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chunker · 01-19-2021, 12:52 PM

I'm referring to a portable tool to locate a propane leak. On the Crusader there is an apparent propane leak somewhere between the left tank and the switchover valve which is located on the right side. I can operate off the right tank with no issues but when I turn on the left tank, I can detect a faint smell of propane. I have tried the spray bottle of dish washing liquid but with no luck in finding anything. The tanks are new, pigtails replaced a couple years ago as well as the first pressure regulator.

I've looked on amazon and there are the portable detectors that range in price from $30 up to hundreds. Not interested in getting professional equipment but don't want to waste $$ on something that isn't sensitive enough to find a small leak. I know there are various gas detectors and don't need anything that has a wide range of fuel it will detect. Just propane. Any suggestions on particular brands and models that are adequate for this job?

Old-Biscuit · 01-19-2021, 01:13 PM

Did you check the Red Top 30# Regulator on the left side cylinder......
they leak around the crimped top

chunker · 01-19-2021, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old-Biscuit

Did you check the Red Top 30# Regulator on the left side cylinder......
they leak around the crimped top

Yes I replaced that a couple years ago when we bought it. I soaped every joint a couple time and used a flashlight to try and see some bubbles, nothing. Figure the leak is very small and maybe a decent leak detector can find it. Otherwise I'll break loose all the connections and reinstall but hate to do that if not necessary.

wolfgolden · 01-19-2021, 03:11 PM

I got one of the cheap portable units on Amazon for my stove removal project.
The detector worked perfectly.

Old-Biscuit · 01-19-2021, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chunker

Yes I replaced that a couple years ago when we bought it. I soaped every joint a couple time and used a flashlight to try and see some bubbles, nothing. Figure the leak is very small and maybe a decent leak detector can find it. Otherwise I'll break loose all the connections and reinstall but hate to do that if not necessary.

Did you soap bubble the Reg///around the crimped top??

chunker · 01-19-2021, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old-Biscuit

Did you soap bubble the Reg///around the crimped top??

Yes It's really clean now

Jkwilson1989 · 01-19-2021, 06:21 PM

On the regulator, the gas leaks internally and then slowly filters out a vent in the body, so slow leaks are hard to see with soap. These https://www.homedepot.com/p/HOME-FLE...-001/301876827 are handy without being too pricey.

chunker · 01-20-2021, 05:08 AM

I'm going down there today to take care of a couple other things and will give all the connections, and the regulator a good coating, then open the valve slowly. I haven't yet been to a place that has the portable detectors but will next week if I don't see/smell something today.

veraken · 01-20-2021, 05:54 AM

This is what I bought. Works great.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

153stars · 01-21-2021, 06:19 AM

Dish soap is not the best detector for very tiny leaks. Good kids bubbles works better if not using actual soap leak detector . The electronic leak detectors are adjustable and don't descriminate flammable gases ,will even pick up solvent in pipe dope if set very sensitive, if you re-test repair before it dries. O-rings in tank connector leak often check there.

chunker · 01-21-2021, 06:30 AM

The resolution will have to wait on this one. I was briefly at the trailer yesterday and but apparently took my soap solution in the sprayer home. 409 doesn't work as well and I found the right tank empty. Not trusting the connections to be safe, I swapped the full left tank to the right side so I can have heat to the trailer if we have a cold snap. Since I rode the motorcycle down, I had to leave the empty bottle there. Meanwhile I'll get a portable detector and next trip down try to find the source of the smell/leak.

Teamfoxy · 01-21-2021, 07:32 AM

From your description of leaking while on one tank and not the other, I would suspect a leaking valve. Valves should be all the way off or all the way on because failing packing often leaks if valves are part way open..

chunker · 01-21-2021, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Teamfoxy

From your description of leaking while on one tank and not the other, I would suspect a leaking valve. Valves should be all the way off or all the way on because failing packing often leaks if valves are part way open..

Leaking comes from one side not from a specific tank.