RV propane leak repair for a fixed motorhome tank

[TheBar]

My propane gauge showed around 25% in March. The stove, fridge, and furnace has been turned off for 3 months. I'm 100% certain I turned the tank valve off in March. So someone at the lot messed with it. I did notice a propane smell outside but not inside. I checked and the tank is now empty and there is zero gas pressure.

Normally I would work on it myself. But the covered but open storage lot doesn't allow repairs on their lot. My driveway at home is too short for my RV. There are no RV repair facilities within 120 miles and my wife no longer drives a car.

I know propane dealers work on stick and brick buildings but do they repair RVs?

 

[UTTransplant]

Did someone cut the line or did they just open the tank? Most RV plumbers will work on RVs, and some of the mobile guys are competent plumbers. My husband always did the gas plumbing himself, but I have seen other folks using plumbers.

 

[TheBar]

Did someone cut the line or did they just open the tank? Most RV plumbers will work on RVs, and some of the mobile guys are competent plumbers. My husband always did the gas plumbing himself, but I have seen other folks using plumbers.

No RV plumbers around but I might try a house plumber.

No cut lines. But the lines looked bent up like they twisted them around until they heard gas coming out. There's a ski boat next to me used by teenagers who always leave a bunch of empty beer cans inside their boat. Been neighbors for 2 years so I'm guess I'm lucky this is all that's happened. I'm going to get on the waiting list to move to a different space.

 

[Kirk]

You could get a bottle filled and then open it long enough to see if there is a leak.

 

[TheBar]

You could get a bottle filled and then open it long enough to see if there is a leak.

Thanks and a good idea. But my RV has these fittings hard attached and similar fittings on the regulator inside a metal box. Not sure how I'd attach a bottle.

 

[John From Detroit]

Looks like a motor home tank. Extend-a-stay adapter.. it goes between the tank and the regulator.
Normally those tanks have POL connectors (Prest-O-Lite though the joke is Put On Left as they are left hand threaded) you disconnect the regulator from the tank valve move it over a bit screw in the Extend-a-stay and screw teh regulator into the E-A-S the E-A-S has two additional ports one is a "Quick Connect" like those throw away you get at the hardware to power cookigng gear or a propane torch. and a small fitting you screw a hose in.. It comes with two hoses. one is a Quick Connect Extension 10' (if you get the full kit) this runs your propane grill off the MH tank.

The other is a short hose with a fitting to match the small Inlet on teh E-A-S on one end and an ACME on the other end (Modern Luggleable tank connector)

Handy if you park longer than your MH tank lasts.
handy for the Grill too.

 

[TheBar]

Looks like a motor home tank. Extend-a-stay adapter.. it goes between the tank and the regulator.
Normally those tanks have POL connectors (Prest-O-Lite though the joke is Put On Left as they are left hand threaded) you disconnect the regulator from the tank valve move it over a bit screw in the Extend-a-stay and screw teh regulator into the E-A-S the E-A-S has two additional ports one is a "Quick Connect" like those throw away you get at the hardware to power cookigng gear or a propane torch. and a small fitting you screw a hose in.. It comes with two hoses. one is a Quick Connect Extension 10' (if you get the full kit) this runs your propane grill off the MH tank.

The other is a short hose with a fitting to match the small Inlet on teh E-A-S on one end and an ACME on the other end (Modern Luggleable tank connector)

Handy if you park longer than your MH tank lasts.
handy for the Grill too.

Thanks! Really good information. I've been RVing for 50 years and 10 years before that with my parents. But mostly in trailers with bottles. In all that time I've never had any kind of trouble with the propane system.

So I guess the reason is I've never had anyone mess with one because until 2 years ago they were always stored in my driveway. Plus the propane compartment door doesn't have a lock like the other compartments.

And I've never had a motorhome more than 10 years old. The old RV is still in great shape so we may wear out before she does.

 

[Jubilee]

Another possibility is the pop valve.
This valve is located on the bottom of the RV
tank.
Anyway that’s where it was located in the two I’ve
changed.
Easy change out. $25 for valve 3 yrs. ago at propane
dealer. $100 online.

 

[Kirk]

But my RV has these fittings hard attached and similar fittings on the regulator inside a metal box.

Sorry, but I didn't realize that you are in a motorhome. I was thinking of a trailer with removable bottles. My idea isn't practical for a fixed tank like you have. If you have any pictures of the place where the gas line is twisted, post those as I'd like to see what they look like.

 

[ButchW1]

I had a fill port like yours that was leaking... I didn't want to mess with it and took it to a propane dealer, and had it fixed....Just loose, and probably could have fixed myself... But wanted to be "safe"...
Butch

Fill Port On Onboard Propane Leaking

I have a leak at the threads of my fill port on the onboard propane tank on my class A... Can I just back out the fitting and wrap it with propane Teflon Tape? Or is there a gasket/o-ring of some sort?... Is it a standard right hand thread or a left?.. Thanks for any help.. Butch

www.rvforum.net

 

[Adventurous Traveler]

Any chance the bleed valve, shown in the picture right next to the fill valve, was not tightened enough after the last fill? I've had this happen to me twice where the person filling the tank cracks open the valve to relieve pressure, but doesn't tighten it. Both times I noticed my propane running down, and a smell of propane outside. Even the last time I had my propane filled at a U-Haul store, I asked the girl filling the tank to make sure to shut the bleeder valve tight. After she was done and walked away, I grabbed a pair of pliers by the fill station, checked the valve, and sure enough, she left it cracked open. Now, I carry a pair of pliers in the propane bay to always check myself.

 

[garyb1st]

Our Pace had a leak in the tank almost from the get go. At least the original owners records indicate it was worked on. Turned out to be the plug/bolt the gauge sits on. The fix was tightening the bolt. Must have been loose from a prior effort to fix. In any event, it's been more than 3 years and no more leak.

 

[John From Detroit]

I had a fill port like yours that was leaking... I didn't want to mess with it and took it to a propane dealer, and had it fixed....Just loose, and probably could have fixed myself... But wanted to be "safe"...

When it comes to propane... Going to the pro to get it fixed is beyond a doubt the BEST Idea.

 

[poohbear]

get your local propane supplier to repair it . In my state anyone that works on the propane system or dispenses it MUST have a state propane license and specific insurance and for many years I had the license as I was in the HVAC business.

 

[Brad Buchanan]

Thanks and a good idea. But my RV has these fittings hard attached and similar fittings on the regulator inside a metal box. Not sure how I'd attach a bottle.

View attachment 2487038
View attachment 2487039

Possibly your fill valve. Kinda hard to see but I don't see the plug that pushes back when you fill the tank.

I had the one on our Horizon stick and would not take a fill. I bought a new valve and changed it out in about 10 minutes. Use pipe dope.

Also I bought a brass adapter so that you can get filled anywhere and not only where they are set up for it (with the same adapter).

 

[RayIN]

Was the supply valve on or off?
Use soapy water, or purchased gas leak detector, on the fill valve. I was once surprised with an empty tank on our MH. I sprayed the valve with soapy water and quickly had a lot of bubbles. The rubber sealing gasket was bad.
My LP supplier bought an new fill valve for my tank, called me when it was delivered. It took him perhaps 15 minutes to replace the valve after I arrived at his shop. He replace the valve in the parking lot, no purge necessary. That was perhaps 10 yrs ago.

 

[Kirk]

The old RV is still in great shape so we may wear out before she does.

Have you found the problem yet?