Leaky Calor Gas?

E

ericonabike

Joined
Jan 19, 2012
Posts
688
Likes collected
752
Location
Leicester
Funster No
19,488
MH
Coachbuilt
Exp
Since 2012
So... I'm currently in Portugal, half way through a three week tour, with no gas. I'll post separately about possible solutions, but I'm curious about the cause.
We're in a new to us Bailey Autograph 2017, 79-4t. We first used it earlier this month, when we went four days off grid in Norfolk, to check gas usage. On return, after weighing the used and full bottles, reckoned we'd used two thirds of a bottle. Which meant that the full 6k plus one third would last the Portuguese trip.
Duly swapped the bottles over when first, part-used, bottle ran out after two days. But the second has run out today, after just one day off grid.
I'd thought I could get a faint whiff of gas when sitting next to the locker. The connection to the bottle was tight and everything else is as it was with the first bottle. So is it a faulty cylinder?
I ask because this also happened last year, in our former van. Faint smell if gas, all conne tions tight, one bottle ran out after just a couple of days. Do the bottles have an expiry date? Could corrosion affect them? Curious to see if I'm the only one.
 
get some gas leak spray or even a mix of washup and water spray it on incl all regulator and fittings etc

Yes you can get a faint whiff though sometimes but you need to check for bubbles all round.
they will have amanufacturers/fill date and can be removed from service when going back in for a fill, but rarely do they fail. There is the odd recall.
 
If this has happened before and you aren't getting a whiff in the van, may pay to look outside at connections like the Barby connection, however, as you say, too late for this trip, but are you able to cope with EHU and using the elec hob till you get back.
 
I have had similar when I used more gas than I expected. I think it was a faulty seal between the screw in connector and bottle outlet. This was even though the thing was done up tight.

Most often with rubber hoses they can smell of gas as it seems to leech out through the rubber.

When we had a boat we used a gauge between the bottle and regulator. We opened the valve and closed it again and watched the gauge over half an hour or so. Must get one for the Moho.

Soapy water is your friend 👍

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
Depending on your gas pipe connection, some have a rubber washer that has been known to stay inside the bottle neck. Then when you put it on the new bottle you have no rubber washer on so it leaks. Worth checking in your empty bottle ?
 
Thanks for this - was hoping to do a few Portugal Easycanp wineries on the way back, but yes, sites and EHU would work. Just perplexed because I've done nothing different on both bottles, simply connected and snugged the nut tight with a spanner.
 
Maybe consider a refillable system if your venturing abroad again allowing you to top up as and when you need
 
Terry - ta for that, but have never seen a rubber washer on the screw in connector. Just checked both bottles and none there either. This is the bayonet connector...
 

Attachments

  • IMG_20220527_204134.jpg
    IMG_20220527_204134.jpg
    327.1 KB · Views: 95
Depending upon your use you were probably optimistic with your estimate that you could go 3 weeks on 8kg of LPG. When we are in Portugal we probably get through that much in a week what with running the fridge, hot water for showers and washing and cooking. That is why we, like many others, have fitted refillable bottles. There was plenty of LPG available at the pumps in Portugal.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
That is propane so no rubber seal. It is an interference fit into the bottle. You can see the mark where it seats in the outlet. As I posted above, I have had a leaky connection even though tight.

Butane connectors have the seals
 
I passed details of this company to another Funster last Christmas.
I understand they contacted them and had their Calor bottles refilled.

Bit of a drive though.... the company is in Marbella!

 
6kg in a day does sound like a leak, part of my tool kit is a gas sniffer.
Our average usage is 14 kg in 15 days.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
Perhaps an answer is appearing. The preiuos owner had Gaslow cylinders. If the attachment left behind is fir Gaslow, not Calor, could that lead to leakage?
 
I managed to drain my Repsol 11kg cylinder in 3 days because of a dodgy connection and regulator (sourced from an official garage no less). Everything worked and there were no problems after a friend borrowed my van for two days last year and then I went off for three days afterwards, but only managed two on gas because the (full) cylinder ran out. A smell of gas had been noted by me and others but we weren't at home and I wasn't sure. The regulator connection was incompatible - yet seemed to fit. it bubbled like a burbling baby! Since fixed!!!
 
Last edited:
Hi had the same trouble. Clean the end of pipe that fits to bottle we use braso just rub the end
 
ericonabike said:
Thanks for this - was hoping to do a few Portugal Easycanp wineries on the way back, but yes, sites and EHU would work. Just perplexed because I've done nothing different on both bottles, simply connected and snugged the nut tight with a spanner.
Click to expand...
Just make sure you dont overtighten the nuts ,they are brass and can easily split which can result in gas leaks. Usually massive unoticed leaks are caused by faulty washers which have come apart when disconnecting / reconnecting bottles etc.Best to always carry some spares
 
The place at Boliqueime is the third or forth roundabout on the N125 past Albufeira heading towards Spain its on the left hand side about hundred yards up the turning ,if you look up you will probably see motorhomes outside
 
Thanks all. Brasso sounds interesting, will try. Have located Pedro's at Bollequiwme, but phone going to voicemail. Messaged on Facebook - don't suppose any Funsters are there at the moment to check if Pedro's on his holidays?

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
A. Word of caution if using washing up liquid to check for leak, be sure to wash it of afterwards as it can be corrosive
 

Join us or log in to post a reply.

To join in you must be a member of MotorhomeFun

Join MotorhomeFun

Join us, it quick and easy!

Join us

Log in

Already a member? Log in here.

Latest journal entries

Back
Top