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11-06-2013, 06:36 PM
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#1
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2 Rivet Member
1990 36' Land Yacht
San Antonio
, Texas
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 27
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Propane Smell
Hello all,
I just purchased a 36' 1990 Airstream Land Yacht and there is a slight (and periodic) scent of propane. Should I call the fire department (not really) or is this normal. Thanks for the continuing education!
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11-06-2013, 06:52 PM
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#2
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Rivet Master
1974 Argosy 26
Morrill
, Nebraska
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 6,014
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I will assume you mean inside the coach.
Are the tanks getting close to empty?
Is it propane or the exhaust fumes you smell?
Have you tested for leaks?
Do all appliances work?
What appliances are operation when you have the smell?
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11-06-2013, 08:05 PM
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#3
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Rivet Master
2005 39' Land Yacht 390 XL 396
Common Sense
, Texas
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 5,319
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If the oven pilot light is on, it can give a slight propane smell, especially if you are getting close to emptying a tank.
__________________
Regards,
Steve
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11-06-2013, 08:21 PM
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#4
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Rivet Master
2019 27' Flying Cloud
Albuquerque
, New Mexico
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,917
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Please clarify, are you inside or outside.
I get a propane smell outside after filling the tanks because the tanks vent themselves when they are completely full and exposed to direct sunshine. This is okay,
I get a propane smell inside when my wife leaves a burner in the "on" position without lighting it, and I drive for two hours.This is not okay.
In your 1990, I believe you still have a pilot light. You must raise the stove top and light the pilot every time you turn the propane on. Otherwise, the propane pilot will emit propane until you light a burner with a wand or a match, that will in turn light the pilot.
In the mean time, you are leaking propane into your Airstream.
In my early Airstreams, I turned the pilot off and used a wand to light the burners thus avoiding the confusing and potentially dangerous riddle, is the pilot lit or is it not lit.
__________________
Ken L 2019 Flying Cloud 27FB
2020 GMC Sierra 1500 Crew Cab 6.2L Max Tow Four Corners Unit WBCCI #5783
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11-06-2013, 09:22 PM
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#5
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Rivet Master
1971 25' Tradewind
1993 34' Excella
Currently Looking...
Estancia
, New Mexico
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 7,743
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I have propane, carbon monoxide and a dual action smoke alarm in my trailer to make sure I don't wake up dead. I don't have one but you could get a propane sniffer.
__________________
Sail on silver girl. Sail on by. Your time has come to shine.
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11-07-2013, 06:10 AM
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#6
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Rivet Master
2002 19' Bambi
Northwestern Ontario
, - on the backside of the map and just above the big green spot
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 819
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I am not a Do-It-Yourselfer in propane so one of my own first actions after purchasing an older trailer would be to have an RV tech check out the propane system and appliances (as well as the running gear and brakes).
Having said that, as propane tanks get close to empty you will notice a slight odour inside the trailer - this drove me nuts till I found that it was normal.
You are going to love your trailer - and welcome to the forum!!
Jay
__________________
Bambi - 2002 (The Toaster)
Pathfinder - 2009 (The Buggy)
"I'm not young enough to know everything ....."
(Oscar Wilde)
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11-07-2013, 06:47 AM
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#7
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Rivet Master
1999 34' Excella
Currently Looking...
Hillsboro
, Texas
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 6,408
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RangerJay
I am not a Do-It-Yourselfer in propane so one of my own first actions after purchasing an older trailer would be to have an RV tech check out the propane system and appliances (as well as the running gear and brakes). Having said that, as propane tanks get close to empty you will notice a slight odour inside the trailer - this drove me nuts till I found that it was normal. You are going to love your trailer - and welcome to the forum!! Jay
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I have never smelled propane when "low"....
__________________
Peace and Blessings..
Channing
WBCCI# 30676
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11-07-2013, 06:48 AM
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#8
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2 Rivet Member
1990 36' Land Yacht
San Antonio
, Texas
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 27
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The smell is actually coming from outside the coach in the vicinity of the propane tank.
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11-07-2013, 06:51 AM
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#9
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Rivet Master
2005 39' Land Yacht 390 XL 396
Common Sense
, Texas
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 5,319
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If you've not recently filled the tanks, check all the connections with a spray bottle of soapy water looking for bubbles.
__________________
Regards,
Steve
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11-07-2013, 08:28 AM
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#10
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Rivet Master
2019 27' Flying Cloud
Albuquerque
, New Mexico
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,917
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What SteveH Said
Do what SteveH said.
Always carry a small spray bottle (mine is about 6 oz) of dilute dish soap. Label it. Test your propane connections for leaks before every trip and after refilling tanks.
Expect some venting when tanks have been filled to capacity.
But venting is different than leaking.
Learn to recognize the difference for peace of mind.
__________________
Ken L 2019 Flying Cloud 27FB
2020 GMC Sierra 1500 Crew Cab 6.2L Max Tow Four Corners Unit WBCCI #5783
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11-07-2013, 10:26 AM
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#11
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4 Rivet Member
1978 31' Sovereign
1984 31' Excella
Springfield
, Missouri
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 325
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I would check the pilot lights first. On our coach, I can turn off the pilot on the stove and oven. Like a previous commentator, we use a long lighter to light the stove and oven. Ditto on the furnace, we just don't turn it on and use supplemental heating if we need it.
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11-07-2013, 08:29 PM
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#12
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2 Rivet Member
1990 36' Land Yacht
San Antonio
, Texas
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 27
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The smell of propane is outside vice inside, I have made an appointment with a local RV service center to check the propane issue (it is the same shop that recently conducted a state inspection), I will do the soapy water thing tomorrow. I will let you know. Also, when is comes to generators. The previous owner (and the shop) says the generator was working fine but it won't start now (sounds like it is going to but won't). Does it feed off of the gas tank? Will it not start if the oil is low? I intend to conduct some routine maintenance (oil filter change, oil change, etc) and try it again. Any other suggestions?
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11-07-2013, 08:49 PM
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#13
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Rivet Master
2006 25' Safari
St. Augustine
, Florida
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 2,670
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Hey beerob63, I just went through "realizing" a leak myself. This is one aspect of the RV experience that I was concerned about. I would advise to become familiar with propane yourself as you work through the smell per se. The reason is that, at any time you can have a gas situation. Last spring I was camping in 40 degree weather and ran out of gas. I simply went to switch the tank (I leave the auto valve on manual) and there was no gas. I KNEW that I had both tanks filled before leaving so something was wrong- was a valve on the hose. Then later I had a leak, and then a refrigerator install (propane too) and on and on. Recently I found a leak at my right tank's regulator attachment hose. I purchased some of that pink leak detection stuff at the camping store (probably like soapy water) so the advice others are giving is valuable.
__________________
WBCCI 8653/AIR 60240
2022 Ford F150 PowerBoost Platinum w/7.2KW
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