Propane exhaust smell.....

[NALSO]

While driving down the road with the fridge on propane, my wife can smell exhaust gases, every time the fridge starts its cooling cycle.

This is not happening when parked and not plugged in to shore power.

Both fans at the top of the roof vent are working.

Has anyone encountered this?

NALSO

[Francesca]

Hi!

Propane exhaust (water and carbon di oxide) doesn't have an odor- if your wife is smelling "exhaust", it probably isn't coming from the fridge.
Do you smell it, too?
Is the smell like engine exhaust?
Or is it a "propane smell", like when you light the stove?

Francesca

[NALSO]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Francesca Hi! Propane exhaust (water and carbon di oxide) doesn't have an odor- if your wife is smelling "exhaust", it probably isn't coming from the fridge. Do you smell it, too? Is the smell like engine exhaust? Or is it a "propane smell", like when you light the stove? Francesca

Francesca.

I smell it at times as well.

Have ever been on a loading dock with propane operated forklift trucks, then you would know that there is an "oder" smell.

I am wondering if the exhaust somehow enters the coach while driving.

Henry.

[Francesca]

I know the smell you're talking about!
Propane itself doesn't smell, either- as a safety measure they add "mercaptin" to it so your nose can detect it...
If that's what you smell, it's unburnt propane, not exhaust.
Sounds like when the fridge ignites, it's "outgassing" a little propane...
Maybe that's "normal"???
Sounds like a good question for your local "gas man"!
I get my propane system checked out once a year by my local RV place to make sure it's operating right- it's not expensive, and gives me peace of mind.

At least in THAT department!

Francesca

[She and I]

Quote:

Originally Posted by NALSO While driving down the road with the fridge on propane, my wife can smell exhaust gases, every time the fridge starts its cooling cycle. This is not happening when parked and not plugged in to shore power. Both fans at the top of the roof vent are working. Has anyone encountered this? NALSO

Is the alarm going off?
Richard

[NALSO]

I know about the rotten egg smell "mercaptan", that's not it.

No, there are no alarms.

All other propane appliances are working properly, therefore the regulator pressure is correct.

Just keep the thoughts coming.

Henry.

["007"]

How about your refrigerator is it sealed alone the wall surface were it attach's to your facing wall.
Plus you have insulation on side walls and top of fridge to seal out the fumes from burner chimney.
All burner exhaust should be going up through the back venting system.
Some times insulation on top of fridge can move back on top, blocking the vent area.
If you have a roof vent open near fridge roof vent, burner air will be drawn down into living area.

[Arch Hoagland]

We close all vents and windows when driving. If left open we sometimes will draw black tank odors, etc inside. Closing the vents always corrects the problem.
I would suggest closing all your vents and windows while moving (that's when the problem occurs) and see what happens.
Is your carbon monoxide detector working? Does it ever go off? You can't smell carbon monoxide and it's one of the products of combustion so you need to find out what's going on.

[NALSO]

Thanks for all the replies.

007, I will pull the fridge roof vent to check if the fans are free from insulation.

ARCH HOAGLAND, You might have hit the nail on the head. I've always ran the coach with the powered galley vent open.
CO2 detector is working.

From now on: All windows and vents CLOSED!

We will take the coach out for a drive in a few days and check it out, will let you know of the outcome.

Henry.