Forum Discussion

Picinisco's avatar
Picinisco
Explorer
Sep 22, 2018

Propane High Pressure Regulator Leak.

On my Jayco 5th wheel with an auto change regulator and both tanks open, what is there to prevent the full tank filling the less than full tank. I just changed my auto regulator since the old one was not drawing gas from the driver side tank when the passenger side tank ran dry. The new regulator, even though set to the passenger side tank, is sending gas to the empty driver side and leaking thru the vent hole in the red pressure regulator on that side. Camping world sold me a regulator that they said would replace the red leaking one. When put back together the new camping world regulator also leaked thru it's vent hole. My original question is why does gas flow in that direction.

10 Replies

  • Picinisco wrote:
    Learjet wrote:
    I had a problem once and found out there is a check valve where the hose goes into the change over regulator. There is a brass fitting that is between the hose and the change over regulator on my unit.


    Thank you for your answer. I had spoken to two rv service techs and neither of them told me about the check valve or backflow preventer in the system. One even told me that the backflow from bottle to bottle is normal.

    I went through the set up again and found that there were indeed two backflow preventers it was just that they were in the wrong position.

    Everything has been put back together correctly and gas is flowing as it should with no leaks from weepholes.


    What about the propane that was leaking from vent hole on that RED regulator at roadside cylinder????
  • Learjet wrote:
    I had a problem once and found out there is a check valve where the hose goes into the change over regulator. There is a brass fitting that is between the hose and the change over regulator on my unit.


    Thank you for your answer. I had spoken to two rv service techs and neither of them told me about the check valve or backflow preventer in the system. One even told me that the backflow from bottle to bottle is normal.

    I went through the set up again and found that there were indeed two backflow preventers it was just that they were in the wrong position.

    Everything has been put back together correctly and gas is flowing as it should with no leaks from weepholes.
  • I recommend you replace the pigtails or hoses. I prefer Cavagna brand.
    At this point I would get two new regulators also.
  • Any LP Reg that leaks from vent hole has failed......diaphragm is cracked/torn etc
    Vents are on the 'atmosphere side of regulator diaphragms

    Roadside regulator (30#) is used to lower pressure from roadside cylinder prior to going across front cap of 5th wheel and to prevent the propane vapor from condensing into liquid propane which will destroy the auto changeover reg on curbside

    Curbside cylinder pressure can be 250#.....auto changeover regulator is designed to handle high pressure in 1st stage reducing it to 15# which 2nd stage then reduces to system pressure of 11" WC (0.4 psi)

    Indicator knob/lever -----point it to cylinder you want as 'primary' then other cylinder is 'reserve'--Valve in both cylinders.
    When primary pressure drops to 10# the regulator will swap to reserve. Red/Green Indicator will turn RED....move indicator knob/lever so it points to 'reserve' cylinder. Indicator turns Green
    Do NOT point knob/lever between--pointed down -----should point to one or other cylinder

    Built in check valves SHOULD prevent any backflow from one cylinder to other
  • I had a problem once and found out there is a check valve where the hose goes into the change over regulator. There is a brass fitting that is between the hose and the change over regulator on my unit.
  • BarneyS wrote:
    The position of the valve between the two tanks should stop the flow between them. If the pointer is towards the left tank, that tank should flow and the other not.


    It's not that gas is flowing from both tanks at the same time. It's the fact that the tank that the pointer is towards is sending gas along the hoses to the other tank. I feel that there should be no backflow.
  • The position of the valve between the two tanks should stop the flow between them. If the pointer is towards the left tank, that tank should flow and the other not. I would return that faulty valve for exchange. Sounds like they gave you a bad one.
    Barney
  • garyp4951 wrote:
    Nothing should leak no matter what setting its on


    Thanks for the reply, however the question was what stops the flow of gas from one bottle to the other.
  • Nothing should leak no matter what setting its on, and I never leave both tanks open so I'll know when one's empty, and get it filled while on the new tank.