My barbecue's propane tank is releasing gas out of the OPD valve. My
barbecue is in the sun quite a bit though it is covered. It does get
hot in the summer. I keep the propane tank valve shut when I'm not
using it. The problem comes when I open the valve up. Even with only
50% of the tank full, the OPD valve opens up to release gas.

In reading up on this, I am pretty certain this is due to the heat and
the gas expanding thereby causing the OPD valve to open and release
the gas. It has been 100+ degrees recently. However, the next
morning, it was around 70 degrees and I went out and opened the
propane tank valve and the OPD valve engaged again releasing gas.

My guess is that the spring internal to this valve is worn out and
even a small amount of pressure is causing the emergency valve to open
up. Could there be some other reason? Do I need to have the OPD
valve replaced or buy a new tank? Thanks in advance for anyone with
experience in this area.

On Tue, 20 Jul 2010 11:49:31 -0700 (PDT), rjones872
> wrote:

>My barbecue's propane tank is releasing gas out of the OPD valve. My
>barbecue is in the sun quite a bit though it is covered. It does get
>hot in the summer. I keep the propane tank valve shut when I'm not
>using it. The problem comes when I open the valve up. Even with only
>50% of the tank full, the OPD valve opens up to release gas.
>
>In reading up on this, I am pretty certain this is due to the heat and
>the gas expanding thereby causing the OPD valve to open and release
>the gas. It has been 100+ degrees recently. However, the next
>morning, it was around 70 degrees and I went out and opened the
>propane tank valve and the OPD valve engaged again releasing gas.
>
>My guess is that the spring internal to this valve is worn out and
>even a small amount of pressure is causing the emergency valve to open
>up. Could there be some other reason? Do I need to have the OPD
>valve replaced or buy a new tank? Thanks in advance for anyone with
>experience in this area.

Do you only hear propane escaping when you open the OPD valve?
The reason I ask is because propane cylinders have a safety relief
valve as well as the OPD valve. This safety relief valve will operate
regardless of whether or not the OPD valve is open. In other words, if
your tank got too hot in the sun and the pressure rose too high, the
safety relief valve would open and release propane even if the OPD
valve was closed.
If you hear propane escaping when you open the OPD valve while the
grill's regulator and hose are attached to the cylinder, I would guess
it's a loose connection where the regulator connects to the cylinder.
If you hear propane escaping when you open the OPD valve with nothing
connected to the cylinder then there is something wrong with the OPD
valve or possibly, a bit of debris preventing it from closing
properly.

Ross.

In article >, wrote:
>On Tue, 20 Jul 2010 11:49:31 -0700 (PDT), rjones872
> wrote:
>
>>My barbecue's propane tank is releasing gas out of the OPD valve. My
>>barbecue is in the sun quite a bit though it is covered. It does get
>>hot in the summer. I keep the propane tank valve shut when I'm not
>>using it. The problem comes when I open the valve up. Even with only
>>50% of the tank full, the OPD valve opens up to release gas.
>>
>>In reading up on this, I am pretty certain this is due to the heat and
>>the gas expanding thereby causing the OPD valve to open and release
>>the gas. It has been 100+ degrees recently. However, the next
>>morning, it was around 70 degrees and I went out and opened the
>>propane tank valve and the OPD valve engaged again releasing gas.
>>
>>My guess is that the spring internal to this valve is worn out and
>>even a small amount of pressure is causing the emergency valve to open
>>up. Could there be some other reason? Do I need to have the OPD
>>valve replaced or buy a new tank? Thanks in advance for anyone with
>>experience in this area.
>
>Do you only hear propane escaping when you open the OPD valve?
>The reason I ask is because propane cylinders have a safety relief
>valve as well as the OPD valve. This safety relief valve will operate
>regardless of whether or not the OPD valve is open. In other words, if
>your tank got too hot in the sun and the pressure rose too high, the
>safety relief valve would open and release propane even if the OPD
>valve was closed.
>If you hear propane escaping when you open the OPD valve while the
>grill's regulator and hose are attached to the cylinder, I would guess
>it's a loose connection where the regulator connects to the cylinder.
>If you hear propane escaping when you open the OPD valve with nothing
>connected to the cylinder then there is something wrong with the OPD
>valve or possibly, a bit of debris preventing it from closing
>properly.
>
>Ross.

My tank started leaking. I noticed it in the cold late winter.
Now that its warm, its OK, I think.
There is a little hole on the round plastic cover, which did ignite with a lighter.

My second regulator. First one started shutting down when I opened up
all burners. Second one started to do it, and I adjusted
the screw for more gas, and its been OK.

greg