Brand new gas pressure regulator leaking.

[marchugo]

This weekend, baking our morning eggs in the Cali, we suddenly had a penetrating gas smell in the camper cabin. The odor came shortly after I had turned open the main gas valve in the gas bun under the backside wardrobe.
Nosewise inspection learned me that the gas was everywhere: as well in both the wardrobes and under the kitchen block.

Two weeks earlier our dealer had replaced the gas hose and the pressure regulator on the 907 gas bottle, after five years usage.

My checking of the connections in the gas bun did not reveal any leaking pipes. With the main tap closed, the gas smell disappeared.

So back to the dealer, and quickly too.

The gas specialist of the garage soon found the cause.
First he put a 1 bar air pressure on the gas network, from the gas bun to the burners in the block of kitchen, using a kind of bicycle pump. The pressure meter remained tight at the 1 bar position, so the pipes were fine.
He then immersed the loosened 907 gas bottle including the pressure regulator in a large basin of soapy water. After opening the main valve it became clear where the leak was. A large stream of gas bubbles flowed from the yellow push button of the safety valve on the regulator. His verdict: the membrane inside this brand new regulator was leaky. A factory fault, according to him. I think it was also a checking error from the garage when replacing the hose and the regulator. The regulator was replaced, and no smell since.
Lesson learned: after replacing the pressure regulator, put your nose in the clothing cupboard in the back. And another reason to keep the main valve closed while driving.

Smelly regards from Amsterdam,

Marc.

 

[GlitterGirl]

Hi all. We noticed a smell of gas last trip, and having done some investigation over the weekend appear to have the same problem: gas coming from the small yellow ‘button’ on the regulator (btw what is the button for?). Guess we need a new regulator, under warranty, the van is only 8 months old.

Would you recommend vw fit it, or should I just pick one up and do that myself. It looks to be just a standard gas nut as on a gas barbecue. Presumably vow would need to get a gas fitter in do do it anyway, so may take a while to organise.

Thanks, Alison

 

[flying banana]

Just buy one and swap it out your self. It's not rocket surgery.

 

[GlitterGirl]

Do you know what the yellow button is for?

 

[marchugo]

Hi all. We noticed a smell of gas last trip, and having done some investigation over the weekend appear to have the same problem: gas coming from the small yellow ‘button’ on the regulator (btw what is the button for?). Guess we need a new regulator, under warranty, the van is only 8 months old.

Would you recommend vw fit it, or should I just pick one up and do that myself. It looks to be just a standard gas nut as on a gas barbecue. Presumably vow would need to get a gas fitter in do do it anyway, so may take a while to organise.

Thanks, Alison

Hi Alison,

Why not use your warranty, is the dealer that far away?
If doing it yourself, do not use plyers to turn the silver colored nuts with too much force onto the regulator. Just fasten by handforce, though very firm. Use soapwater to check for any leakages.
If the rubber gas hose is older than 8 years, replace that too ( formerly this period was five years, now eight, according to the papers that come with the regulator). I now see that you have a T6, so your hose is relatively new.

Regards from Amsterdam,

Marc.

 

[marchugo]

Do you know what the yellow button is for?

It’s the safety valve that releases gas when the pressure gets too high inside the bottle, or when the membrane that regulated the pressure is damaged. As the butane gas is heavier than air, it escapes through a vent in the bottom of the gas bun.

Marc.

 

[bvddobb]

Marc, how did the gas come outside your gas bun inside your wardrobe and cabin? It is supposed to stay in the bun, or sink through the bottom holes under your van and disperse there...

 

[altvic]

Had mine changed under warranty last week. VW Synter in Llandudno insisted that warranty only honoured when I took the camper in for them to exchange and take photos of faulty regulator. Bloody nonsense but worth warranty exchange as cost is near £40.
Since the change the ignition in cooker works better than it ever did.

 

[GlitterGirl]

Hi Alison,

Why not use your warranty, is the dealer that far away?
If doing it yourself, do not use plyers to turn the silver colored nuts with too much force onto the regulator. Just fasten by handforce, though very firm. Use soapwater to check for any leakages.
If the rubber gas hose is older than 8 years, replace that too ( formerly this period was five years, now eight, according to the papers that come with the regulator). I now see that you have a T6, so your hose is relatively new.

Regards from Amsterdam,

Marc.

Hi Marc, I will do that thank you and give the dealer a call tomorrow. Regards Alison

 

[marchugo]

Marc, how did the gas come outside your gas bun inside your wardrobe and cabin? It is supposed to stay in the bun, or sink through the bottom holes under your van and disperse there...

That was indeed what puzzled us too. One theory is that the lid of the gas bun was not closed strong enough. As there was a lot of butane pressure in the bun it sought a way out. Another theory is that there could be cracks in the plastic bun, but we couldn’t spot any.

Marc.

 

[marchugo]

bvddobb said:
Marc, how did the gas come outside your gas bun inside your wardrobe and cabin? It is supposed to stay in the bun, or sink through the bottom holes under your van and disperse there...

@bvddobb That was indeed what puzzled us too. One theory is that the lid of the gas bun was not closed strong enough. As there was a lot of butane pressure in the bun it sought a way out. Another theory is that there could be cracks in the plastic bun, but we couldn’t spot any.

Marc.

A small informative follow up on the puzzeling question 'how did the gas come inside the cabin?'

Indeed butane gas is heavier than air, so it sinks out of the van when there is a leak.
But: the smelly perfume that is added to the gas to warn our noses about a gas leak, is not heavier than air. This smelling chemical addition mixes easily with air and spreads through the van everywhere.

Regards from Amsterdam,

Marc.