On Sat, 9 Aug 2003 16:55:52 -0700, Mike D. <md03@XOCHI.COM> wrote:

>Last weekend camping, I kept smelling natural gas, and I discovered a
>constant, small outgassing from somewhere around the regulator (this
>was with main tank valve open and the fridge on, at night when
>temperatures were declining).  If I closed the main tank valve the
>leak stopped.
>
>I couldn't tell exactly where the gas was coming from, but it seemed
>possibly near a seam, not near the little opening on the regulator
>(which I presume is a pressure release vent?).   I assume this isn't
>normal?  Or does the regulator leak as a regular function of
>operation?
>
>Since a new one is only $30, I'll probably just replace it.  Any
>tricks to doing it well?

Mike,

The tank valve has 2 seals - one for "open" and one for "closed".

Since your leak stopped when you closed that valve, I suspect you have a
faulty seal on the valve, not the regulator. Not an expensive repair, but
also one that I would not do myself.

Propane fumes are very flammable. Let someone who does work on propane
tanks take care of this for you, and stop using the propane until you get
the tank repaired.

Michael