GOT the odor of gas smell.

[byrdr1]

I was messing with my camper this week before it turned cold again. I opened one propane tank and I can smell the odor of it. You know the smells like rotten eggs smell.
I turned everything off right away.
BUT do you or have you, know of a good starting spot to see what might be leaking or where.
We had this our last trip out but I had also run over my black tank rinse( another whole story) so I thought it was that until this week. I now know it was the propane smell.
Any thoughts on a direction or just start at the tanks and work every joint or fitting location of propane. Got to find this ASAP. 1st trip in 6 weeks.
thanks
randy

[byrdr1]

red31 wrote:
vent pointed down, leaking valves need fixin

thanks
I got it right now.
no odors now..
randy

on edit:
One week since I replaced the red made in India regulator with a new one (CAVAGNA).
Nothing has leaked since.
thanks all,
randy

[marcsbigfoot20b]

I had a rotten potatoes smell and I would never have found it without a sniffer. The copper line on the floor behind the cabinet ran under a wood board where the heater was mounted. One of the screws was driven through the wood and 1mm was sticking through and tapping at the copper line for 14 years before it finally made a small hole.
So you never know!

[red31]

vent pointed down, leaking valves need fixin

[byrdr1]

Question, would or does it matter which way the regulator is. Like does it need to be flat top up or doesnt matter as long as in/out is right. I feel I can tighten it up some more but kept itvflat side up

[j_p_f_]

I have run into that same thing, now I always run the valve all the way in or out.
hi jon say hi to l.

[Farmerjon]

Sam Spade wrote:


It is not unusual to have some smell outside when first turned ON. The valve stems don't seal perfectly; you need to turn it all the way on to seal the handle.

We have a gas smell every time we use the camper but using soap I couldn't locate the leak and it would go away. I have tried several times to locate it and I finally did.
One of the 2 tanks shut off valve leaks when it is not all the way on or all the way off, So when I am opening or closing the valve it leaks but in the on or off position it doesn't leak. Ours are horizontal tanks

[j_p_f_]

wow, a leaking seal smelling like a propane leak.
I'd never thought of that.

[down_home]

We had the horrible sulfurous smell. Seemed just like propane.
It was the left front axle sea or wheel seal. Gar oil was getting on the brakes and other places. Had it towed to Freighliner before bearings went dry.
Replaced seal and brakes and machined the drum.
It seemed strongest around the propane tank bay too.
Where we store it called and said we had a lot of oil under the front of the coach and down the wheel. He was checking for the leak too asyou don't want propane floating around in an enclosed storage with several millions of dollars worth of coaches. That would be one heck of an insurance loss.

[j_p_f_]

Check the front wheel bearings or rather the seals.


???

[down_home]

Check the front wheel bearings or rather the seals.

[byrdr1]

Small red regulator was leaking based on my research..
Got a replacement on its way now.
thanks all,
randy

[byrdr1]

BB_TX wrote:
Do you have a high pressure propane regulator valve, often referred to as the little red regulator valve, near one of your tanks? (Not the two stage change over regulator valve) Those little high pressure regulator valves are notorious for leaking. Inexpensive and easy to replace.

I could smell propane in my driver's side propane tank compartment a number of years ago. Using soapy water and then leak detector fluid, I could not find any bubbles any where. After much searching and reading RV forums, I replaced the high pressure regulator valve and no more odor. When I removed the old one, I could see an oily like substance around the vent hole on the bottom of the regulator. Apparently it was leaking, but the soapy water was not getting to that hole on the bottom and therefore no bubbles.

I do and that's the side it seems to smell the most from. I will start here.
As long as the tanks are turned off nothing smells.
BUT I do have the main switch regulator and the smaller red one on the opposite side. Never had that in the TT's or PU.
Might be able to check that today once I get off.
Thank's all.
randy

[Joe_Way]

Mortimer Brewster wrote:
So what I'm hearing here is that if your spouse complains about a gas smell, you should blame it on the the regulator?

Ha...I'll try that and let you know how it works. 😉

[mobeewan]

Check the stove burners. Easy to bump up against a gas control knob and make it turn a little. Found one on my oven turned on once. Some one posting here last week was asking for advice on leak detection an found he had a stove burner on.