDA GPL Euro 5 16-12-2009 12:58 Pagina 16

21
FIAT PANDA LPG
supply pressures of pumps in the net-
work, pumps with different sup-
ply/stop specifications, tank not com-
pletely in reserve condition.
It should be remembered that when using
a fuel such as LPG the range is very vari-
able because, as well as driving and car
maintenance conditions, it also depends
on the different composition of the gas
which can vary not only seasonally but al-
so from supplier to supplier. LPG is, in ef-
fect, a composition of gas (butane and
propane) mixed in a way that may not be
standardized.
BOOT CAPACITY
Capacity with vehicle unladen (V.D.A. standards) in dm3
One-piece and split rear seat
Under rear parcel shelf with rear backrest in normal position
To waist level with rear backrest folded over
Max. to the roof with rear backrest folded over
Max. to the roof with rear backrest folded over (with sun roof)
Volume of the load carrying compartment (2-seater VAN version)
Volume of the load carrying compartment (4-seater VAN version)187
471
841
796
1000
256
CAPACITIES
Petrol
Petrol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . litres 35
– including a reserve of . . . litres 5
LPG
– maximum refuelling
capacity (*) . . . . . . . litres 31/27 (▲)
(▲) VAN version
(*) The value already takes into account
the 80% filling limit of the tank and the
residual fluid necessary for the priming and
is the maximum permitted refilling. This
value may undergo slight changes
from one refilling operation to the
next due to: differences between the The trip meter indication on range is indica-
tive and refers to petrol operation only.
During LPG operation, the Instant con-
sumption and Average consumption read-
ings are not significant, whereas all other
functions remain valid.
IMPORTANT Only use LPG for mo-
tor vehicles.
603_97_595GB PANDA GPL Euro 5 16-12-2009 12:58 Pagina 21