Quote:
Originally Posted by Al Boondy
Since propane gas has no smell, for safety reasons they had an odorant called ethyl mercaptan. The odorant can concentrate on the bottom of the tank and when propane level is low the gas can have too much ethyl mercaptan in it for a small pilot light to burn off. Hence the smell when tank is low.
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We experience a similar problem with our trailer. Usually when one of the tanks is low. Your explanation makes sense. I'll do some more research and double-check if there is a way to drain the tanks of the "extra" odorant. Perhaps emptying the tank on the trailer, then allow any remaining vapor to escape, remove the valve and actually drain the tank. Maybe even rinse the tank. Sounds like a professional "propane guy" needs to do this if it's even feasible.
I can imagine an accumulation of the odorant in tanks on our 1992 but it seems an odd situation to have this accumulation on a relatively new set of tanks. Perhaps I still don't understand the scenario you described. I've seen a thick, oily substance in the bottom of tanks that have been opened and that substance certainly contains a high concentration of odorant. Does it accumulate over time?