Forum Discussion

strollingbones's avatar
Sep 13, 2021

Troubleshooting Propane Problem

Hi Folks,

I have a propane leak that I'm trying to get my arms around. My local RV repair/dealership is overbooked with sales and repairs during covid, and they can't get to me in a timely manner.

The leak is occuring between the propane tank and the regulator. There is an aftermarket fitting (installed by a previous owner) there called an "oil drip leg." It's purpose is capture impurities in the propane before it reaches the regulator. These gizmos are not common on RVs.

I think I have narrowed the problem down to these scenarios:

1) It's full.
2) It was attached with pipe dope rather than yellow teflon tape
3) Both of these things at once

So here are my questions:

1) Can I just remove this %$#@! thing altogether? Most motorhomes seem to get along fine without it
2) If I remove this thing, can I clean it out and reattach it? Or does it have to be replaced?

Thanks in advance for your assistance!

13 Replies

  • It is not needed on an RV, I would just remove it.
    They are used mainly in home installations where the appliance (furnace, water heater) has a lot more propane consumption than in an RV.
  • jdc1's avatar
    jdc1
    Explorer II
    I've only owned a dozen or so RV's. Never have I seen a VLP on one.