Date: Mon, 23 Jul 2007 16:01:56 -0700
Reply-To: Zoltan <zolo@FOXINTERNET.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Zoltan <zolo@FOXINTERNET.NET>
Subject: Re: Whiff of propane
Content-type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset=iso-8859-1; reply-type=response
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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