Forum Discussion

grahampconrad's avatar
Apr 16, 2014

Propane Contamination

I spend five months in Hemit California, i just got back home. and i found out that my propane was contaminated causing my regulater on my propane to have infection though all the lines. Efecting my heater.thus causing a 1000.00 plus. New lines new tanks laber. IN USA & Mexico the Laws protaining to replace propane is not as strict as Canadian laws in cleaning the propane gas before it gets to the consumer. Is there any way i can filter the propane before it hits the tanks?
  • Ahh, you probably inadvertently bought HD10 propane since you were in California, right?

    If that's the case, no there is nothing you can do to convert it to the right stuff.

    If you bought contaminated HD5, that more than likely occurred at the point of sale. Listening/paying attention to your regulator is the best way to get an indication of contamination. You'll hear liquid gurgling.
  • HD5 is the most purest form of propane. If you got HD10 then it for sure gummed up your lines. You could easily have purged them with ethanol but done is done. Now you know the next time make sure its HD5.
  • Somebody isn't telling the truth here.
    Just pulled this off the propane 101 website.
    " However, HD 10 spec propane works just fine in domestic and commercial propane powered appliances. The only problem that may be encountered in using HD-10 propane involves its use as an engine fuel (vehicles, forklifts, etc.)".
    Dave
  • I had a problem with my 2011 Rockwood Signature 5th wheel. The street side propane tank wouldn't feed to the two way regulator, on the curb side. When I removed the street side pigtail, to check out the one way valve in it, it was all clogged up with a sticky substance that looked like tar. The high pressure regulator (30psi) was also clogged and the hose that carried the propane over to the low pressure regulator, as well at that regulator.

    Upon checking I found that all the parts that were clogged were stamped, Made in India. Now I know that India makes many high quality products but the ones used on my 5t wheel were not in that group. The best we could tell was that the pressure hoses used, were leaching some sticky oily substance out of them when exposed to propane. The same propane supplier was being used with both our RVs but this was the only one that was having problems.

    The solution was to start at the street side 30# tank and replace everything in the propane system that was stamped made in India. Two new pigtails, new cross over hose, new high pressure regulator, new Marshall brand, low pressure auto switch over regulator was put into the system. Now 2 1/2 years later not a problem with the system and still using the same propane distributer.

    The only contamination problems I have every had with LPG, was in growing up on a ranch in southern Oklahoma, where the distributors were prone to pump butane into your large farm tanks, for summer use. It was cheaper for them to buy than propane. The first cold snap of fall would let you know how much butane was mixed in with the propane as the butane had freezing characteristics close to the same as water. In cold weather, you could be showing a half tank and still not be able to get anything to come out of the tank.
  • Never heard of such a problem. How would you know about HD5 or 10? We take what they give us. You would expect the seller to give (sell) you something you can use without trouble and having a sore customer. I think.
  • byronlj wrote:
    Somebody isn't telling the truth here.
    Just pulled this off the propane 101 website.
    " However, HD 10 spec propane works just fine in domestic and commercial propane powered appliances. The only problem that may be encountered in using HD-10 propane involves its use as an engine fuel (vehicles, forklifts, etc.)".
    Dave


    I take it the Gen set wouldn't like it?
  • aruba5er wrote:
    Never heard of such a problem. How would you know about HD5 or 10? We take what they give us. You would expect the seller to give (sell) you something you can use without trouble and having a sore customer. I think.


    Apparently - Propane sold everywhere *except* CA is HD-5.

    Google any of the Propane FAQ sites, propane dealers, HD-5 vs HD-10, etc.

    The content difference is minimal - but sites say the CA propane
    may cause "sticking" in engines..:(

    Good "heads up" (or "BOHICA") for CA residents running gens (or?) on propane. Internet search for HD-5 shows few (if any) locations.:(

    Note:
    There are inexpensive propane fuel filters, as recommended by several brands of propane heaters (like Big Buddy).

    ~
  • grahampconrad wrote:
    I spend five months in Hemit California, i just got back home. and i found out that my propane was contaminated causing my regulater on my propane to have infection though all the lines. Efecting my heater.thus causing a 1000.00 plus. New lines new tanks laber. IN USA & Mexico the Laws protaining to replace propane is not as strict as Canadian laws in cleaning the propane gas before it gets to the consumer. Is there any way i can filter the propane before it hits the tanks?


    Sent you a PM a few days back. Which propane station did you use? We are in Hemet and haven't had an issue so far. Propane is cheap here right now. I paid $1.19 a gallon a few day back. rockin'
  • http://www.propane101.com/propanegradesandquality.htm

    found this online.