Date: Mon, 23 Jul 2007 16:41:46 -0700
Reply-To: "Mike \"Rocket J Squirrel\" Elliott" <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: "Mike \"Rocket J Squirrel\" Elliott" <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Whiff of propane
In-Reply-To: <00ea01c7cd7d$783c1cc0$2f01a8c0@FirstLaptop>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
This is a Southern California van. We don't have rust. It was banned
ages ago and I don't know why other states haven't followed suit.
The plate is smooth and flat against the tank body. All four seams pass
my highly-sensitive soap bubble test.
Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott
71 Type 2: the Wonderbus
84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana")
74 Utility Trailer. Ladybug Trailer, Inc., San Juan Capistrano
KG6RCR
On 7/23/2007 4:01 PM Zoltan wrote:
> One source of leak may come from under the specification plate. By now,
> the rust has grown so thick and the metal has thinned so much, it is
> already lifting the plate off the body, bulging.
> Most tanks are totally unsafe because of this.
> The new tanks are welded all around the plate now.
> Try squirting some of the soapy water around there.
> The stronger smell usually comes when the tank is getting empty.
> Zoltan
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott"
> <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Monday, July 23, 2007 3:07 PM
> Subject: Whiff of propane
>
>
>> During the last camping trip I was on occasion getting whiffs of propane
>> outside the van. Not strong, not inside, and nowhere near sources of
>> ignition so I figured I'd sort it out here.
>>
>> So Mellow Yellow is parked on the driveway and I get whiffs of propane.
>> I shut off the main valve and the whiffs continue. Bleed the inside
>> lines (open stove valves) and a day later, whiffs continue. This
>> suggests to me that the trouble is the filler bits, the tank, the line
>> leading to the main shutoff, or the main shutoff.
>>
>> So I start painting everything with 50/50 mix of liquid dishwashing
>> detergent and water. No bubbles. Not one. Isn't this supposed to be,
>> like, at Pretty Darn Good Test for something like this?
>>
>> While I'm at it, I paint everything else I can reach, including the new
>> 2-stage regulator I had installed three years ago, and it's output bits.
>> No bubbles. Whiffs continue.
>>
>> Questions:
>>
>> 1. Do main shutoff valves not shut fully off? IOW, if it's tightened
>> fully clockwise, would we expect it to not pass gas to the regulator?
>>
>> 2. The autostop valve's reset button -- I'd like to try to reset it, but
>> pushing on it as hard as my measly fingers can does not move it. Use a
>> tiny hammer? Hire a gorilla? Which leads to:
>>
>> 3. Could the autostop valve be the source of my propane whiffs? I have a
>> manual fill valve and a manual bleeder valve on hand.
>>
>> --
>>
>> Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott
>> 71 Type 2: the Wonderbus
>> 84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana")
>> 74 Utility Trailer. Ladybug Trailer, Inc., San Juan Capistrano
>> KG6RCR
>>
>>
>> --
>> No virus found in this incoming message.
>> Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.476 / Virus Database:
>> 269.10.14/912 - Release Date: 7/22/2007 7:02 PM
>>
>
>
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