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minnie fan · 12-19-2011, 08:48 AM

Hi everyone, Happy Holidays. My minnie winnie has a 80lb propane tank that is about 3/4 full. I discovered that my on/off valve leaks when turning on or off. I can feel and smell the propane. I have a new valve to install. Does anyone know of a way I can save almost 18 gallons of propane rather than just dump it in order to replace the valve? I want to almost cry thinking of dumping the propane when I have to pay $4.28 a gallon. I don't want to take the change and try and use it up because of the leak. It doesn't seem to leak when turned off because the monitor doesn't show any loss. Thanks in advance.

Sidewinder · 12-19-2011, 09:02 AM

Liquid propane will run downhill the same as any liquid. If you could get the motorhome up high enough and had a hose connected to it and to some empty 20lbs tank it would normalize into the 20lb’ers. It will take some time and quite a few smaller tanks but you can recover some (not all) of your propane.
Ron

Perry White · 12-19-2011, 09:11 AM

You sure the valve leaks when you turn it all the way on? It should backseat. The packing is what leaks when you are turning the valve.Try turning it all the way on and tight against the stop and then spray some soap on the stem. You might not have to change the valve just yet.. Just leave it all the way open or all the way closed.
If it doesn't leak then you can use the propane up and then change the valve after the tank emptys.

free-to-roam · 12-19-2011, 09:14 AM

We owned a campground for several years, and one of our services was dispensing porpane. I had a MH to fill one day, nothing unusual when connecting the fill hose. When I disconnected it, the check valve in the tank failed, and the product came rushing back at me! NOT GOOD!!
I put the dispenser valve back on, and called my supplier. His utility man came right out, with an outboard valve on hand. After clearing the area, and keeping everyone away, heremoved my filling valve, some, but not much product vaporized and escaped, he removed the old check valve, and placed the new one on. Total time, less than 10 minutes. Seemed like a lot longer. When the old valve was removed, you could look into the tank, and see the pool of propane, but, it was not boiling to get out. We only lost a couyple gallons, fix was quick, and, relatively painless.
Might be best, if you can, get the professionals to do the work, they really understand that stuff!
Safety first with propane...always!!!

minnie fan · 12-19-2011, 10:28 AM

Thanks to everyone for your inputs and ideas. I also bought a bottle of leak detector with the new valve. I will check and see if the valve leaks when all the way "on". If not, I will do as suggested and use up the propane and then change the valve. I always open the valve all the way when using the propane and as stated, it doesn't leak when closed.

**JohnRR** · 12-19-2011, 10:34 AM

Since you can drive it without it leaking are there any propane service providers nearby that might be able to change it for you? A lot of the times the cost of a service call is high because of the tech's travel time.