Super Hot Propane tank when traveling

I think camper dave hit the nail on the head. Had the same problem with my 1989 Ford E350. The catalytic converter had fallen apart and was plugged so it got super hot to a point where the paint around the exhaust pipe exit area blistered. Heard ticking also which was the extreme heat up of the converter. At a rv park I sprayed the propane tank and it produced a bunch of steam. I think the original problem was one or both oxygen sensors was faulty and affecting the converter. No I don't think you're imagining that the propane tank is getting too hot.

A muffler shop knows EXACTLY had to fabricate/install heat shields ....it isn't their first rodeo.

It is what they do a living.

Camping World.......yeah that is who I would want working on my propane and exhaust system. :S

How hot is hot? 110 degrees might be uncomfortable to touch with your hand but harmless in terms of tank temperature. Propane tanks left outside in the Southwest will see temps considerably higher than that. Now if it's 200+ that's a problem. You don't want the tank to vent. Venting is harmless UNLESS the vented propane finds an ignition source, then you have a big problem!

CharlesinGA wrote:
I'll bet that a heat shield was installed when it left the factory. I would spend some time underneath looking for mountings for it, either with broken pieces of it remaining, or tabs, ears or brackets with nothing attached to them.

Possibly it broke, starting rattling, possibly dropped down dragging the road, and the previous owner removed it, and never bothered to do anything about it.

Charles

I was thinking like Charles. Do your own thorough inspection of the area.

I wonder if an RV repair center like Camping World would be best equipped to fabricate and safely install a heat shield. Given the heat thermal-cycling, they might also recommend you replace the propane tank. That will cost some money, but surely worth it.

One thing for sure....I would not drive the rig again, except to have the issue resolved.

Mike, maybe a call to Jayco supplying your vin # would give you the answer you need. They might have the build sheet on your unit. They might have had to add a heat shield specific to your model unit and as said, it was removed by previous owner.

I'll bet that a heat shield was installed when it left the factory. I would spend some time underneath looking for mountings for it, either with broken pieces of it remaining, or tabs, ears or brackets with nothing attached to them.

Possibly it broke, starting rattling, possibly dropped down dragging the road, and the previous owner removed it, and never bothered to do anything about it.

Charles

The actual propane tank is what gets hot.

Are you talking about the actual metal propane tank and not the safety valve? The safety 12 volt valve does get too hot to touch. Never heard of a tank getting hot.

Maybe a plugged catalytic? Definitely worth getting it looked at and figuring what the heat source is. But it's not an imminent threat, if it gets too hot it will vent off. And you'll definitely know if that happens, it's loud.

Did not purchase new.