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Rig Rat · 02-02-2020, 02:47 PM

We’ve been on the road three weeks and stopped to add propane yesterday.
The first LP station we stopped at was unable to get any gas to flow. Thinking that it might be their pump and/or fittings, I went to a camping world not far away.
They too could not get any gas to flow into our LPG valve. They thought the valve might be stuck and stuck a screwdriver into it several times to check it. It seemed to be working OK but still no luck getting any propane to flow into our tank.
Full disclosure, I did hit a curb several days earlier that caused a leak in the X ternal quick connect barbecue valve which I was able to successfully cap. But after inspection the LPG fill valve looked like to not have experienced any damage.
Thought I would check to see if anyone else has had a problem getting propane to go into your tank before I try to find the nearest airstream dealer somewhere here on the road.

Foiled Again · 02-02-2020, 03:27 PM

Forget Airstream dealer. Propane tanks are standard generic stuff. Find a PROPANE dealer.

Do the tanks have any gas in them? A balloon over the nozzle, and open the valve slowly will show. Also try tapping the side of the tank and listening for the tone to change when you get down to the level of the liquid.

Tanks may have a fail safe cutoff to prevent a massive release of gas. Opening the valves too fast can look like a severed hose and stop the tank from draining.

Could someone have messed with your tank valves or used the wrong size equipment to fill them last time? Jammed the valve itself? May be completely wrong, but my bratty brother glued the valves shut on my bicycle when we were kids. Why? He just liked to mess with any stuff mechanical or explosive.

A propane supplier can change out the valves after purging the tanks.

Rig Rat · 02-02-2020, 05:57 PM

I’m in an airstream motor home. The propane tank is under the coach by the rear axle so I don’t think anyone messed with it. I’d be glad if the propane fill valve that was installed by airstream on the Interstate is generic.

RoadJager · 02-03-2020, 07:10 AM

Corrosion/dirt could be the issue. We encountered the same thing and used WD40 to clean and lube the service port. No problem since.

Rig Rat · 02-03-2020, 09:26 AM

Thanks, will try that easy fix!

Krikati · 02-03-2020, 03:08 PM

Hey Rig Rat,

We had that problem once. We filled the tank at one place but they ran out of propane, apparently without filling the tank completely. The next place was unable to put any more into the tank. The problem was that our tank was already full and wouldn't accept any more. See if you can check that. Good luck.

Krikati

Bobkuz · 02-03-2020, 05:22 PM

Rig Rat

I also agree your tank my be full without you knowing it.
I had a small 5 Pound tank that I thought was empty because it felt light, after having 2 places try to refill it like you they said it was in fact full.

BobnGayl · 02-05-2020, 01:45 PM

A foolproof method to check whether a tank is full is to weigh it on a bathroom scale. All tanks have “Tare” weight stamped on them. That is the tank’s empty weight. Weighing the tank and subtracting the tare weight from the total will tell you exactly how gas Is in it.

**GCinSC2** · 02-05-2020, 02:05 PM

That works for portable propane not the mounted tank like an interstate has.

I believe it’s a DOT vs ASME situation. DOT portable gas grill type and ASME attached to RV type.

https://propanewarehouse.com/propane-tanks-guide/

Titus · 02-07-2020, 06:30 PM

If you don't trust the electronic gauge or the needle on the side of the tank, pour hot water over the tank then feel the tank. The tank will be warm above the propane and turn cold at the propane level.

Rig Rat · 02-07-2020, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Titus

If you don't trust the electronic gauge or the needle on the side of the tank, pour hot water over the tank then feel the tank. The tank will be warm above the propane and turn cold at the propane level.

Great suggestion, thanks! I will check it via this method.

InterBlog · 02-15-2020, 05:04 AM

Curious... did this ever get resolved?

AFAIK, and someone correct me if I'm wrong, there's no reliable way to ascertain the actual level of propane in an under-mounted tank.

There are sensors incorporated into them, but mine has never worked, not across two successive propane tanks. It maybe can tell me roughly whether the tank is more empty than full, but the level? Forget it.

There are devices that can be purchased, but I don't think any of them can be used on a horizontal cylinder. For instance, the Dometic pen device requires that you hold it horizontally, which is impossible (Dometic assumes that you are going to use it on a vertical cylinder).

SwampRV · 02-15-2020, 05:44 AM

Could be something simple. If this is a new mh and you have never filled it before, check the needle valve in the line near the head of the bottle. The manufacturer may not have opened it after installation. Trust me, it can happen.

85MH325 · 02-15-2020, 08:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by InterBlog

Curious... did this ever get resolved?

AFAIK, and someone correct me if I'm wrong, there's no reliable way to ascertain the actual level of propane in an under-mounted tank.

Ok IB... my experience is from my other mohos and B-vans... I've never crawled underneath my T1N to see for sure, but every OTHER coach I've had has had an analog needle-style pressure guage at the valve in addition to the electronic sensor read-out in the cabin. Perhaps with the remote-fill, these don't have them... but that sort of thing IS available, and they're accurate; significantly moreso than the "sensors and panel" system in the cabins on the AI.

InterBlog · 02-15-2020, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 85MH325

... I've never crawled underneath my T1N to see for sure, but every OTHER coach I've had has had an analog needle-style pressure guage .....

I've crawled. And crawled. And crawled. And replaced the tank. And later replaced the flex lines. And I've never seen a gauge inserted anywhere. I WISH.

One of many crawling pics, back when I was scratching my head over the Airstream parts list.

85MH325 · 02-15-2020, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by InterBlog

I've crawled. And crawled. And crawled. And replaced the tank. And later replaced the flex lines. And I've never seen a gauge inserted anywhere. I WISH.

Well, there you go. I need to stop trying to extrapolate ANYTHING I know about B-Vans to the AI. What WAS I thinking?

Thanks.

Rig Rat · 02-15-2020, 04:47 PM

We’ve chalked it up to a faulty gauge reading.
While it registered 1/3 on the inside Light system The gauge on the outside of the tank says it’s 2/3 .
So at the time, it must have been almost full to not accept any propane.

Rig Rat · 02-15-2020, 04:51 PM

Agree, we do have a dial gauge on the outside of the LPG tank on our 2015! And it is reading that we have more propane than the electronic light system indicates!

InterBlog · 02-16-2020, 05:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rig Rat

Agree, we do have a dial gauge on the outside of the LPG tank on our 2015! And it is reading that we have more propane than the electronic light system indicates!

As the old saying goes, pics or it didn't happen!

Rig Rat · 02-21-2020, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by InterBlog

As the old saying goes, pics or it didn't happen!

I see no need to take a picture just to prove a point.
Guess you’ll have to believe those of us who say we have an analog dial on our LPG tank... ...or not!