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Topic: Propane smell..while driving (Read 672 times) previous topic - next topic

Propane smell..while driving

So this situation just repeated itself. Driving normal highway speeds hour to hour and a half into the drive we smell propane up front then after about a half  hour no alarms going off the smell subsides.

Any idea what's going on?

 Yes I will check all connections
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My advice and experiences are Free, you decide if they are worth anything .

John - driving Old Faithful
1994 U280 GV
C8.3, Banks, Pacbrake, 900 watts, Resonator, XLHD tow dolly
Retired Army Warrant Officer

Life is what you make of it - if it is lemons, make lemonade!
Former Coaches:
1988 GV 40' ORED 300HP CAT - 9 years
1990 Winnebago LeSharo - 3 years
2000 Newmar London Aire - 3 years (#18 of 23 produced)

Re: Propane smell..while driving

Reply #1 –
Try driving with the propane main valve off to see if it is the propane for sure,could the smell be from black tank?Was at Quartzite
this year and checked a few of the coaches for propane leaks and found the main manual shutoff valve leaking at the stem.Was using a electronic leak detector.Also try checking every connection you can see and get to with soap bubbles.
96 U270 BUILD 4810
85 380SL
Drummonds TN.

Re: Propane smell..while driving

Reply #2 –
Check that the stove burners are turned off. Also the pilot light if it is operational.
We once had a situation where we smelled propane and couldn't find the source. It turned out that a stove burner (front controls) was "just slightly" on. Someone (no names please) must have bumped the control knob with his large, fluffy butt.
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 smell..while driving

Reply #3 –
If the tank was overfilled and you're in a hot environment it'll vent some vapor off the top of the tank to prevent an over pressure situation. Read the little circular gauge on the center of the tank to see if it's filled to more than 80%, which it shouldn't be. If you take it to a "real" propane distributor, not the corner gas station, like Suburban Propane, Ferrelgas or one of those places they should have a service technician who can do a safety check for you.
Scott Cook
1991 U300 36' 6V92TA
Old Town Penobscot 16
1984 Honda VF1100C (V65 Magna)

Re: Propane smell..while driving

Reply #4 –
Quote from: John44 –
  checked a few of the coaches for propane leaks and found the main manual shutoff valve leaking at the stem.
Yup, good point, happened to us and almost got thrown out of the campground because the smell was going downstream into other sites. If those ever go bad, you are in for some fun!  F.D. regs in most areas do not permit a propane tank to be drained on a commercial premises, so the only answer is to take the coach out to the boonies and open the bleeder. Time consuming, take a good book.  ^.^d
1993 U-240 "La Villa Grande"..CAT 3116 w/ Pacbrake PRXB...Allison 3060 6-speed..
Previous: 1983 Airstream 310 turbo diesel, 1979 Airstream 280 turbo diesel
                                      Build # 4297
                                      PNW natives
                      Home base:  'Cactus Hug' (Ajo, Arizona)
                        DW Judy & Chet the wonder dog
                        Full-Timers 'Sailing the asphalt sea'

Re: Propane smell..while driving

Reply #5 –
A grey tank that has turned "sour" can contribute smells in a coach.

I replaced our tank valve as it leaked also
"Riding and rejoicing"
Bob
1997 U320 40' Mid entry, build 5132,  wtbi ce27, 4th owner
2007 Solara convertible
2 prodeco tech outlaw ss electric bikes

1095 watts solar
08 Ls 460 and a sc430
2000 Ford F-250 superduty 4x4

Re: Propane smell..while driving

Reply #6 –
"Sniff" around while or better immediately after driving to see if you can pinpoint the strongest odor.

Agree, I would shut off propane at the tank to help rule in/out this as the source of the odor.

Pay particular attention to the under-sink areas.  The air admittance valves are failure points.
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 smell..while driving

Reply #7 –
Surprised the "beeper" below the the sink did not go off, those things are sensitive to a lot of things besides propane. I inspected a SOB coach for some friends, found the sniffer was turned off. Turned it on and heard "that sound". Yup, propane leak, somewhere, told them to bail until the propane leak was found and paperwork for the fix was provided. Those sniffers are not forever, my files show they've been replaced already, and we replaced our's again last year. Cheap insurance, especially if there are smokers on board.
1993 U-240 "La Villa Grande"..CAT 3116 w/ Pacbrake PRXB...Allison 3060 6-speed..
Previous: 1983 Airstream 310 turbo diesel, 1979 Airstream 280 turbo diesel
                                      Build # 4297
                                      PNW natives
                      Home base:  'Cactus Hug' (Ajo, Arizona)
                        DW Judy & Chet the wonder dog
                        Full-Timers 'Sailing the asphalt sea'

Re: Propane smell..while driving

Reply #8 –
Newer detector... I forgot about the vents for plumbing.. all good info thanks ^.^d

Off to crystal river tommarrow
The selected media item is not currently available.
My advice and experiences are Free, you decide if they are worth anything .

John - driving Old Faithful
1994 U280 GV
C8.3, Banks, Pacbrake, 900 watts, Resonator, XLHD tow dolly
Retired Army Warrant Officer

Life is what you make of it - if it is lemons, make lemonade!
Former Coaches:
1988 GV 40' ORED 300HP CAT - 9 years
1990 Winnebago LeSharo - 3 years
2000 Newmar London Aire - 3 years (#18 of 23 produced)

Re: Propane smell..while driving

Reply #9 –
Our gray tank smell much worse that our black tank.  This is one reason why we don't use a 3rd drain valve to flow gray back into black when dumping, as flushing our toilet waifed strong smells from previous gray back-flow cleanings.
We have drain air admittance valves high up under kitchen & bath sinks.  They screw on and read on our forum that there is a preferred higher quality brand of valve.

Re: Propane smell..while driving

Reply #10 –
If still a propane like smell with main tank valve off and kitchen stove top ALL the way off:

How old are the coach and engine batteries? Are any hot to the touch?  Sure none are venting?

  Dead mouse somewhere?  And as others mentioned, black or grey tank odor due to vacuum sucking fumes in  when moving.  Bleach into each tank, does smell still occur?
Dan - Full timing since 2009
2003 U320 40' Tag 2 slide

Re: Propane smell..while driving

Reply #11 –
Some of the other posts may explain why the "sniffer" never went off. However, there is no smell like propane, and I've had all kinds! A little bit of rubbing alcohol around the "sniffer" is a easy test.
1993 U-240 "La Villa Grande"..CAT 3116 w/ Pacbrake PRXB...Allison 3060 6-speed..
Previous: 1983 Airstream 310 turbo diesel, 1979 Airstream 280 turbo diesel
                                      Build # 4297
                                      PNW natives
                      Home base:  'Cactus Hug' (Ajo, Arizona)
                        DW Judy & Chet the wonder dog
                        Full-Timers 'Sailing the asphalt sea'

Re: Propane smell..while driving

Reply #12 –
Also, a butane match "stick"with the flame out, held close to the sensor, will trip the alarm.
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 smell..while driving

Reply #13 –
I still use Aqua Chem and a portion goes in the grey tank
"Riding and rejoicing"
Bob
1997 U320 40' Mid entry, build 5132,  wtbi ce27, 4th owner
2007 Solara convertible
2 prodeco tech outlaw ss electric bikes

1095 watts solar
08 Ls 460 and a sc430
2000 Ford F-250 superduty 4x4