Gas Regulator Blockage

Submitted: Friday, May 21, 2010 at 20:59

ThreadID: 78650 Views:5931 Replies:8 FollowUps:10

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Firepac

I bought a van with a new two-stage regulator, it worked at home and when we went out west it blocked. I am on my forth regulator in 2 years.
I agree with you (Rob in archive). I think that those who aren't having problems may be cruising the highways and not going on rough roads or have a you beaut regulator that I need!

I contacted the local gas examiner and also spoke to the Gas Examiner from Brisbane about this problem. The mercaptan (odorant) is an oil suspended in gas.
I am told that on rough roads that the oil splashes up into the regulator.
I was told that I should put the regulator higher.
I was told by another Gas dealer that it doesn't make any difference.

The first encounter with this problem I had a regulator that could be opened. I opened it up and found a grease substance on both stages (mercaptan apparently turns to grease in the regulator. If you look at the gauze in the regulator it is extremely fine and possibly the mercaptan oil passing through blocks or condenses the oil to grease. Being a firie and seeing the result of gas / van fires I replaced it and didn't take chances.

If your cruising along on a smooth free way at 90 km/ h you may not have a problem, but if your like me and go west and do 110km/h the gas will shake up.
I have let the gas settle for an hour before turning it on to no advantage. I ask the Gas Company if I waited longer would it help? He said no!

I like the idea of the American reg. the gauze might be larger? (see below)

Maybe the info below is the way to go... use a different odorant. It's worth a try!

PLEASE - if you have a regulator that is working when you travel on rough roads Name them on here! I have met literally 100's of people having the same problem.
DON'T put a single stage regulator on your van as they are illegal in Qld at lease. and will void your insurance. If you cause harm to someone else, human regulators will be your problem! :)
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Dimethyl Sulphide (DMS) has an odour that is detectable at very low levels. For this reason, it is included as a component of dangerous gases to allow the detection of leaks by smell.
DMS has an advantage over odorant like methyl mercaptan in that it is very chemically stable. Mercaptan odorant oxidise over time, and the ability to smell their presence diminishes.
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Recommended Gas Regulator from archives - CAMEC Australia.. Its a Model 290 "Marshall Gas Company, San Marcos, Texas, USA"
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I feel strongly about this problem.
our lives are worth more than cheap imports in a potential explosive situation. If they block up what else is inferior in them?
gas authorities to sort out the problem even if some people aren't having issues.
I have emailed my local member, member for mines and energy, Consumers Affairs, and others that came up in google. I hate being ripped off!
I would ask you to email your member etc to make this problem come to the surface.

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Reply By: Kim and Damn Dog - Friday, May 21, 2010 at 21:27

Friday, May 21, 2010 at 21:27

Gidday

Replace the line with a copper pig coil, then all your problems will go away.

PS You'll also need to replace the regulator.

Regards

Kim

AnswerID: 417601

Follow Up By: Firepac - Saturday, May 22, 2010 at 20:16

Saturday, May 22, 2010 at 20:16

Thanks Kim, I intend to replace the flexible hose with a copper pigtail with an elbow. I will also mount the regulator higher. I am thinking about relocating the cylinders in the boot out of the sun.

This is a combination of all the hints and tips from the replies to my post.

Thank you ALL for your input.
If this doesn't work I'll take up tenting with freeze dried food and candles.

FollowupID: 687799

Follow Up By: Kim and Damn Dog - Saturday, May 22, 2010 at 20:42

Saturday, May 22, 2010 at 20:42

Gidday

You don't need to go to all that trouble. Just replace the the lead with a pig tail. If this doesn't work I'd be very surprised.

Regards

Kim

FollowupID: 687806

Reply By: Dirk T (WA) - Friday, May 21, 2010 at 22:23

Friday, May 21, 2010 at 22:23

Hi Firepac,
We bought our new van over 2 and a half years ago and have gone thru 3 gas regulators, all with the same problem as you explained. I have tried everything, tried replacing my flexible hoses with copper "pigtails", and still had the same problem. It doesn't matter if you drive on rough or smooth roads. I haven't been able to determine what is causing the problem, but as you mentioned, when the gas reg is pulled apart there is a browny gooey sticky substance in the neck of the reg and in the fine gauze. We now burn off any residual gas in the gas line before travelling and "touch wood" we haven't any more blockages, but having said that we don't go anywhere unless we have a spare gas reg in the toolbox.
I do think its more a gas supply problem than a gas reg one, but unless you can get anyone owning up to it, well thats another thing!!
I wait with anticipation to see if anybody/someone can come up with the actual cause and then, maybe, we can solve the gas blockage problem!
Cheers.

When all else fails!..............Have a beer, or 2 or 3 or 4!!!!

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AnswerID: 417610

Follow Up By: Firepac - Saturday, May 22, 2010 at 20:24

Saturday, May 22, 2010 at 20:24

Yes Dirk from the posts here from people working in the industry there seems to be a problem with something added to the gas. It reacts with the rubber it appears. see link Alan B below. As I said above I will try the lot!
Thanks for your Reply

FollowupID: 687801

Reply By: ruafrood - Friday, May 21, 2010 at 22:44

Friday, May 21, 2010 at 22:44

I had two failures (blockages) within 12 months (mid 2006 to mid 2007) on the blacktop in the main as it happens though there was some dirt road travel.

After the first, the regulator was replaced with the same common type (grey/silver) and raised above the gas bottle outlets plus new flexible hoses. After the second the flexible hoses were replaced with solid copper pigtails and a different regulator and we have had no problems since then.

The different regulator is a Rock L20-W Dual Stage Regulator (a green metallic colour).

BTW we travel off road, touring the outback on dirt/corrugated roads (but not at 110km/h, LOL).

Ron

AnswerID: 417613

Follow Up By: Firepac - Saturday, May 22, 2010 at 20:32

Saturday, May 22, 2010 at 20:32

Hi Ron, Thanks for answering, I'll do the same plus a elbow (not that I really understand how that works. plus putting then in the boot .

I only travel 110kpm on good roads, mostly 100kpm on standard roads lol.

If you see an Avan up on the side of the road and the billy on the boil on a wood fire, you will know its me and that the changes didn't work!! lol

FollowupID: 687804

Reply By: Allan B, Sunshine Coast, - Saturday, May 22, 2010 at 10:07

Saturday, May 22, 2010 at 10:07

You may find this interesting: "TWO-STAGE GAS REGULATOR FAILURE"

Cheers
Allan

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AnswerID: 417636

Follow Up By: Firepac - Saturday, May 22, 2010 at 20:34

Saturday, May 22, 2010 at 20:34

Thanks Alan, I will impliment these recommendation! Great link, Thank you!

FollowupID: 687805

Reply By: Gazal Champion - Saturday, May 22, 2010 at 11:40

Saturday, May 22, 2010 at 11:40

Hi Firepac,
There have been many threads over many forums on this subject and it appears the problem has been traced back to the rubber hoses connecting the bottles to the regulators. There is a chemical reaction between the rubber and the gas or the odourising oil used in the gas.

As has been said above, if you replace the rubber hoses with the copper pigtail type connections you should overcome this problem.

Having worked with porta gas and rubber hoses for most of my working life I was at first sceptical but somewhere down the line they have changed the formulation of the gas additives or the rubber compound. Either way there is now a problem.

I have only ever had copper pigtails on my vans and was about to change them for the rubber hoses when I came across this problem on forums a couple of years ago. I quickly changed my mind. I have never had a problem with the copper pigtails on either of my vans aside from the copper becoming work hardened over time, which has a simple remedy - just have them re annealed.
Cheers, Bruce

At home and at ease on a track that I know not and
restless and lost on a track that I know. HL.

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AnswerID: 417646

Follow Up By: Member - mazcan - Saturday, May 22, 2010 at 13:21

Saturday, May 22, 2010 at 13:21

hi gazal champion

and all concerned

i went to my kleenheat gas shop back in i think late 2007 to buy a couple of connecting rubber pigtail hoses and was told by a senior staffer that the hoses were unavailuble as they had been causing blockages in regulators they had some out the back but he said he wouldn't sell them to me as they were faulty
caused by the gas breaking down the inferier rubber that was being used in china for the lining in gas hoses

the original hoses were made in australia
they had to rectify the problem by changing the rubber compound
so i went to copper pigtails to avoid the wait

but other outlets didnt take the faulty hoses off the market and kept selling them hence the wide problem
i was lucky as i got the good oil so to speak from an honest staffer

i went to several caravan suppliers after finding out the above
chasing after several different other items that i needed and saw the rubber pigtail hoses still on the shelves

i questioned a couple of them and they claimed they new nothing about the problem although one did admit there last order sent for was temparily unavailuble ?????
so it appears after reading these threads that maybe the problem has'nt been sorted to date at all
and has been basicly been kept under wraps and hush hushed while the manufactures brushed it aside and the retailers keep selling knowingly?????? or unknowlngly ??????

but have they sorted out the problem??????????
as that was late 2007 that i'm refering to
so food for thought????
change your faulty regulator and go to copper pigtails it should clear up the problem
cheers

FollowupID: 687738

Follow Up By: Firepac - Saturday, May 22, 2010 at 20:44

Saturday, May 22, 2010 at 20:44

Thanks Gazal, Mazcan, my van is a 2006, so I guess its got a faulty flexible hose.
There is money being made from sales in regulators, good reason to keep it hush hush.
as I said, I will replace, relocate, relax, and reminisce (on the days when my gas used to block up) cough!

FollowupID: 687807

Reply By: Member -Dodger - Saturday, May 22, 2010 at 16:51

Saturday, May 22, 2010 at 16:51

For your information.
My van and regulator (2 stage) are all ten years old without any problems.
First and probably the most important thing is the regulator is above the gas bottles and the pigtail leads are flexible hoses.
I cannot read the brand of regulator.
My suspicion that it is when the regulator is below the bottles that the trouble occurs.
Having said all this I have had the blockage on the home BBQ when the regulator is on top of the bottle with the hose leading up to the BBQ.
A new regulator and hoses fixed the problem.

I used to have a handle on life, but it broke.

Cheers Dodg.

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AnswerID: 417686

Follow Up By: Firepac - Saturday, May 22, 2010 at 20:48

Saturday, May 22, 2010 at 20:48

Thanks Dodger

FollowupID: 687809

Reply By: Member - Michael P (QLD) - Saturday, May 22, 2010 at 18:00

Saturday, May 22, 2010 at 18:00

Hi,
Since relocating the gas bottles & regultor etc to inside the "boot" out of the sun havn't had a problem 3 1/2 years travelling on some horrid & great roads.
My theory is the heat build up causes some pretty severe pressures. QLD regs.
required 2x 25mm holes in the floor.
Mike.

AnswerID: 417691

Follow Up By: Firepac - Saturday, May 22, 2010 at 20:59

Saturday, May 22, 2010 at 20:59

Hi Michael, I see where your coming from with the heat. an old gas formula comes to mind P1 T1 V1 = P2 T2 V2. meaning that if you raise the temperature by 10% you increase the volume by 10% and the Pressure by 10%. That's why they have a tube going into the cylinder for (gas withdrawal) so you don't over fill them and cause them to vent when heated. (the vent self seals) This is just what I remember from years ago. (Allow for senility)
I am unsure if this will affect the gas / liquid entering the regulator it may do, an interesting point you have made.

I just want my gas to work and reduce the number of gas spare parts sales persons.lol

FollowupID: 687812

Reply By: Member - Graham H (QLD) - Tuesday, May 25, 2010 at 12:40

Tuesday, May 25, 2010 at 12:40

If you do put them in the boot they cant be in the same area as electrical gear and have to have an outlet in the floor that angles downward toward the rear and long enough to satisfy the reg about distance from exhausts etc.

AnswerID: 418044