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Bill Grimsle · 03-15-2018, 06:16 PM

Bought used motorhome and prior owner had propane tank filled. Did not use home after purchase and now getting ready to go. Stove used to light and burn no problem. Now it will not. Had gas company come to fill it as thought gauge wrong and instead of full was empty. Nope overfilled and when vapor line valve is opened it leaks lots of liguid propane. Was told very dangerous and to not operate appliance. Have called several establishments and none so far can repair. May take to open field, remove batteries and open liquid and vapor valves, with lines disconnected, to drain and then replace valves. Any ideas?

Sudsy · 03-15-2018, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill Grimsle

Bought used motorhome and prior owner had propane tank filled. Did not use home after purchase and now getting ready to go. Stove used to light and burn no problem. Now it will not. Had gas company come to fill it as thought gauge wrong and instead of full was empty. Nope overfilled and when vapor line valve is opened it leaks lots of liguid propane. Was told very dangerous and to not operate appliance. Have called several establishments and none so far can repair. May take to open field, remove batteries and open liquid and vapor valves, with lines disconnected, to drain and then replace valves. Any ideas?

I think a propane service station can remove the propane and maybe even give you credit. I would look locally for Propane disposal if they won't take it back.

Sudsy

grindstone01 · 03-15-2018, 06:24 PM

Call the propane company that overfilled the tank, they can pump the extra propane back into their truck. Not all trucks carry the pump out equipment, but I'm sure the propane company has a truck in their fleet that can do the pump out.
Don't expect a propane credit unless you go back to the original filling company that overfilled the tank (serious mistake on their part). Pump out's cost extra time and the gallons recovered won't even come close to covering the propane's companies cost to do a pump out.

MnTom · 03-15-2018, 06:25 PM

Gas company should be the ones responsible to get things going again. They should know better than to overfill the tank. Something you can do is open the spitter valve and allow the liquid to flow out. Just remember, propane is heavier than air and will flow quite a ways. Make sure there are no ignition sources anywhere around.

palehorse89 · 03-15-2018, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill Grimsle

Bought used motorhome and prior owner had propane tank filled. Did not use home after purchase and now getting ready to go. Stove used to light and burn no problem. Now it will not. Had gas company come to fill it as thought gauge wrong and instead of full was empty. Nope overfilled and when vapor line valve is opened it leaks lots of liguid propane. Was told very dangerous and to not operate appliance. Have called several establishments and none so far can repair. May take to open field, remove batteries and open liquid and vapor valves, with lines disconnected, to drain and then replace valves. Any ideas?

Does gas come out of the Spitter valve when you open it? There is a excess flow valve in the main shut off valve so, if it were mine, disconnect the negative terminal's on the batteries, take the line off the main valve/regulator and open very slowly as not to snap the excess flow valve shut. Open the spitter valve also and when the gas is turned to vapor at the spitter valve you are at the 80% fill level.
Try to go one step more and put clothing on that does not conduct static as some clothing does more than other's. I operated a LPG loading facility for year's at a Refinery where I worked. From my knowledge this will be the best and safest way to lower the liquid level. The excess flow valve will not allow it to be pumped/sucked out, it will shut off and you will find out just how sensitive it is doing this.

dons2346 · 03-15-2018, 06:58 PM

Something is wrong with the tank. It should not have filled more than 80% because of the OPD. If liquid is coming out of the vapor line, it can't be propane as by the time it hits atmosphere,(on the open side of the valve) it is no longer under pressure and will be gas

aether_one · 03-15-2018, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dons2346

Something is wrong with the tank. It should not have filled more than 80% because of the OPD. If liquid is coming out of the vapor line, it can't be propane as by the time it hits atmosphere,(on the open side of the valve) it is no longer under pressure and will be gas

Propane is a gas at STP. You mean it won't be a liquid.

grindstone01 · 03-15-2018, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dons2346

Something is wrong with the tank. It should not have filled more than 80% because of the OPD. If liquid is coming out of the vapor line, it can't be propane as by the time it hits atmosphere,(on the open side of the valve) it is no longer under pressure and will be gas

...

If you open the bleed valve, there is a definite difference if liquid propane is coming out which is sputtering droplets vs vapor which sounds like hissing gas. Most older (pre 98) MH propane tanks don't have the OPD valves.
The OP can safely crack the bleed valve and bleed the tank down, it might take a couple of hours to drain a couple of gallons or days if draining the tank empty. It sounds like the OP wants the tank emptied to replace the valves? Best to pump that much gas out.
The proper way to bleed a large propane tank is to use a 100' hose and a blow torch burner at the end to burn the gas off. A large amount of unburned propane gas is dangerous to release.

palehorse89 · 03-15-2018, 07:18 PM

Do you know Don what year the OPD valves were used on ASME tank's? OP's Coach is a 1994. Good thought on this as I over looked it!

hohenwald48 · 03-15-2018, 07:25 PM

I've bled liquid off tanks before. Just took them out the pasture on a windy day and let it bleed off. Takes a while.

I think around 1998 is when they started installing OPDs in motor home tanks. It's likely the OPs motor home does not have an OPD and could be easily overfilled by an inexperienced tank filler. And there's plenty of them around.

Do not attempt to light any appliances until the overfill condition is remedied and you will likely need to replace the regulator too. I'd change the regulator just for peace of mind.

Sudsy · 03-15-2018, 07:46 PM

I assume that when you were trying to light the stove you had the electric power on. (even just battery power) If so and the Alarm did not go off you had just not waited long enough for the propane lines to bleed the air out. Did you smell propane?

You may not even have a problem.

Open all the windows and doors. Turn on propane. Try to light the stove top. Keep trying and you should here the gas flowing. The air needs to be bled out. This is true for every time you store for a while.

edit: Of course if you smell propane at any time even if the alarm is not going off shut off the tank and ventilate. Call professionals to repair defective propane component.

Sudsy

hohenwald48 · 03-15-2018, 07:54 PM

If you open the 80% "bleed" valve and liquid comes out then you have problem.

If you open the 80% "bleed" valve and gas comes out then do what Sudsy said.

It was my understanding that you were getting liquid out of the 80% valve.

Not sure why you (OP in post #1) think you need to replace any valves?

Old-Biscuit · 03-15-2018, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by palehorse89

Do you know Don what year the OPD valves were used on ASME tank's? OP's Coach is a 1994. Good thought on this as I over looked it!

Since 1998 ASME Propane Tanks have been required to have overfill devices

grindstone01 · 03-15-2018, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old-Biscuit

Since 1998 ASME Propane Tanks have been required to have overfill devices

...

The 2001 edition of NFPA 58 modified requirements to exempt horizontal cylinders manufactured before October 1, 1998, from requiring OPDs. Also exempt are cylinders used for industrial trucks, industrial welding and cutting gases (these cylinders must be labeled with their use).