Propane use. Now we use twice as much!

"Both are considered LP, but you will use approx 30 percent more when burning Butane versus propane"

:)

Just a bit of smiley grade verification. Butane has a slight but noticeable higher energy value than does propane. Corroborated by WikiPedia, and a few hundred other references.

When the earth was young and I towed a trailer from the USA to Mexico the Mexolina, then Nova almost-gasoline was intolerable. Rather than switch cylinder heads to get 5.0 to 1 compression ratio I elected to change to 100% LPG motorfuel. I had a bunk-bed stack of 2 83 gallon Manchester motor fuel tanks crossways in the bed.

The rig got between 5.3 to 5.7 mpg in the USA and a consistent 6.1 - 6.3 mpg on coastal lowland hot weather butane. The system had a pressure gauge so I knew low pressure meant butane.

This all sounds nuts except when it came to buying fuel down here. It averaged 18 cents per gallon. Now it is two dollars and change per gallon and the gasoline, at least the Premium red pump grade, is 100% USA refined. BTW I later nicknamed the early days of diesel "# 2-1/2" Way better fuel mileage than 1970's USA diesel.

The fuel mileage computations were consistent year after year after year. Butane was slightly more economical. Then I finished Quicksilver and enjoyed fifteen cents per gallon #2-1/2 diesel - yellow, smelly and oily.

There can be a smell around the tank valves without any leak. Especially on old tanks.

Propane itself is odorless, what you smell is an additive, it's there for your safety. With time, rubber absorbs this smell. Also, additive will mix up with residual oils that are always present in propane, and the smell will cling to valves and orifices.

Like others noted, rubber hose before the regulator will often develop tiny cracks and leaks - in addition to absorbing the smell, so you can have smell with and without leaks.

We had brand new tanks that had a leak around the factory installed on/off valve. We were running with an extend a stay added valve on our main tank. Took the tanks back to the gas company and sure enough - 2 out of the 3 we had, had a leak. They replaced the tanks with no problem but checked the replacements before the filled and sent them back with us. So -- even new tanks themselves can have leaks.

You should NEVER smell propane even around the tanks/valves.. You have a leak and need to find it. Once when I noticed my propane usage was higher than normal.. I couldn't figure it out, it even seemed that I was loosing propane when the valves were closed, never "smelled" the leak.. used soapy water and found that the tank was leaking around where the valve threads into the top of it. You need to find the leak.

Make up soapy water solution and put in a sprayer and spray down everything in the area.

Wait what, I occasionally smell propane too! Gotta check mine out. I guess switching valves and pig tails Is normal maintenance. I'll probably switch mine out soon then.

fpresto wrote:
For those who say they always smell propane then they have a problem. It is a sealed system. If you smell propane then there is a leak period. A common problem, especially on older units is the regulator. They have a rubber diaphragm that over time develops pinhole leaks which will only get larger.

X2
No leaks=no smell or bubbles with the soap.

For those who say they always smell propane then they have a problem. It is a sealed system. If you smell propane then there is a leak period. A common problem, especially on older units is the regulator. They have a rubber diaphragm that over time develops pinhole leaks which will only get larger.

smkettner wrote:
I recommend a new valve and pigtails.

Cavagna valve on Amazon

pigtails on amazon

X2

This the same 2002 Trailer from last year?

Time for some new stuff!

you may have a leaking hose. the hoses don't last all that long. I put new ones on any time I smell propane out side my TT.

One can easily use a twenty pound tank in a week powering water heater and refrigerator. A tank can also empty in a week with a leak. What is your situation?