A question of filtering poor propane.

[Trackrig]

We've all seen posts over time about people with propane contamination problems. A lot of them report a black oily like gooey substance when they start working on their propane lines or appliances.

In another forum I was reading about using in-line filters on Big Buddy propane heaters. This made me think - we filter our water, our gasoline, our diesel fuel and our oil. Is there a filtering system for propane beside the little filters for the Buddy Heaters?

I've never had a propane problem and I'd like to keep it that way.

Bill

[Tom_M1]

From the Buddy heater manual:

"Mr. Heater strongly recommends using disposable fuel filter F273699 to trap any oil substances when connected to a remote cylinder that can make heater inoperable."

[RE_Todd]

I've never heard of a problem in all of my years on this site!!

[SDcampowneroper]

I have had propane 'grease' build up in the pipes. On the one instance in very cold weather it was from a very old 100# tank that had not been used in many years. It plugged up stove, furnace and waterheater valves with a dark orangy grease.
We were able to clean them all with paint thinner solvent.
Our propane supplier explained that when that tank had been filled, years before that
heavier compounds were allowed as a part of LP gas, however when it was used in cold weather, those heavy components condensed in the lower pressure side of the regulator. Thus 'waxing'
Modern refining of LP gas is pure. c3h8

[nineoaks2004]

I have never heard of a filter for propane , but never researched the subject because I have never had a problem with the gas..

[ScottG]

My friend always gets his propane from the same place; a station that a old school buddy owns and gives him a deal on. He has continuous problems with black goo dripping out of the bottom of his propane fire pit. I have the same exact pit and never have a problem.
Some kind of separator or filter would be handy in his case.

[DutchmenSport]

Never heard of a propane filter or the "T" discussed above. Guess I've never had a propane problem. If I ever do, I'll check for this first.

[GordonThree]

I've heard of the goo in natural gas, plumbers recommending a T at each appliance and a drain tube to collect said goo.

Never seen any goo in any of my years of using propane.

[Lwiddis]

The need for propane filtering isn't something I've encountered.

[tempforce]

the filter would not work with the goo that forms in propane. the best solution i've found in installing a low point catch for the goo. installing a tee between the flex hose from the regulator to the black pipe going to the r.v.. the tee sometimes needs to be extended if there is a lot of accumulation in the system. i just use a capped fitting on the bottom portion of the tee.
to drain. just turn off the gas. vent the line by turning on a gas appliance for a few seconds. then remove the cap on the bottom of the 'T' that was installed. wipe the oil out of the cap and the tee. re-install the cap and turn on the gas. in places like arizona and new mexico, i found that i needed to drain the tee twice a year. to prevent junk getting into the lines. the regulator has a small filter in the inlet, so if your not getting good pressure, before adjusting the regulator, pull the hose off and check the screen..

[SoundGuy]

Trackrig wrote:
We've all seen posts over time about people with propane contamination problems.

Not me, nor have I ever had this issue with any trailer we've owned.