LP leaking at main valve

Thanks for this thread, my RV has the same problem - sometimes leaks when in between fully off and fully on.

Glad to know the fix is easy. I will try tightening the packing gland nut.

Steve

Thanks to everyone who replied. I was able to tighten the packing gland nut and the leaking stopped! Saved a trip to the dealership and possibly some extra cash.

FWIW, what's described above is the reason I always leave the main propane valve turned ON - when in storage, when on the road, and when parked/camped.

That valve seams to me to be a bit too fragile for much total use over it's lifetime. Of course I would shut if off when required by law in certain tunnels and when on certain vehicle ferries.

Working on propane tanks is complex, as I just had it done on our RV. The main fill valve had a micro-leak from it's screw-in threads for years - probably since when new. The repair shop had to burn-off a nearly full tank of propane for a couple of days to empty it and then remove the tank from the RV to remove the fill valve with it's stripped threads. The shop technician said that those fill vvalves are probably screwed-in by machine during manufacture of the tank and that stripping of the threads can result.

LP tank vapor/service valves seat when fully closed or fully opened.
In between either position the packing inside packing gland prevents LP from leaking around valve stem

Tighten packing gland nut 1/2 turn
With heavy glove on....fully open valve and back seat it. LP should stop blowing out around stem.
Then tighten packing gland nut 1/4 turn at a time and check for leakage.
Tightening too much will make valve very difficult to open/close.

IF it has a packing gland nut.........some require special tool to adjust,

Not sure but I think that type valve is one that when it's open all the way it prevents the stem from leaking.

CAUTION Using a steel wrench can cause a spark. Not good around leaking LP.


Dusty

We Cant Wait wrote:
Sounds like the packing nut on the valves shaft the handle is on is loose. Take a wrench and snug the packing nut up and retry it.

This is the problem. It's a simple solution.

Bruce

Sounds like the packing nut on the valves shaft the handle is on is loose. Take a wrench and snug the packing nut up and retry it.