overwhelming P gas smell while tanks off

[ClaireBambi]

I have experienced intermittent overwhelming propane gas smell outside trailer. While tanks are on. Or off. When I arrived t

Home the smell was bad for about five hours. Now no smell. Tanks were and are off. Before trip had tanks etc checked and they passed. What do you think

[Mollysdad]

IMO, you shouldn't be getting an overwhelming smell with the tanks on or off.
But to put a finer point on your question, by "Off" do you mean you turned off the valves manually at the tanks? Both tanks?
Has the level of propane gone down? 5 hours of a leak seems significant if you smell it outside. Is either tank now empty? (if the smell went away.)

[AlinCal]

With tank valves off test tanks and valves with soapy water and a sponge. If no leak discovered try same with valves open and work down the line.

[SeaLevel]

Could it have actually been a smell coming from the batteries?

Those can smell like rotten eggs when they get cooked.

[AlinCal]

Also..If your trailer is indoors and you have or suspect a leak, get it outside or at least open garage door if that's the case. Propane behaves like gasoline being heavier than air it seeks the floor and will pool up like a liquid.

[Bill M.]

Possibly overfilled tanks bleeding down through the overkill valve.

[Mollysdad]

Originally Posted by Bill M.

Possibly overfilled tanks bleeding down through the overkill valve.

Good idea.
I thought though, that all tanks are now required to have a OPD or they can't be refilled?

Watch:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBPJl_iZEnM

Did you travel from a cold climate to warmer?
Did you just get the tanks refilled?

[Rich Jenkins]

Please check with Airstream asap.

Our 2016 FC 27' had one of the bad propane regulators. We had *exactly* this symptom.

It was swapped out under warranty.

I'll go dig up some details. Edit: here is the thread:

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f287...ll-144250.html

Can you post a picture of your regulator?

[Al and Missy]

Another thing to check is the bleed valves in the shutoff valve bodies. They look like brass flat tip screws, flush with the side of the housing. Make sure they are snugged down tight.

Al

[OTRA15]

Originally Posted by ClaireBambi

I have experienced intermittent overwhelming propane gas smell outside trailer. While tanks are on. Or off. When I arrived t

Home the smell was bad for about five hours. Now no smell. Tanks were and are off. Before trip had tanks etc checked and they passed. What do you think

Welcome to the forum! Could you give us an idea of the air temperatures related to this incident? Assuming you manually closed both propane valves on the top of the tanks, did the air temp rise perhaps because of sun exposure for the propane tank cover [thereby activating the pressure relief system in the tanks]?

Please answer the questions posed here, and you will probably get more refined feedback based on your facts.

Good luck

Peter

[bibbs]

I'm thinking over pressure, had it happen to me, had them filled on a cold day, then it warmed up and they where in t.he sun, I just used some propane and all is well..

[delongj]

On a related note: late last year I exchanged a Rhino cylinder at Lowe's and connected it to the grill. After opening the valve, I smelled the dreaded gas additive that alerts us to "the leak". I disconnected the tank from the grill, opened the valve to test just the tank. Sure enough! The tank started leaking gas through the turn valve! Yet the connector did not leak gas. However, when the tank valve was opened all the way, it did not appear to leak.

Try to separate the components to isolate the problem. I saw 'on line' that Home Depot sells gas leak detectors for 25 dollars. I can't advise on what to purchase. I never used one but I may go over there and buy one myself! May God Bess your day! jd

[JConsroe]

I too have had LP gas smells coming from my tanks. When I opened the lid to the tank cover, I would smell it. Didn't seem to make a difference if the tanks were open or closed. I soaped the whole dang trailer. Then I bought a high end propane detector made by Bacharach and "sniffed" all the lines. Nothing. My theory is the same as was mentioned in that the tanks have the ability to breathe. If they are over pressurized some gas can come out. I even got some smell when the tanks were not full. But never enough gas to get the leak detector to alarm. I figure if its not enough gas to make the detector go off, there is no eminent danger.

[JCWDCW]

Originally Posted by delongj

On a related note: late last year I exchanged a Rhino cylinder at Lowe's and connected it to the grill. After opening the valve, I smelled the dreaded gas additive that alerts us to "the leak". I disconnected the tank from the grill, opened the valve to test just the tank. Sure enough! The tank started leaking gas through the turn valve! Yet the connector did not leak gas. However, when the tank valve was opened all the way, it did not appear to leak. jd

The Rhino Tank may have a double seated valve that seals the shaft when the valve is fully opened. Similar valves are used on Industrial gas tanks for various hazardous contents.
JCW