Slight Propane smell

[Tbos]

For a while now I've been smelling a faint smell of propane in the area of the tanks. It doesn't matter if they are connected and on or off. I've taken the soapy suds and tested every connection and can't find a leak. I've also put the suds on the parts of the regulator that are accessible. It has a white plastic cover on the lower portion. Everything works in the TT and we don't seem to be using an excessive amount of propane. Does anyone have any ideas on what to test next?


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[chuckster57]

Take the white cover off and you'll probably see a vent. In the center of the lower portion you might see a black plastic thumb screw. It covers the pressure adjustment screw.

BEST way to test is using a manometer, but they aren't that cheap to run out and buy.

[Frank G]

I've had the same issue, every time I open the door to the propane tanks I get a very slight whiff of the stuff. Soaped everything down and nothing.

[Tbos]

Take the white cover off and you'll probably see a vent. In the center of the lower portion you might see a black plastic thumb screw. It covers the pressure adjustment screw.

BEST way to test is using a manometer, but they aren't that cheap to run out and buy.



Is the smell normal due to the vent in the regulator? Is there an adjustment I should make or just suds the vent up to look for a leak there? Thanks.


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[outwest]

Had a leak I couldn't find for a long time. Turned out to be the factory supplied hoses between the tanks and the regulator. When wiggled, one of them would leak a tiny bit where the connector was attached to the flexible hose. So, bouncing down the road it would leak a tiny bit, but once parked...

[chuckster57]

Smell from vent isn't "normal" if it's all the time. Adjustment requires the use of a manometer and knowing the correct procedure so short answer is no.

I have seen numerous "pig tails" fail, and not all at the same place. Since you said you bubble tested, I figured you did them.

[Tbos]

If the pigtails are good the easiest thing to fix it is replace the regulator, correct? Any brands you recommend or recommend we stay away from? Thanks.


2016 Passport GT 2810BHS, 2016 F350 CC DRW

[chuckster57]

No brand preference or "stay away".

[hdrolling]

I just went through this, wasn't expecting it on a two yr old camper!

Last summer while camping we smelt a slight propane smell and decided it was better to turn off the camper propane and just use the Weber grill for all the cooking.

We came back and did the soapy water and couldn't find anything.

So pulling it out of storage this year we turned the propane on again in the storage area and could smell propane, tried the soap water again and nothing.

Brought the camper to the house to have repair work done after getting broke into last winter and played with the propane again. This time a little heavier on the soap.

Well my main regulator had a leak on the very top, not really an area I had been checking before. Before I was just checking around the connections.

I ordered the same part number from Amazon and installed the new master regulator, everything was good. Checked the other side and it still smelled like propane, used the heavy soap water and sure enough the small regulator on the other side was leaking as well.

Ordered that and replaced it and now (Finally) no gas leaks! When you order the new regulator if you don't already have some order the yellow pipe tape as well, the white isn't for use on propane.

[chuckster57]

What brand of Regulator was the bad one? We are in a current recall for bad regulators on numerous Grand Design Reflection and Imagine models.

[hdrolling]

What brand of Regulator was the bad one? We are in a current recall for bad regulators on numerous Grand Design Reflection and Imagine models.

Both my gray bigger two stage and the small red one were fairview brand.

[chuckster57]

Thanks, that's not the brand affected by the recall. I don't think it's a "safety" recall issued by any agency, just a Grand Design thing.

[Tbos]

What brand is involved in the recall?


2016 Passport GT 2810BHS, 2016 F350 CC DRW

[chuckster57]

What brand is involved in the recall?


2016 Passport GT 2810BHS, 2016 F350 CC DRW
I'm drawing a blank right now, but I will check when I get back to work on Monday, this 100+ degree weather has fried my brain :confused:

NOW I 'MEMBER: MB Sturgis brand.

[Tbos]

I'm drawing a blank right now, but I will check when I get back to work on Monday, this 100+ degree weather has fried my brain :confused:

NOW I 'MEMBER: MB Sturgis brand.



Mine doesn't look like the on lone pictures for that brand. So I don't think it's recall involved. I'll have to do some additional testing with the suds. This would be easier to troubleshoot if the TT were here instead of storage. Thanks.


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[hdrolling]

We just arrived at our camping area here in Tn yesterday and found out now that my weber Q portable grill as a bad regulator.

We only used our camper one week last year because of other obligations but I guess if you don't use this stuff that they get ruined quick!

[notanlines]

Jeffrey, funny you should mention the Weber Q. Our 1200 is a piece of junk if there ever was one. We replaced the regulator and it improved not at all. No way could one grill steaks on this piece of junk.

[Tbos]

We just arrived at our camping area here in Tn yesterday and found out now that my weber Q portable grill as a bad regulator.

We only used our camper one week last year because of other obligations but I guess if you don't use this stuff that they get ruined quick!



We go to TN the end of the month. We will be at Anchor Down in Dandridge TN.


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[hdrolling]

Jeffrey, funny you should mention the Weber Q. Our 1200 is a piece of junk if there ever was one. We replaced the regulator and it improved not at all. No way could one grill steaks on this piece of junk.

I watched a vid on youtube that showed how to replace the standard regulator with one for a four burner stove, so it lets a lot more gas through. Went to lowes and picked up all the fittings and changed it over and it works better than perfect now.

Also had a great time in Tenn, we leave for Myrtle beach in a couple weeks.

We did have our roof start to peal off, can't believe the issues we're having with a 2015!

The 12 year roof warranty doesn't cover the roof cover pealing off and it's over 10 Grand to get it replaced so now it has the perma bond tape holing it on, looks like garbage!

[Tbos]

Ordered a new regulator yesterday. The current one created a bubble at the window and st least one at the vent. Should arrive tomorrow. I hope this solves the issue.


2016 Passport GT 2810BHS, 2016 F350 CC DRW

[hdrolling]

Ordered a new regulator yesterday. The current one created a bubble at the window and st least one at the vent. Should arrive tomorrow. I hope this solves the issue.


2016 Passport GT 2810BHS, 2016 F350 CC DRW

Sorry for hijacking your thread, good luck with the new regulator. Hopefully you have or also picked up some of the yellow pipe tape to use on the threads. The white thread tape won't last long.

[Tbos]

Sorry for hijacking your thread, good luck with the new regulator. Hopefully you have or also picked up some of the yellow pipe tape to use on the threads. The white thread tape won't last long.



No problem at all. Bought the yellow tape yesterday. Regulator is supposed to arrive today.


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[Tbos]

New regulator installed with new pig tails. No leaks and as of tonight there was no smell.


2016 Passport GT 2810BHS, 2016 F350 CC DRW

[dwayne564]

I have the same issue, I have the 30# red regulator on one of my tanks, mine are on each side, slight smell of propane with the one with the red regulator, someone says they get stuck, ordering a new one, for now just using one tank, on the other side, does anyone know, can you get back pressure from the good side to the 30# red regulator if the selection regulator is set to the other side.

[chuckster57]

If the regulator is set to the good side, then no it's not supposed to "back flow" to the bad side. Always a good idea to verify that that's what's happening.

[kksfish]

Just a thought but what is the ambient temperature when you first noticed the smell? If high temp the lp gas will expand a little and escape thru the vent then stop when temperatures go down.