Community Forums

ricere · 08-05-2017, 10:07 PM

I have gone through 2 propane regulators in the past month, and today my new one just started leaking through the vent hole, the same as the one last month. These regulators are manufactured by Camco. The problem seems to happen when I disconnect my extended stay tank and put my motorhome tank on line to get ready to go for a trip. Can anyone tell me why these regulators keep failing? It's getting expensive and frustrating. Thanks.

hohenwald48 · 08-06-2017, 06:19 AM

The only reason I can think of is because they are cheap junk. Doesn't sound like you're doing anything that could be causing them to fail.

I assume you are not connecting in such a way as to put high pressure on the low pressure side of the regulator. I'm not sure that would rupture the diaphragm anyway but it probably would.

Isaac-1 · 08-06-2017, 06:37 AM

Perhaps try a made in the US model, maybe https://smile.amazon.com/Marshall-Ex.../dp/B00KTS0N9Q I bought one a few months ago to replace an old leaking regulator and it is working great.

ricere · 08-06-2017, 07:01 AM

Nope. The regulator is installed properly and all I'm doing is removing the pressure from the outside tank and valving in the motorhome tank. Then the regulator clicks and starts leaking propane from the vent hole in the regulator.

OLYLEN · 08-06-2017, 09:30 AM

Wonder if there is a low point oil is gathering while on the extended stay. Then when you unhook and turn on the built in tank it's ramming that oil into the regulator causing the fail.

LEN

Winepress · 08-06-2017, 09:35 AM

Did you get the replacement regulators from the same source? Maybe a bad lot?

Gary RVRoamer · 08-06-2017, 09:59 AM

One of the tanks is perhaps pushing liquid LP or oils into the regulator, which will kill the gas flow quickly. Do you use a Tee fitting (Extend-a-stay or similar), or are you physically screwing the extension hose into the regulator? What about the hose itself, e.g. does it have a low spot that can accumulate oils of liquid LP and then it runs into the regulator when you change over?

Sometimes a bottle or tank gets contaminated with mercaptan (the stinky stuff in LP) or globules of water & oil that can clog a regulator in no time. It's more common in portable bottles than fixed tanks, but possible in either.

There is such a thing as a filter for LP gas lines. Maybe you need one (but that is rare).
Gas Filters and Filter Mats

ricere · 08-06-2017, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OLYLEN

Wonder if there is a low point oil is gathering while on the extended stay. Then when you unhook and turn on the built in tank it's ramming that oil into the regulator causing the fail.

LEN

I have seen a lot of oil. This could be the problem. What do I need to do to solve the problem?

ricere · 08-06-2017, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Winepress

Did you get the replacement regulators from the same source? Maybe a bad lot?

Yes, I did.

ricere · 08-06-2017, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Isaac-1

Perhaps try a made in the US model, maybe https://smile.amazon.com/Marshall-Ex.../dp/B00KTS0N9Q I bought one a few months ago to replace an old leaking regulator and it is working great.

Thanks.

marjoa · 08-07-2017, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary RVRoamer

One of the tanks is perhaps pushing liquid LP or oils into the regulator, which will kill the gas flow quickly. Do you use a Tee fitting (Extend-a-stay or similar), or are you physically screwing the extension hose into the regulator? What about the hose itself, e.g. does it have a low spot that can accumulate oils of liquid LP and then it runs into the regulator when you change over?

Sometimes a bottle or tank gets contaminated with mercaptan (the stinky stuff in LP) or globules of water & oil that can clog a regulator in no time. It's more common in portable bottles than fixed tanks, but possible in either.

There is such a thing as a filter for LP gas lines. Maybe you need one (but that is rare).
Gas Filters and Filter Mats

Along these same lines as Gary mentioned, there may be an oil blockage or contamination issue going on. Here's a link that may get you going in the right direction to troubleshoot:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kbp4LiOjXbI

ricere · 08-07-2017, 08:59 PM

Thanks. It looks like I may need to regulate my extended stay tank to 15 psi before my TV regulator.

ricere · 08-07-2017, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ricere

Thanks. It looks like I may need to regulate my extended stay tank to 15 psi before my TV regulator.

RV regulator.

Gary RVRoamer · 08-08-2017, 09:02 AM

Quote:

It looks like I may need to regulate my extended stay tank to 15 psi before my TV regulator.

Why? There is no requirement for that anywhere. The unregulated pressure from either fixed tank or portable bottle is about the same and the onboard regulator is designed to handle either.

If you are seeing any fluid dripping, either from the regulator or a detached hose, that is your problem. Whichever tank is pushing the oil into the lines needs to be emptied and cleaned. If it's the portable bottle, probably cheaper to repalce it.