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Topic: Propane tank is leaking. (Read 690 times) previous topic - next topic

Propane tank is leaking.

I turn off the valve on the propane tank (50 gallon capacity) and yet I still lose propane and can smell it. Is the overflow indicator (for lack of a better description)-- where the liquid propane sprays out to indicate the tank is at capacity (44 gallons) supposed to be turned snug clockwise to shut it off? When I checked it two days ago it was only finger tight. I snugged it up with a small crescent wrench, but not real tight.

If the tank supply valve is turned off where else could the propane be leaking? It's too dangerous the way it is. Right now the propane level--in nine days--went from 5/8 of a tank to 1/8 of a tank today.
Nitehawk,  Demolition Lady, & our NEW master, Zippy the speeding BB cat.
1989 Grand Villa 36' ORED
Oshkosh chassis, 8.2 DD V8
2006 Saturn Vue AWD

Re: Propane tank is leaking.

Reply #1 –
The bleed valve should seal with just tight finger torque.  At most a VERY light application of wrench.

Use soap bubbles to check for leaks.  Particularly if old, the house regulator is an easy to replace suspect.

Until you are able to troubleshoot it, turn off the tank valve(s).
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: Propane tank is leaking.

Reply #2 –
No sparks, Lighting, That gas escaping like that is highly explosive,

Try and keep it ventilated, blow the gas away, Not with an electrical fan, It will cause a spark,

Propane is heavier than air, so it will sit in cavitys,  Dont ask me how I know, Stove in my Caravan, Hair, mustache, Eyebrow, Hairs up my whole arm, Hahahaha
Cheers,
Brian,

Toys, 1989 Grand Villa, 36 foot, ORED with 300 Hp Cat. 2002 Gemini 34 foot Sailing Catamaran, 2006 Honda Super Blackbird 1100XX, 2002 ZR7 750 Kawasaki,
25 HP Chinese tractor and Backhoe,

Re: Propane tank is leaking.

Reply #3 –
Hey, Brett, I do turn off the tank valve, yet propane does keep leaking. Thanks for the bleed valve info. I didn't know what it was called. Now I can get a new one and ask for it by that name. If the tank is turned off how could propane leak out the house regulator? Could the "fill connection" be leaking? I thought that by closing the main valve that propane wouldn't leak out but it is still leaking.
Nitehawk,  Demolition Lady, & our NEW master, Zippy the speeding BB cat.
1989 Grand Villa 36' ORED
Oshkosh chassis, 8.2 DD V8
2006 Saturn Vue AWD

Re: Propane tank is leaking.

Reply #4 –
Propane tanks have a spring loaded "Acme" fill connector that is supposed to close back off when filler hose is unscrewed. Sometimes the spring loaded valve does not close all the way. The common way is to tap it with something, like a piece of wood, to get it to 'seat'. The fix for this is to completely drain tank and replace fill valve assembly OR buy an 'emergency' adapter that screws on to the fill connector that has its own spring loaded closure. Future filling can be done with adapter in place. We carry one of these adapters, because if one fills their tank and the tank does not close off after removing the fill hose, there is a major problem that cannot be resolved at the fill station, maybe requiring calling the fire squad.

I think this is the adapter:
http://propanewarehouse.com/acmefittingsdetails.asp?ID=3011 .

To drain a propane tank to make a repair, can take many hours, since there is usually only a vapor outlet. Somewhere around the 1997 Foretravel build years, coaches had large propane tanks that have a unused "liquid' valve, probably originally purchased for coaches manufactured with propane generators. Our propane tank has a caped-off liquid valve that was used to drain our tank when we had a repair of a leaking shut-off valve. The propane shop actually recovered the drained propane into an empty tank and gave us credit for the propane.

We prefer to fill our propane tank at a propane depot, rather than a gas station, Flying J, repair shop etc, because the lack of expertise/experience of the technician can contribute to problems.

The 80% 'spit' valve can be replaced without draining the tank, because behind the spit valve is a very tiny hole, that when exposed while the spit valve is being replaced, does not let out a lot of propane gas.

Re: Propane tank is leaking.

Reply #5 –
My suggestion, take the coach to a Propane dealer who works on propane systems.  He will have the knowledge and parts to fix the problem. 
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020
 

Re: Propane tank is leaking.

Reply #6 –
Quote from: Barry & Cindy –
Propane tanks have a spring loaded "Acme" fill connector that is supposed to close back off when filler hose is unscrewed. Sometimes the spring loaded valve does not close all the way. The common way is to tap it with something, like a piece of wood, to get it to 'seat'. The fix for this is to completely drain tank and replace fill valve assembly OR buy an 'emergency' adapter that screws on to the fill connector that has its own spring loaded closure. Future filling can be done with adapter in place. We carry one of these adapters, because if one fills their tank and the tank does not close off after removing the fill hose, there is a major problem that cannot be resolved at the fill station, maybe requiring calling the fire squad.

I think this is the adapter:
http://propanewarehouse.com/acmefittingsdetails.asp?ID=3011 .

Received my Adapter today from the Propanewarehouse.  Hopefully, this adaptor will never be used, but is a great "just in case" part.
Thanks to Barry and Cindy for this timely safety post.
Dave and Nancy A
Dave and Nancy Abel
'00 U320 36' WTFE  Build #5669
'10 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon
Livingston, TX  SKP's Fulltiming