Oily Propane?

[Raisedonadeere]

I was surprised when unhooking my Little Buddy heater from the 20lb propane heater that my hand was cover with oil. Never happened before.

The heater had been used a few weeks ago for a few hours and then shut off at the heater only. It was forgotten about until I decided to put back in storage so when I went to unhook the line, I notice the tank valve still on and fussed at myself. I shut it off and unhooked the line from the tank. The stored pressure in the hose spewed a clear oily substance thoroughly wetting my hand. I don't recall that ever happening before. This equipment has been used a few times in the past 2 years.

Just wondering where the oil came from.

 

[Firebrick43]

It’s mercaptan, the substance that make propane stink

It sometimes collects in the bottom of larger tanks after decades and decades of use.

It’s odd that a small bottle would have any significant amount in it.

 

[Raisedonadeere]

I would expect the amount I saw would mess up my heater. I have read about Little Buddy heaters failing due to some kind of substance that bleeds out of the lines and that you need a filter to protect from that, but what I saw would overwhelm the filters I have seen.

Anyway, I am going to purge the lines and hope for the best.