Propane, Copper Tubing and Foul Brown Liquid

[FullandBy]

I've decided to replace my solenoid and regulator. They work well but look old and figure it's better to be preventative. When I unhooked the copper line from the solenoid this brown liquid dribbled out and smelled bad like propane should smell I guess. Is this normal? Is this the propane slowly corroding the copper tubing? Attached is a picture.

[scottyt]

looks just like water to me. water will condense out of propane, it takes years but it will happen. the color is most likely from someone using a steel tank at some point

[noelex77]

This is a common cause of regulator falure. There was a widespread problem in the UK caravan/RV market a few years ago.
The conclusion was the liquid came from the gas attacking the flexible hoses.

[mitiempo]

Your liquid didn't come from the gas attacking the flex hoses as you have copper. But copper is out of favor in North America and flex hoses are the only ABYC approved method at this time. No joins or connections outside the locker except the one at the appliance (stove or heater etc). I'd replace the possibly corroded copper with a flex hose. It is not expensive.

[mitchbrown]

I used to sell propane so i have some knowledge about it. The liquid you see is an oil that settles out of the propane when under pressure. It is very stinky and if it gets on you its hard to get the smell out. All tanks of any age have some in them and if you turn one upside down you might be able to get some to drip out. It doesn't hurt the tank but I wouldn't think it's very good for the regulator. you have the right idea to replace it.

Mitch

[deniseO30]

really Brian? I was going to change out the hose to copper! hmmmm

[FullandBy]

Thanks all, esp Mitch for your expertise. I've smelled propane gas before but this was gawd awful. Out of curiosity, I took a propane sensor and dropped it into the propane locker and it did not go off. In this case the smell is worse than the bite (well apart from exploding that is).

Brian - ya I was told this as well. The flexible hose is pretty cheap, but trying to install it in my boat would be a nightmare due to where the stove is located. The copper line looks very well secured. Its attached every 6 inches and foamed around chafe areas. I've never had any leak issues so far. If I could though I would install the flexible hose. I'm told that insurance can be picky about copper tubing as well.

[mitiempo]

The foam is the problem in a way as it will hold moisture next to the copper.
ABYC states copper or flex hose may be used in their 2000 regulations. It was updated in 2006 but I can't find the updates online. But it you use a flex hose and have a gimbaled stove there will be one less connection than if using copper as you need flex behind any swinging stove.
Here's a link to an article by Nigel Calder at Cruiser's forum covering all hoses, but it was written before the 2006 update. Nigel Caulder on Hoses - Cruisers & Sailing Forums
Maybe somebody can quote the updated ABYC regulations (2006) if they have them.

I installed copper on a boat I owned in the late 80s. My current boat has flexible propane hose. Both work and forgetting whatever the current regulation is I think the installation is more important than either choice.

[roline]

Propane can be found with an oil additive that prevents the steel tanks from rusting. We discovered that we were creating a lot of CO at work to the point of excessive CO buildup in the blood, dizzy headaches etc... I ran dyno cells and thought that CO was leaking from the test cells to the office area. We purchased a cheap CO monitor and one day it went off when the engines were not running. We bought an expensive battery powered sniffer and went through the plant and found excessive CO buildup with the highest concentration in the raw material warehouse. It had the highest fork truck usage. The CO was coming from the forktrucks, due to the excessive oil in the propane. We changed to an aluminum storage tank and purchased dry propane without the extra oil and the CO was vastly reduced.