Skip to main content
Gerry | Vanagon
Checking account...
← vanagon.com home · Continue the discussion in the forum
VanagonEuroVan
Subject:cleaning propane regulators
From:Stuart Hutton
Date:Tue, 17 Jan 1995 01:14:20 -0700 (MST)

Hello vanagon gang,
I asked earlier if anyone had actually cleaned the vent of their propane
regulators.  I must assume from the astounding silence that no one has.
Well, now I have and I will report the consequences.  Before I do, however,
I want to say that the people at the gas company say that the vents can
not be cleaned.
The problem is this: I would fill my propane tank ... it would only take
just a bit of propane until it was supposed to be full.  Then it would
only power the fridge for about 3 days or so.  I would then fill again,
and feel like an ideot because it was still full, etc. (Most people would
only  do this once or twice ... I did it about 8 or 9 times).
The solution which seems to work (my fridge has been running now for 8
days) is two fold:
(1) get the propane people to inject methyl alcohol into your system.  This
was mentioned in a posting by Joel about 1 year ago.
(2) After this does not completely solve the problem, here is what I did and
for me, at least, it works:  Go to the car wash and ignore what you are told
about getting water into the vent valve on the regulator.  Really squirt it
good.  This is a desperation move.  Next step: try to dry it as well as 
possible with a paper towel.  Then, go to the drug store and buy a pint of
90% isopropyl alcohol.  Pour and squirt that stuff all over the vent.  The 
hope is that it will dry out the critical areas of the vent.
My results:  my fridge works.
I also bought 2 bottles of 70% isopropyl alcohol to use if the vent freezes
up outside.  I also pour some of the alcohol down the sink after camping to
insure the sink does not freeze.
Stuart Hutton

Have something to add on this topic today? Revive this thread in the forum »