I smell Propane. Oven thermocouple shot?

Dusty R wrote:
About what year did they change?

I don't know about Wedgewood, but a friend's oven on his boat had trouble and we learned this about his oven - 1) prior to 1984, they did not have anything to control the pilot. If the thermostat was set to pilot, there was gas flow out of the pilot. 2) between 1984 and 1993 they built some with a thermocouple to stop gas flow to the pilot when it went out, and they built some the old way. 3) After 1993, all had the thermocouple. 4) After 2007 they redesigned to stop using mercury controls.

The OP said "I turned the oven to pilot, and WITHOUT pressing the button I reached in with the lighter thingy and it lit! Hmmmm crumbs! that ain't supposed to happen! " If he normally presses a button to light the pilot, that button is a pilot override for the pilot safety valve and thermocouple, so I'd say he is right - that shouldn't happen. There's no reason to have that button if he has the old design.

On my friend's oven, there are three devices - a mercury thermostat connected to the oven temp sensor probe, a mercury control valve that has a temp sensor integrated into the pilot assembly and the pilot safety valve with its thermocouple that sits in the pilot light.

The pilot safety valve turns gas flow on/off to the pilot light based on input from the thermocouple. The override button must be pressed to light the pilot.

The thermostat turns the pilot from low pilot to high pilot based on input from the oven temp sensor probe.

The mercury control valve controls gas flow to the main burner based on detecting the high pilot flame of the thermostat. It's the primary safety feature - it prevents lots of gas flow unless the high pilot is lit. Low pilot doesn't provide enough heat.

To get a failure of the type described above on my friend's design, the pilot safety control valve would have to be stuck open. I don't know if the OP's oven has the same type construction.

We smelled gas....finally figured out that when they fill the tank, they turn a screw (a release screw??)....to "see" the propane to know the tank is full. The last place (then) had not tightened that screw. If all was working well and you smell gas after a filling, then check that screw...it's up near the valve on the tank.

I hate to tell you this but it's not the thermocouple (A device in the 10-20 dollar range) that is bad.

It's the control valve (50-100 or more)

Our 2003 coach has an Attwood/Wedgewood stove and NO thermocouple on the Oven Pilot. It will flow propane as soon as set to Pilot, and will continue after the pilot blows out.
In addition to the gas leakage risk, this is part of why I haven't installed electronic ignition on our range. Scenario: Oven Pilot is Lit but goes Out unnoticed. Chef presses the electronic button to light a surface burner. Electronic sparks the three surface burners AND the oven, which is flooded with Propane. I don't want to have to write the final line in this process...

Dusty R wrote:

dougrainer wrote:

Chris Bryant wrote:
1997 model does not use a thermocouple, it uses a mercury safety valve, but no safety on the pilot, so it is working as designed.

AS Chris stated. The OLDER units did not have a safety control just for the pilot. The gas flows to the pilot once you put the oven knob in the pilot position. The newer Ovens DO have a safety thermocoupler for the pilot light. Doug

About what year did they change?

I believe it was around 2006 - I have a Suburban 2007 bulletin outlining the lack of availability for mercury containing parts (for motor vehicles).

dougrainer wrote:

Chris Bryant wrote:
1997 model does not use a thermocouple, it uses a mercury safety valve, but no safety on the pilot, so it is working as designed.

AS Chris stated. The OLDER units did not have a safety control just for the pilot. The gas flows to the pilot once you put the oven knob in the pilot position. The newer Ovens DO have a safety thermocoupler for the pilot light. Doug

About what year did they change?

Chris Bryant wrote:
1997 model does not use a thermocouple, it uses a mercury safety valve, but no safety on the pilot, so it is working as designed.

AS Chris stated. The OLDER units did not have a safety control just for the pilot. The gas flows to the pilot once you put the oven knob in the pilot position. The newer Ovens DO have a safety thermocoupler for the pilot light. Doug

1997 model does not use a thermocouple, it uses a mercury safety valve, but no safety on the pilot, so it is working as designed.

First check and see if that is truly the source of the leak. I do a spring leak test of the entire propane system, first by opening the system with nothing on and seeing if it leaks down and if it is then using soapy water.

another lesson for you to learn here is if it's man made it is subject to failure. DO NOT trust the obvious.