Date: Fri, 18 Jun 1999 07:46:02 -0700
Reply-To: Mark Drillock <drillock@EARTHLINK.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Mark Drillock <drillock@EARTHLINK.NET>
Subject: Re: Propane leak!
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
This leak is probably easy to find as it makes enough sound to hear from
a distance. The most likely cause is a leak in the 2-stage regulator. If
you still have the square white plastic cover installed over the
regulator, this will hide the leak from sight. The other likely spot is
the shut-off valve itself. These can leak around the stem of the valve,
when open. Another common leak area is the Auto Stop Valve but these are
not found on most tanks, and this leak happens even when the gas is
turned off. If a close look does not reveal the leak, use a 1-2 foot
piece of hose as a stethoscope and slowly move it over everything until
you isolate the source of the hiss. The parts for these tanks are not
expensive except for the Auto Stop Valve, found mostly in 83-84 Westys
in my experience.
Shutoff valve-$20
2 Stage regulator-$25
Fill valve-$35
Bleed valve-$5
If there is any doubt about your ability to work on the propane system,
use an RV repair shop. They have the parts or know where to get them.
Mark Drillock
Rob MacLeod wrote:
>
> Folks,
>
> Last weekend I happened to wander by our '86 Westy (only 70k original
> miles) and heard the sound of gas hissing. I checked under the vehicle and
> could smell gas so I turned off the main valve from the tank and the noise
> stopped. There was no gas smell inside the bus, just underneath.
>
> I am wondering how best to go about finding the problem and fixing it,
> but also considering just letting someone do it for me.
>
> If I take the first pathway, I would try slathering soap solution over the
> pipes and see if I can locate the site of escape. Sound reasonable so far?
> But I am not sure what to do if I find a hole in the system somewhere--how
> hard is it to replace sections of the pipe or what is involved in this?
> Are there specific parts for the Westy?
>
> And if I choose to pay someone else to deal with it, can I go to my regular
> mechanic or should I be heading to some sort of RV place? Who is likely to
> know what they are doing to fix this sort of problem?
>
> Finally, anyone got any suggestions/guesses/premonitions as to what
> happened? I am guessing a rock from the road flew up and hit something but
> what other sources of this type of injury might there be? Is it likely to
> be just a loose joint? Anyone else had similar problems? Does this system
> routinely age and fall apart over this sort of time span? It also suggests
> that keeping the valve shut when the bus is not in use might be
> advisable--although in that case I would have discovered the problem only
> after we set out on another trip without the luxury of dealing with it in
> peace.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Rob.
>
> --
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Rob MacLeod, Ph.D.
> Nora Eccles Harrison Cardiovascular Research and Training Institute (CVRTI)
> University of Utah
> 95 South 2000 East
> Salt Lake City, Utah 84112-5000 ____ __o
> Internet: macleod@cvrti.utah.edu ____ -\<,
> Phonemail: (801)581-8183 ....0/ 0
> Fax: (801)581-3128
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
| 
