Yellow flames on all appliances

[4RXLA]

Have been on the road for 3 weeks and up until now all my burner flames inside and out (water heater, refrigerator, stove) have been burning nice and blue. Tonight I went outside to walk the dog and noticed a golden flame in my refrigerator. I thought something fell into the burner tube so I turned it off and blew it out and relighted it but same result. The fridge has warmed a few degrees on the inside today as well. I checked my water heater pilot flame and it too has a golden flame. I ignited the heater and the burner tube is golden. I went inside and lit the stove burner and they are burning yellow too. Both propane tanks are full and open. I switched over to the other tank and there was no change. I'm right on the beach currently and have been traveling at high altitude and sea level. My LPG regulator is 4 years old. Could the regulator be out of adjustment or failing or is this typical at the oceanfront?

[AtomicNo13]

I think yellow/ orange flame can indicate moisture or oil in the gas, or improper regulation.

I had this happen a while ago. Oil settled to the bottom of the flex hose after the regulator before the rigid line. It was full of oil. I drained it and the problem went away.
Hope this helps!

[r carl]

Originally Posted by AtomicNo13

I think yellow/ orange flame can indicate moisture or oil in the gas, or improper regulation.

I had this happen a while ago. Oil settled to the bottom of the flex hose after the regulator before the rigid line. It was full of oil. I drained it and the problem went away.
Hope this helps!

Wow, how did you discover that? Accidentally?

[xrvr]

Usually a yellow flame indicates low propane level, can you double check? I own a gauge that I install occasionally to double check the level. Jim

[AtomicNo13]

I had been lugging a new 2 stage regulator around. I felt like fiddling around one morning. After removing the regulator, oil came bubbling out of the flex line.... a total surprise!
The odorant, mercaptain, is added to the lpg as an oil, and accumulates over time in low spots.

[A W Warn]

AtomicNo13, thanks for this information. I never heard of this problem. I did a quick internet search and found this:

OIL ADDITIVES IN LP: Mercaptan is blended into the Liquid Propane with the aid of an oil which helps to disperse the Mercaptan into the Propane. The oil also acts as a preservative to keep the interior of the tank, regulator, and supply lines from rusting. LP and Mercaptan are mixed with varying amounts of oil.
If too much oil gets in the supply lines, lets say over a period of 10 to 20 years of regular use, you may notice fluctuating pressure at the appliances, (usually the appliance furthest from the LP regulator.)as the oil temporarily blocks the flow of LP vapor under pressure to an appliance. This is easy to diagnose but often overlooked.... even by the most seasoned RV Techs! If you are experiencing a fluctuation in the flame at your stove top, your Furnace or Water Heater won't stay lit for some unexplained reason and your RV is more than 10 years old, it is easiest to open a line at a connection somewhere under the trailer to drain any oil that may have accumulated in the lines before attempting to diagnose a faulty appliance(s). There are many times that by simply opening a connection in the supply line and letting gravity work to drain oil from the LP lines will solve the problem. (Blowing the lines out with compressed air is not recommended.)

[AtomicNo13]

I was shocked how much oil drained out. I'll bet I captured at least a half pint just by

[AtomicNo13]

Too fast

Opening the fitting!

[Silver Hawk]

On mine everything works great except my new Domonic stove top, one of the burners burns blue as expected but the other two burn yellow. Can't find any adjustment on them for air/gas mixture as in a home stove. Any one have any ideas or experience this and a fix? Thanks

[AtomicNo13]

Directly behind the individual gas valves is an air shutter, it's a plastic ring that seems to snap onto the feed tube. Try to adjust those plastic rings to get the desired air/ fuel mixture.

[Silver Hawk]

Thanks KeepCalm will go look again.

[Silver Hawk]

Op's - blew that - it's a Suburban not a Domonic - checked again and there are no air adjustment holes or valves on the lines to each burner or connections - they all come off a manifold and straight to each burner. Manual says nothing about adjusting or does address this problem.

[AtomicNo13]

Hmmm mine have an air shutter. Maybe a call to Suburban....

[4RXLA]

Thanks for all the suggestions. After posting last night, I went outside and fiddled with the adjustment screw on the regulator. First turned it 180 degrees clockwise - no change. Then the same amount counter clockwise and still no change. I returned the screw to the original position and disconnected both propane lines from the tanks letting the regulator indicator turn red. I then reconnected the lines and turned on the valves and the green indicator popped up. The flames were still yellow so I went to bed figuring that today I would go out and buy a new regulator or put the old one on that I carry with me. I woke up this morning and found that all flames are nice and blue again. I'm thinking that maybe the auto changeover valve in the regulator might have been stuck and not fully open? I did let it run down and automatically switch over earlier in the week. Perhaps when I manually switched over the valve it didn't open completely?? Or adjusting the screw unstuck the diaphragm?? Anyhow all is back to normal.

[AtomicNo13]

There is no such thing as something fixing its self. There is an issue if some sort. It's never a good idea to fool with the regulator without a manometer.

[4RXLA]

I plan to replace the regulator when I get home next week if not before depending on what I see. I'm checking the flames regularly.