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Date:         Wed, 27 Aug 2008 08:35:43 -0400
Reply-To:     Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
Comments:     RFC822 error: <W> MESSAGE-ID field duplicated. Last occurrence
              was retained.
From:         Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Leaky vent on Propane Shutoff valve?
Comments: To: pickle vanagon <greenvanagon@GMAIL.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <91c8f9760808261856n7bb46837v929a5c20d26838f8@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

Sounds like the tank was overfilled or the relief is stuck open. Depending on the type of fill valve, there may be reset on the left side that has to be pushed back in after the over fill is corrected.

Dennis

-----Original Message----- From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of pickle vanagon Sent: Tuesday, August 26, 2008 9:56 PM To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM Subject: Leaky vent on Propane Shutoff valve?

We just got back from a cross country trip (see separate email) and had to run the fridge on DC while driving since it wouldn't stay lit on propane while moving, even though it used to. I had recently carried out some fridge maintenance (air pump upgrade, clean combustion chamber, and install bigger and quieter fan), and so I assumed I must have messed something up, and would have to remove the fridge again to try some trial-and-error troubleshooting.

But then, we ran out of propane, and when we went to fill up, the propane attendant said it only took 1.1 gallons or so. Our tank has a manual fill+bleeder valve system. I knew this was low but he said he was sure it was full, so I drove off puzzled. Then, I got concerned, as I started getting the distinct whiff some propane while driving. When I pulled over to check it out, I found that the emergency vent on the propane shutoff valve (not the regulator) was leaking in spurts, especially while driving. It continued to do this for a while, but after while it quieted down and seemed not to leak to much more. Here is my wild theory about how all of this fits together:

Obviously, the vent is bad. I'm thinking that maybe it is defective in a way that makes it unable to hold back liquid propane. So, whenever the propane guy had put in enough propane that liquid was at the level of the shutoff valve, lots of stuff started coming out. Maybe this happened around 1.1 gallons, and he mistook it for liquid coming out of the bleeder valve, and decided the tank was full.

If this is the case, then the idea is that when driving around, the liquid sloshes, and whenever it gets up against the vent, the vent opens for a second and lots of propane escapes. I'm thinking that maybe this venting creates enough of a pressure drop that the fridge flame goes out.

So what do people think... sounds plausible?

In any case, I think the vent is bad, so I need to replace this shutoff valve. Anybody know where I can get one without buying a whole new tank?

Thanks very much! Wes


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