Oil from the gas cylinders, blocking regulators

Tristan @ PHM

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Subject:

Oil from the gas cylinders, blocking regulators

 ·  Posted: 23.07.2015  ·  #1

Ever had your reg blocked , due to oil?

I change loads, usually Truma ones. Pics tell the story..
Customer has no gas , or low pressure in the motor home. Test and remove Truma reg, I usually replace them with Gas Low ones.
Offending item. Intake side looks clear?


Put it, quivering with fear into the vise, locate hacksaw.


Til the insides fall out.


Hmmmm... Who ordered the Golden Syrup?

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Tristan @ PHM

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Subject:

Re: Oil from the gas cylinders, blocking regulators

 ·  Posted: 23.07.2015  ·  #2

Where's that coming from I wonder? Pipe looks fine..



Hmmmmm again..

Better look at the bottle..


Bear in mind the pipe falls from the bottle, them raises to the reg.
There has been lots of discussion about this, usually blaming rubber hoses deteriorating, I don't honestly believe that's the case. And my mates in Truma have seen it in bulk tank systems, with no rubber hoses fitted.

It seems much less prevalent with Propane.

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mad max

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Subject:

Re: Oil from the gas cylinders, blocking regulators

 ·  Posted: 23.07.2015  ·  #3

Thanks for sharing with us Tristan,

Glad I'm using the propane

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eirebus

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Subject:

Re: Oil from the gas cylinders, blocking regulators

 ·  Posted: 23.07.2015  ·  #4

Thanks for that Im using propane too but it can be very hard to get in ROI and NI bottles are different connection

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Re: Oil from the gas cylinders, blocking regulators

 ·  Posted: 23.07.2015  ·  #5

Thanks Tristan.

I refill my bottles at an auto gas station, was told there was even more oil in LPG which acts as a lubricant for cars, not sure how true that is.

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Bob

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Re: Oil from the gas cylinders, blocking regulators

 ·  Posted: 23.07.2015  ·  #6

its true ally
the oil buggers the regulators

i have a tank fitted and after one regulator buggered simon at lts fitted an inline filter which traps the oil between tank and regulator, no bother since
only thing is the replacement cartridge is thirty quid but better than carrying spare regulator just in case

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Tristan @ PHM

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Re: Oil from the gas cylinders, blocking regulators

 ·  Posted: 23.07.2015  ·  #7

That system above was less than 2 years in use too.

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heanorboy

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Subject:

Re: Oil from the gas cylinders, blocking regulators

 ·  Posted: 24.07.2015  ·  #8

Best to ensure that the regulator is fitted higher than the tank and the pipe does not loop down below the bottle height that helps as the "oil" will tend to seep back to the bottle from the pipe and not to the regulator if this is set low.

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Subject:

Re: Oil from the gas cylinders, blocking regulators

 ·  Posted: 24.07.2015  ·  #9

Quote by Tristan @ PHM

Where's that coming from I wonder? Pipe looks fine..



Hmmmmm again..

Better look at the bottle..


Bear in mind the pipe falls from the bottle, them raises to the reg.
There has been lots of discussion about this, usually blaming rubber hoses deteriorating, I don't honestly believe that's the case. And my mates in Truma have seen it in bulk tank systems, with no rubber hoses fitted.

It seems much less prevalent with Propane.

Hi Tristan,
Is there any evidence of the oil in the middle section of the gas pipe I wonder? I presume there would be some traces of oil accumulating there before the pipe starts to rise to the regulator? Otherwise how does one know that this may be occurring without having to destroy the regulator!! Do you replace the hose in cases like this even where the date code of the hose is within spec?
Is the oil actually coming from within the gas cylinder? If so, there must be a reason why it's there in the first place? I'd love to know why, and why for butane and not for propane.

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Tristan @ PHM

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Subject:

Re: Oil from the gas cylinders, blocking regulators

 ·  Posted: 24.07.2015  ·  #10

I always fit the pressure reg higher than attachment to the bottle, even if it means extending the steel pipe.

I cut the rubber pipe, no sign of oil in the middle.
With gaslow, you get a new pipe with the reg, but we always keep new pipes in stock as rubber ones should be Chan ged every 5 years.
propane just seems better refined. Maybe the higher operating pressure in the bottle somehow helps , I'm not honestly sure, could be due to it having a different boiling point too.

My Rgii instructor, an ex Calor engineer , reckons Butane is only fit for Superser heaters in flats ...

Also people/retailers unscrupulously self filling cylinders without purging them properly is part of the problem.

Funnily enough I've never had the issue with an LPG refillable system.

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Subject:

Re: Oil from the gas cylinders, blocking regulators

 ·  Posted: 24.07.2015  ·  #11

Quote by Tristan @ PHM

I always fit the reg over the bottle, even if it means extending the steel pipe.

I cut the rubber pipe, no sign of oil in the middle.
With gaslow, you get a new pipe with the reg, but we always keep new pipes in stock as rubber ones should be Chan ged every 5 years.
propane just seems better refined. Maybe the higher operating pressure in the bottle somehow helps , I'm not honestly sure, could be due to it having a different boiling point too.

My Rgii instructor, an ex Calor engineer , reckons Butane is only fit for Superser heaters in flats ...

Also people/retailers unscrupulously self filling cylinders without purging them properly is part of the problem.

Funnily enough I've never had the issue with an LPG refillable system.

When you say you fit the reg over the bottle do you mean the clip on type reg? Mine has the truma wall mounted reg, fitted at a higher point than the top of the bottle. I suppose really I'm concerned as to how I prevent this from happening, or should I just go out and get a spare regulator before we go to France tomorrow!! We'll send you a postcard

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Tristan @ PHM

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Subject:

Re: Oil from the gas cylinders, blocking regulators

 ·  Posted: 24.07.2015  ·  #12

As you say, the pressure reg on the wall, should be higher than the clip on/screw-on attachment on the bottle if at all possible.

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Bob

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Re: Oil from the gas cylinders, blocking regulators

 ·  Posted: 24.07.2015  ·  #13

mine is but the oil can still damage the regulator

lpg has the oil added to lubricate engines etc

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Re: Oil from the gas cylinders, blocking regulators

 ·  Posted: 17.01.2016  ·  #14

I know this is an old'ish thread, but thought it was worth a mention.

Dometic engineers visit our owners club rally every year to service fridges, if people require it.
(free is less than three years old)!

A friend of ours on the rally had his, One year old fridge serviced, and the amount of black sooty stufff the engineer cleaned from the flue and surrounding area was unbelievable

The engineer told them, that they are seeing this a lot more now, in motorhomes that use LPG.

Hopefully I want have that problem, as mine runs on "candle light"

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Subject:

Re: Oil from the gas cylinders, blocking regulators

 ·  Posted: 18.01.2016  ·  #15

Quote by PJ'S

The engineer told them, that they are seeing this a lot more now, in motorhomes that use LPG.

My Manual strongly recommends not to use LPG as I put in this thread: forum/topic.php?t=10299

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Helgahobby

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Re: Oil from the gas cylinders, blocking regulators

 ·  Posted: 18.01.2016  ·  #16

When you say "LPG", do you not mean "Autogas", as in getting filled up at garages? All gas supplied in bottles is either Butane or propane, while autogas is mainly propane with a percentage of butane added. Along with lubricants of course.

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Re: Oil from the gas cylinders, blocking regulators

 ·  Posted: 18.01.2016  ·  #17

Quote by Helgahobby

When you say "LPG", do you not mean "Autogas", as in getting filled up at garages?

Yes.

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paulc

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Re: Oil from the gas cylinders, blocking regulators

 ·  Posted: 25.11.2019  ·  #18

It seems a while since anyone has mentioned oil in their gas system. Has the issue generally gone away? I have had ongoing issues with my three year old fridge and during my annual habitation check oil was found in the regulator. Hopefully, with the oil ways cleaned out I am ok again. My question today is, has anyone had any satisfaction from the gas companies? I use Flogas light bottles exclusively which I believe are Propane. I have been caravanning and now motor-homing foe 25 years and this is my first time with the problem, but I have been aware of the issue for years. With no alternative to gas is it a question of keeping my fingers crossed that it won’t happen again?

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CHAUSSON

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Re: Oil from the gas cylinders, blocking regulators

 ·  Posted: 25.11.2019  ·  #19

Like yourself Paul heard of it but never experienced it.

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Ally

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Re: Oil from the gas cylinders, blocking regulators

 ·  Posted: 25.11.2019  ·  #20

Have heard of it (obviously), but no experience of it. I fill with autogas.

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Davy

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Re: Oil from the gas cylinders, blocking regulators

 ·  Posted: 25.11.2019  ·  #21

If my memory is functioning then I believe one brand of regulator was particularly guilty, Truma, I think, but a bit of googling will give the detail.
There were also theories that the rubber hose was contributing to the issue and that having a bulkhead fixed regulator above the bottles and hose from the bottle helped.

Davy

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Bunny

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Re: Oil from the gas cylinders, blocking regulators

 ·  Posted: 25.11.2019  ·  #22

I had problems with the fridge working on gas this summer. During the habitation check they mentioned oil in the jets. The van is 13 years old maybe its a build up over time, however I am left wondering about a link to the Flowgas lite bottles as I switched to them 12 months ago???

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workbox

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Re: Oil from the gas cylinders, blocking regulators

 ·  Posted: 19.03.2021  ·  #23

If I install gas filter before regulator would that prevent oil getting into?
https://www.gasit.co.uk/direct…e-out.html

 

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TommyS

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Re: Oil from the gas cylinders, blocking regulators

 ·  Posted: 19.03.2021  ·  #24

Are you having problems with oil in the regulator. I had my last regulator for 15 years with no problems. I only changed it because I was getting a gauge put on

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workbox

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Re: Oil from the gas cylinders, blocking regulators

 ·  Posted: 19.03.2021  ·  #25

Quote by TommyS

Are you having problems with oil in the regulator. I had my last regulator for 15 years with no problems. I only changed it because I was getting a gauge put on

After first year having minor issue, gas getting slow at initial propex start up, since I use LPG on fuel pumps I thought perhaps there is some oil build ups.

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baguette

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Re: Oil from the gas cylinders, blocking regulators

 ·  Posted: 19.03.2021  ·  #26

Quote by workbox

Quote by TommyS

Are you having problems with oil in the regulator. I had my last regulator for 15 years with no problems. I only changed it because I was getting a gauge put on

After first year having minor issue, gas getting slow at initial propex start up, since I use LPG on fuel pumps I thought perhaps there is some oil build ups.

For what it's worth, I've been told by Calor Kosangas that the gas at the pumps is exactly the same as gas delivered for domestic use. The same tanker can have both types of customer on its delivery list.

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