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Dusty_R's avatar
Dusty_R
Explorer
May 19, 2013

Propane level

How much does the level of propane, in a tank, change with the change of ambient temperature? As the weather has warmed the level in our tank has gone down about 2 to 3% each week in the past couple of months. About a month ago I closed the valve on the tank, thinking there might be a small leak in the line, and the level still continued to go down. It's kind of hard to believe the tank leaks. A leak that small is hard to find.

Dusty
  • It's not a pressure gauge, it's a level gauge. In order for pressure to increase the liquid needs to vaporize, which heat will cause, more vapor less liquid, thus lower level.
    I did turn the valve off firmly, still level went down, until this week.
    I've had one in the past where the valve stem packing on that valve leaked.

    Dusty
  • How are you determining that the propane level is decreasing? Propane pressure is not relative to volume and while the pressure inside the tank may rise somewhat as a result of heat, you can not measure that.A pressure gauge is not very useful for much besides leak testing the system.
  • If the actual level is going DOWN, it's not due to temperature increases.

    Propane expands as temperatures rise.
  • Dusty R wrote:
    How much does the level of propane, in a tank, change with the change of ambient temperature? As the weather has warmed the level in our tank has gone down about 2 to 3% each week in the past couple of months. About a month ago I closed the valve on the tank, thinking there might be a small leak in the line, and the level still continued to go down. It's kind of hard to believe the tank leaks. A leak that small is hard to find.Dusty


    Someone will chime in with the specs of % and ambient temperature and elevation regarding propane tanks.

    Everyone I know that had that type of leak found it to be coming from the valve. Common failure.

    Mine is leaking from the valve and once you find out what a 'by the epa' book repair is going to cost you, you will do this:
    Crank the valve handle as hard as you can to the closed position. This usually stops it from leaking from the valve.

    AND BTW....when you are looking to buy an RV?
    Always turn the propane valve on and off.
    If it takes two hands and a lot of force to get the propane tank valve open. It's a sign that their valve has a leak also! :W

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