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Old 11-24-2019, 06:07 PM   #1
Donjamin
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Leaking Propane Regulator

I pulled my rig out of storage today and turned on the left side propane tank. I heard a quiet hiss and started to smell propane. I closed the valve on the tank and the hiss and smell went away. Repeated the process and discovered that the red regulator valve connecting the left tank to the right side tank was leaking propane out of a small weep hole at the base of the regulator. You can just make out the small hole in the attached pictures. This tank and regulator have never leaked before, so I’m suspecting the regulator is failing and should be replaced.

Has anyone else had this problem and what was your solution or recommendation?

Don
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Old 11-24-2019, 06:19 PM   #2
rescue7
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Mine just did same thing last week. Went to Camping World picked up new one. Lowes for pipe dope for gas and replace in less than 10 minutes. They are sold in many places take number off bottom and google.
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Old 11-24-2019, 06:23 PM   #3
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Fairly common problem. Mine starting leaking same as yours after 5-6 years. Easy and inexpensive to replace. I used pipe tape rated for gas.
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Old 11-24-2019, 08:39 PM   #4
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Mines in the shop right now for other things plus that also.
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Old 11-24-2019, 08:41 PM   #5
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Had to replace one of the red ones on our 2010 and have had to replace the crossover on our current rig. Easy to do, but if the regulator has gone bad due to age check the tank connector tubing closely. Both times I found cracks in the line that hadn't started to leak yet and so replaced them both.
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Old 11-24-2019, 09:16 PM   #6
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Ours is a 2016 Montana and the rubber gas flex tubes both appear to be in good shape. There isn’t any cracking or checking in the rubber.
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Old 11-25-2019, 05:53 PM   #7
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Update: I went to Camping World in La Miranda, CA this morning to see if they had a “red” 30 PSI regulator in stock. They did not and said they could order one. That was a “no go” so I asked if they knew any RV propane dealers/suppliers in the area. They handed me a flier form Globe Propane in Long Beach, CA. I drove the 12 miles over to Globe and talked with “Henry”. Globe is a So Cal propane wholesaler, but they do stock RV propane parts and regulators. He looked at my red regulator and questionably asked what it was doing on my rig. I said it appeared to be OE to the rig. He was adamant that 7 gallon propane tank should have a first stage regulator that steps down to only 11 PSI. He had several different types of regulators and I chose to go with his recommended 11, since he said RV appliances run on lower PSI then home household appliances. This is all new news to me, but after installing the new regulator, the stove and fridge all work correctly when I’m running on the lefts side propane tank.
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Old 11-25-2019, 06:17 PM   #8
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That red regulator drops the pressure to 30 psi before it goes across to the two stage switch over regulator. That two stage regulator drops the propane to proper pressure before it goes to your appliances. That guy was apparently not familiar with RV propane systems. Link below is a good discussion on why it is there.

That red regulator valve
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Old 11-26-2019, 04:41 AM   #9
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I replaced mine with this from Amazon, 30 psi red regulator for $12.82

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
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Old 11-26-2019, 04:48 AM   #10
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When I had to replace the cheap Chinese made RH regulator, I al;so replaced the main, LH side as well, both with the correct Marshall-Excelsior.
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Old 11-26-2019, 08:26 AM   #11
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Ready for second changeover now, so they bad when they feel like it. No harm in using something less than a 30 in this situation since the switchover on the curbside does drop it to 0.5 psi. My system stopped working in the wee hours a few days ago, furnace kept trying to relight...but my streetside tank still had half a tank left and slight odor of propane in that compartment. Oh, the last time I changed that regulator was to a marshall...so even they fail within a few years!
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Old 12-01-2019, 02:01 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Donjamin View Post
Update: I went to Camping World in La Miranda, CA this morning to see if they had a “red” 30 PSI regulator in stock. They did not and said they could order one. That was a “no go” so I asked if they knew any RV propane dealers/suppliers in the area. They handed me a flier form Globe Propane in Long Beach, CA. I drove the 12 miles over to Globe and talked with “Henry”. Globe is a So Cal propane wholesaler, but they do stock RV propane parts and regulators. He looked at my red regulator and questionably asked what it was doing on my rig. I said it appeared to be OE to the rig. He was adamant that 7 gallon propane tank should have a first stage regulator that steps down to only 11 PSI. He had several different types of regulators and I chose to go with his recommended 11, since he said RV appliances run on lower PSI then home household appliances. This is all new news to me, but after installing the new regulator, the stove and fridge all work correctly when I’m running on the lefts side propane tank.
So how is everything working. I misread the 11psi to be (in my mind) 11 inches of water column.
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Old 12-01-2019, 02:09 PM   #13
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What I don't understand is why there is only the one regulator. If it's needed on the right side prior to change-over valve, why isn't it needed on the left side?
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Old 12-01-2019, 05:29 PM   #14
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Originally Posted by JAWs View Post
What I don't understand is why there is only the one regulator. If it's needed on the right side prior to change-over valve, why isn't it needed on the left side?
The switchover regulator wants to see high inlet pressures. So when one tank goes empty and the inlet pressure drops it will throw the red indicator then you rotate the switchover to the full tank and that turns your flag to green and allows you to disconnect the empty tank to get refilled without interrupting service. The 30Psi regulator only is lowering the line supply pressure to the switchover regulator for safety reasons. The switchover regulator is the only one that monitors the appliance supply pressure.

I was in the LPG service industry for 18 years. If you can get your hands on either Rego or Sherwood regulators that would solve all the problems with quality issues. We had some of these regulators in service for over 50 years without issues.
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Old 12-02-2020, 06:33 PM   #15
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I found this several years ago and it explains why the red regulator is installed on these rigs where propane cylinders are mounted on opposite sides away from each other.


The main reason for the red regulator is to make sure that once the propane leaves the tank as a vapor that it stays a vapor. Propane regulators in trailers do not regulate liquid only vapor. If the regulator was not there the pressure in the hose/pipe would be the same as the tank. This could lead to the vapor condensing back into a liquid. With a reduction in the pressure from the regulator to the other side of the coach this will greatly reduce the possibility of the vapor in the crossover hose/pipe turning back into a liquid. This is all based on propane’s vapor/pressure saturation points. The lower the pressure the lower the temperature to turn it back into a liquid.
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Old 12-02-2020, 08:03 PM   #16
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Just adding my 2 cents. Check the hoses also. Replaced both hoses this year as one leaked and the other looked aged. Cheap insurance
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