Propane Tank Replacement

[burch]

I was loosing propane and found out my tanks leaking. Can I replace it myself or have it done.

[ducksface]

Have you looked to see if it fits your skill level?
It truly is very easy
But:
I can't think of an instance where I've ever found, nor heard of, the tank itself leaking.

Tell us what you know, what you think you know and what has lead you to this knowing.

[dkoldman]

Originally Posted by burch

I was loosing propane and found out my tanks leaking. Can I replace it myself or have it done.

With all due respect. The fact that you asked the question, I would say emphatically No to your question

But my advice, is to find a good Propane repair shop you can trust, spend your effort finding a very reputable business with tenure let them check it out, let them tell you what is wrong, and take their advice. Live longer

[burch]

I took it to Camping World and that was their diagnosis. After dealing with them a few times I can say they aren’t very hospitable and their customer service is lousy. I feel like I can change out the tank and pressure gauge myself. The problem is: I have no knowledge of pressure testing it.

[Jimbo56]

Replace it. Fill it with air pressure. Put soapy water on joints. No bubbles, no leaks. I’d be comfortable with it. But I also would not trust a CW diagnosis.

[DavidEM]

As noted above, I really, really don't think that the tank itself is leaking unless it is covered with rust and if so, it is a time bomb. Much more likely that a fitting is leaking.

Sounds to me that neither you nor Camping World has the skills to find the problem and fix it. Call a local propane distributer. They have people or can refer you to people who can fix it.

David

[dkoldman]

Originally Posted by DavidEM

As noted above, I really, really don't think that the tank itself is leaking unless it is covered with rust and if so, it is a time bomb. Much more likely that a fitting is leaking.

Sounds to me that neither you nor Camping World has the skills to find the problem and fix it. Call a local propane distributer. They have people or can refer you to people who can fix it.

David

That is my point but perhaps you stated better.

[gnach]

Agreed with the other replies. A quick look shows a lot of propane service companies around Orlando. Let your fingers do the walking, you will find one you can drive to for diagnosis and repair. A tank leak is very rare. I didn't see how old your coach is but Thor customer service might be some help. They can at least send you the construction diagrams for the lpg lines but ask for water, sewer, electrical (etc) also.

[dkoldman]

Originally Posted by gnach

Agreed with the other replies. A quick look shows a lot of propane service companies around Orlando. Let your fingers do the walking, you will find one you can drive to for diagnosis and repair. A tank leak is very rare. I didn't see how old your coach is but Thor customer service might be some help. They can at least send you the construction diagrams for the lpg lines but ask for water, sewer, electrical (etc) also.

But if he does decide to do it himself, I hope he & RV is not too close to Magic Kingdom

OP may also wish to call Manchester directly assuming they made the tank for additional guidance (they made mine). If the tanks has a leak, I guarantee they will want to know. They will access to all of the Mfg records based on date code and serial number.

[abjbrtd]

I would really like to tell you the leak detect method my father (butane delivery man) thought me but don't think I could stand the responses from the forum

So here's the method I was thought at work, we had a company provided leak detector
It consisted of a 1qt can, a soft bristled brush and leak detector soap.
Brush the solution on/around all connections on the tank while carefully looking for bubbles to appear a bigger high pressure leak is harder to detect than a slow leak. Lots of little bubbles from a slow leak.

Don't get excited if you don't find a leak, time to move under the mh.

You can buy leak detector from, Granger, Amazon etc.
https://www.amazon.com/Camco-10324-L...66&sr=8-2&th=1

Most leaks can be stopped by tightening the leaking fitting.

As usual YouTube is your friend.
Start watching at the 2:50 mark.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xitbkmKGu0I

[burch]

I’m going to fill up my tank a quarter of the way full and check all connections and the tank it self and go from there. If the tank is leaking I’ll contact the manufacturer. Looks like Dawn & water will work.

[Elite Washington]

I wouldn’t trust what CW said. We had a leak brought it to them and they supposedly checked it. I mean I paid for it but they didn’t check anything because they said our tank wasn’t leaking. Of course that wasn’t the case and using the soapy water trick I finally found it. Fixed the problem myself. Even if you can’t find the leak go get a second option. Unless you tank is super old or has been damaged I would highly doubt the tank would need to be replaced.

[Bogie57]

Originally Posted by burch

I took it to Camping World and that was their diagnosis. After dealing with them a few times I can say they aren’t very hospitable and their customer service is lousy. I feel like I can change out the tank and pressure gauge myself. The problem is: I have no knowledge of pressure testing it.

I agree with your assessment of Camping world. Since moving from the west coast to the mid-west we've had nothing but problems with CW. In Oregon they were great, and used them frequently. No longer use them out here in Wisconsin. I also think it could have started when the merger of CW and Gander took place. Both things happened about the same time.

Jack

[burch]

After starting all this with CW I finally got a date to take it for my LP. I’ve been dealing with this since December and my parts have been in for 3 weeks. It’s only a two day jog. I swear my time with their service has ended forever. They’re just a retail store and shouldn’t be in the service dept.

[Galobo]

Originally Posted by burch

I was loosing propane and found out my tanks leaking. Can I replace it myself or have it done.

We had a leak problem with a strong oder of propane in and about the RV . . We determined that it was the pressure gauge. it wasn’t hard to replace. It cost less then $50.00.
We have a 2017 fourwinds

[MLP]

Two and a half years ago our local group was camping and one had a gas leak. I smelt it. Another guy had a leak detector and could not find the leak. I really smelt the propane. So I got my propane detector. I have to wave its sensor around to get it down to be very sensitive without sounding an alarm. Boy did it go off. Got it down to almost no sensitivity and found the leak at the back mounting weld for the tank. This is the second tank he had to replace. The OEM lasted fourteen years. He opted to save eight hundred dollars and got a cheep tank. It lasted him two years. He replaced it with an OEM. On my old fifth wheel, I had a leak I could not find, dealer could not find, and an independent RV repair facility could not find. The leak detector I purchased did. So sensitive it got down to the exact spot on the fitting. It is a cheep one I got on Amazon. Propane use was cut to less than half over a four weeks. The leak was at the water heater.

[10scDust]

Originally Posted by burch

I’m going to fill up my tank a quarter of the way full and check all connections and the tank itself and go from there. If the tank is leaking, I’ll contact the manufacturer. Looks like Dawn & water will work.

This sounds like a good plan.

I have to ask, are you sure it is the tank, have you isolated it by turning off the valve?
Also, what alerts you, odor, or loss of pressure as noted by the gauge?

I might start with the tank shut, check around valve, and look if it's rusted. like someone else had mentioned.
If no leak found on the tank, then open valve and move down line from there.

Of course, this could be intimidating depending on your skills and desire to DIY, professional help could be sought out in that case.

Good luck!

[chunker21]

A propane system can have such a small leak that you can detect the smell but the soapy method may not find. That's my situation with my GFs SOB 5th wheel. Somewhere in the connections between the lefty side 7g tank and the switching regulator on the right side, there is a smell detectable leak/seep. I have used the soapy method a couple time with no results. I plan to get one of the leak detectors but haven't yet. For the time being I just keep the left tank closed and swap positions when necessary. Trailer is more "cabin" that traveling RV.