Propane Leak?

[Bionic_Man]

On my 5er, I have the below set up that automatically switches from one 30# tank to the other when the supply tank is empty.

Has worked fine since I bought the trailer, up until this year.

Now, if I turn the tank on the right side on, I get a propane smell in the propane compartment. I have tried 3 different propane tanks.

I have taken off the supply hose, put teflon tape on it, and tighten back up, still have the smell. Hoses look good. No bubbles with a soap and water mix.

Any ideas of what the issue could be?

[Bionic_Man]

New regulator seems to have solved the problem.

[Old-Biscuit]

Bionic Man wrote:
Thanks for the advice. Will try a new regulator this weekend.

Regulator would leak regardless of which cylinder was in service.

BUT replacing regulator and pigtails won't hurt and reasonably inexpensive.

Cavagna Brand is a very good replacement

Longer pigtails so hoses are so stretched tight

Repositioning regulator so hoses don't rub against cylinders

[Bionic_Man]

Thanks for the advice. Will try a new regulator this weekend.

[kampinguru]

I had a leak on my 10 year old regulator. The hoses were also leaking. I replaced the regulator and the pigtails and no more smell. The regulators go bad after time. You have not said how old your unit is but if it is the 2002 in your sig, you are probably long overdue for pigtails and a regulator.

[MaverickBBD]

First off, propane is odorless. What you are smelling is methyl mercaptan which is detectable to the human nose at 3 parts per BILLION. Lower explosive limit of propane is 2.1 parts per million. The point is a little bit of smell goes a long way.
Are you sure you are smelling a leak that you can't find or smelling residual odor? If it is a continuous constant odor don't take a chance until you have found and addressed the leak. Take it to a propane dealership if necessary.

Do not put teflon on any brass fitting.

[braindead0]

Wet your finger with soapy water and place over the vents on the regulator (should be one for each stage, one at a time of course)... if you get constant activity I think that would indicate a hole in the regulator stage diaphragm or other internal problem.

[Old-Biscuit]

Replace the pigtail hoses....and get them couple inches longer so that they are not so stretched when connected to cylinders.


Also redo the reg mounting bracket---move it UP---so that pigtail hoses are not rubbing against cylinders

[time2roll]

Bionic Man wrote:
Now, if I turn the tank on the right side on, I get a propane smell in the propane compartment.

You turn the tank or you turn the knob on the regulator?

I think you need a new regulator.

I recommend Cavagna if you have a choice. (amazon)

BTW only put tape on pipe threads. Inverted flair or other compression joint is only going to cause trouble.

[path1]

With me....

Bubble test with soap suds, checked out OK.

But still smell propane every now and then. Thought maybe OPD valve was messed up, but even with both tanks 1/2 full I still smelled hint of propane sometimes. Gauge wouldn't flip over to red sometimes.

Picked up new regulator and no more propane smell.

[3oaks]

korbe wrote:
In my general recent experiences on using the LPG cylinders or bottles, is when the cylinder, or bottle gets over filled it can produce the smell from somewhere - until it's not over filled any more.

It very well could be. The excess pressure is vented out through an orifice in the regulator.

[red31]

Bionic Man wrote:
No bubbles with a soap and water mix.

did ya bubble test the valve as in the valve stem on the container?
Test it half way open, there is a seat when fully open.

[cruiserjs]

Get it to the nearest propane dealer (not just a gas station) and let a pro figure it out. I also believe that teflon tape is not a good idea for propane connections!!

[korbe]

In my general recent experiences on using the LPG cylinders or bottles, is when the cylinder, or bottle gets over filled it can produce the smell from somewhere - until it's not over filled any more.