Chris,
I believe propane can freeze up the regulator in really cold weather... if
it does, then when you open the valve there may be a pressure relief valve
that spews out propane when the regulator is blocked... not sure because
this never happened to me... but may be the problem...
Bill
-----Original Message-----
From: Chris Fall <cpfall@UCDAVIS.EDU>
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Date: Monday, March 13, 2000 10:22 AM
Subject: butt cold propane diagnosis

>Before I tear into things and try to see what's wrong, I thought I'd
solicit
>opinions on potential causes:
>
>Problem: I went up to Yosemite the other weekend. It was butt cold. I
opened
>the regulator valve to my propane tank to make breakfast (fridge really
>wasn't needed), and propane started leaking out of the assembly. It was
butt
>cold. After realizing that propane was engulfing me, I closed the valve and
>proceeded to use my backpacking stove for breakfast. Again, butt cold.
>Yesterday, back in the central valley of California (not so cold) , I dared
>open the valve again. It seems fine and there is no audible or smellable
>leak. Any thoughts before I dig in?
>