Propane detector going off when driving.

[Senior Chief]

Three times in the last few days the propane detector located in the hallway of our '89 Fleetwood Southwind has started howling while I'm driving down the road.

The first time, I know for sure it could not have been detecting propane since we were actually OUT of gas and on the way to getting it filled. The valve on the tank was off in addition to being empty.

It has happened twice more, but did not happen this last time I drove it.

Could it be detecting exhaust somehow? Or is it just old and failing? Its the original 1989 version; I presume I can get a new one if necessary.

It has never gone off while parked; for now I'm just turning it off (and the propane as well) while driving.

Any thoughts?

[num1dgh]

Ours started doing that on the last trip. In fact, when we pulled up to the park and I got out, I smelled propane. It was very windy on the road, so John was thinking that the propane for the frig got extinguished in the wind. Did you smell propane?

[Senior Chief]

No, nothing. None of the propane appliances were lit (everything is running on electricity, since electric is included in our space rent). These were just jaunts to the AC repairman and so on

Its a mystery. I hate to ignore it but I just can't figure what might be leaking when we move, but not when were stopped. And I know the first time the detector went off, NOTHING could have been leaking, since we were totally out of propane at that time.

[mikelcan]

I have never had mine go off while driving. However if I let the engine idle and only have the screen door closed mine will go off due to exhaust. My tail pipes are a few feet from the door with the house about 3 feet from the MH. So there is not a lot of air flow preventing the exhaust from entering. I try to run the engine once a month or so during the winter when we do not use the MH that often. So I would look for an exhaust leak since you think that propane leak is not probable.

Mike

[Nick-B]

Lay off the bean burritos before driving it.

Seriously, maybe the detector just needs to be replaced - they don't last forever.

[njs42]

These detectors need to be replaced every so often--they just go bad and begin sounding off for all kinds of reasons. Once they sound off they just get worse. You might consider just changing the thing particularly if it is an original---believe me you have your moneys worth out of it; time to say goodbye.

[ksg5000]

Assuming your talking about a hard wired detector I would start by double checking whether you have a loose wire.

With that said - everything has a useful life - including propane detectors - I have gone through at least 3.

[4Knights]

This same thing kept happening to us and it would be worse(more often) when going up hill or if downshifting to pass or gain speed from a stop. Turned out the exhaust pipe had a few leaks that I didn't see but could feel the exhaust coming out once I got under and checked.
The exhaust was coming up into the rig where the shower drain was coming down. same wall as the LP detector. Sealed the area around the drain with some foam.
New tail pipe and an extra hanger at the bend plus the foam made the difference.
Ron

[Senior Chief]

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4Knights This same thing kept happening to us and it would be worse(more often) when going up hill or if downshifting to pass or gain speed from a stop. Turned out the exhaust pipe had a few leaks that I didn't see but could feel the exhaust coming out once I got under and checked. The exhaust was coming up into the rig where the shower drain was coming down. same wall as the LP detector. Sealed the area around the drain with some foam. New tail pipe and an extra hanger at the bend plus the foam made the difference. Ron

This is a good thought and may be what's happening. I think I've gotten a whiff of exhaust every now and then, and I have not done a thorough inspection of the tailpipes.

So, first I'll crawl around underneath and if nothing discovered, time for another detector.

Thanks for everybody's feedback- its appreciated.