Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
RV Trip Planning Discussions

Go Back   iRV2 Forums > iRV2.com COMMUNITY FORUMS > iRV2.com General Discussion
Click Here to Login
Join iRV2 Today

Mission Statement: Supporting thoughtful exchange of knowledge, values and experience among RV enthusiasts.
Reply
  This discussion is proudly sponsored by:
Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on iRV2
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 06-10-2014, 01:14 PM   #1
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 465
Gas Leaks...

This isn't specific to trailers OR motorhomes, so I figured I'd put it here...

A couple weeks ago, my wife left for work in the morning. A minute later she walked back in and said "I think I smell propane by the trailer". So, I ran out to check, and sure enough, the left side tank had a definite odor.

So, later that morning, I mixed up some soapy water and checked, and the hose that ran from the regulator to the tank was leaking at the regulator. This hose has a crimp fitting on that end, and it turned very easily. I suspect me fiddling when changing tanks had put enough torque on the hose that it started turning.

SO, off to the local propane people to have them put a new end on the hose.

While that was gone, I took all the stuff loose on the left side and put new ptfe pipe goo (I forget what it's called, but it's made specially for propane and natural gas fittings) on all the joints, and put things back together. New hose, and no more leaks... UNTIL, I walked around to the other side and stuck my head in the compartment.

Yup, a smell. Again with the soapy water. Same fitting on the hose on this side. Back to the propane people for another end. Put it back together and STILL smelled gas. Tested again, and where the black pipe that goes across the trailer has a fitting on the right side, then a reducer, then the hose into the regulator, it was merrily bubbling.

So, I disassembled everything on this side and put new pipe goo on everything and reassembled... The reducer is one of the conical fittings that doesn't use sealer, so that one just got put back together...

Checked again, and the reducer was definitely leaking. Tightened things a bit more. Still leaking....... Pulled that all apart again and ran down to the propane guys for a new pipe fitting and reducer, put it all back together and neither of us smells anything on either side..............

SO, I had THREE things leaking, including a brass fitting that shouldn't ever leak, but it was easy to fix. Moral, I reckon, is periodically give a sniff and see if you smell anything, and if you do either fix it or get it fixed... AND, it may be more than one thing leaking so try to find all the leaking stuff.
dkperez is offline   Reply With Quote
Join the #1 RV Forum Today - It's Totally Free!

iRV2.com RV Community - Are you about to start a new improvement on your RV or need some help with some maintenance? Do you need advice on what products to buy? Or maybe you can give others some advice? No matter where you fit in you'll find that iRV2 is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!

You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with other RV owners, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create an RV blog, send private messages and so much, much more!

Old 06-10-2014, 02:16 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
mo5er's Avatar
 
Evergreen Owners Club
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Springfield, MO
Posts: 417
Very good advice, thanks for sharing! I soapy water test mine every 2 months, plus stick my nose in there quite often.
__________________
Keith & Drena with Casey & P-nut (dogs) & Gabby (cat)
2014 Silverado 3500HD Dually 4X4
2014 Evergreen Bay Hill 365rl
mo5er is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-10-2014, 05:48 PM   #3
Senior Member
 
Hooligan's Avatar
 
Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Pensacola
Posts: 2,728
FWIW:
In the 80's, we had a Travel Trailer, and were at a dog show. Strong smell of propane thru the kitchen window.. The propane regulator on top of the tanks, had a hole in the back that apparently was the source of the propane. Grabbed my JB Weld and sealed that hole. Returning home, the propane dealer replaced the regulator and said that hole was a vent in case the diaphragm in the regulator leaked. By sealing that hole full tank pressure could have gone into the propane lines. He mentioned that full pressure could give you a 3 foot high flame at the stove...
Sometimes we are good, sometimes lucky....
__________________
Hooligan, Pensacola, Fl -U.S. Coast Guard 1956-1985
2016 Thor Siesta Sprinter 24ST diesel -1972 Moto Guzzi
2008 Suzuki Grand Vitara TOAD
Hooligan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-10-2014, 09:16 PM   #4
Senior Member
 
terry735001's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 1,177
Blog Entries: 11
like hooligan side but did not say

i think you need to make sure your propane regulator is giving out the right PSI / what ever it needs
terry735001 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-10-2014, 10:57 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
Arch Hoagland's Avatar
 
Monaco Owners Club
Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Clovis, CA, USA
Posts: 13,090
How old is your RV?
__________________
2004 Monaco La Palma 36DBD, W22, 8.1, 7.1 MPG
2000 LEXUS RX300 FWD 22MPG 4020 LBS
Criticism is easier than Craftsmanship
Arch Hoagland is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-11-2014, 03:16 AM   #6
Community Administrator
 
CLIFFTALL's Avatar


 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 53,378
Blog Entries: 1
Thanks for posting. We can never have enough reminders about propane safety. A working detector is a must as well.
__________________


Cliff,Tallulah and Buddy ( 1999-2012 )
CLIFFTALL is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-15-2014, 01:52 PM   #7
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 465
The new 5th wheel is just over a year old. I didn't check each regulator (there's one for each tank), but the leaking hoses were on the INLET side of the regulators...

In each case, it was the hose from the 30 lb tank into the regulator. And they both leaked the same place - at the barbed end with the compression cover clamped on it? In each case, the hose could turn inside the compressed housing and they both leaked.

I figure either I was too frisky when changing tanks and goofed 'em up, or they weren't put together right in the first place. In either case, no more bubbles and no more smell...

A three foot flame on the stove would be REALLY "interesting"...
dkperez is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
gas, leak, leaks



Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Norcold 982 gas valve rssnape RV Systems & Appliances 4 04-26-2014 04:54 PM
LP gas pressure mystery jdr37 RV Systems & Appliances 4 04-06-2014 05:59 PM
Good gas stops near Mandeville LA and Columbus TX seadogjim Navigation, Routes & Roads 9 12-15-2013 10:23 PM
Maximizing our Gas Rewards 2Labs Just Conversation 2 06-02-2013 07:39 AM

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 02:15 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.