gas hob smelt like paraffin

[ShipsWoofy]

On the boat t'other day a newish bottle we fitted the week before started to give off a smell like paraffin, pretty strong too. It had cooked my breakfast that morning with no signs, but as dinner was cooking the smell was pretty strong. The flame seemed fine and a good blue colour.

I swapped the bottles and fitted the new spare, this cured the problem.

Has anyone come across this before? Is this reason enough to return the bottle for a swap? Is there any danger?

I think they may have a bad mixture, for example, they add the smell don't they? Could this be a chemistry problem?

 

[Dave_Snelson]

More likely a "heavier ends" problem Jools. I assume at this stage, that the gas you are using is Butane (blue bottle) and the problem with that is that you can get heavier distillates of petroleum accumulating in the bottle. You know when the bottle's empty and you shake it and liquid is still there - this is the heavier distillates which may give rise to the odd smell (they should drain the bottle for refill, but don't). Exchange it.

BTW - if you have been varnishing or painting, then use the gas whilst it is still drying, you also get a very strong Parrafin smell.

Interestingly, Propane (red bottle) does not suffer from this and burns better and vapourises always on a cold day. Butane boils at about 0C and therefore when its a freezing day the bottle becomes useless. Propane, on the other hand, boils at -50C and therefore will vapourise at anything Britain can throw at it.

 

[ShipsWoofy]

[ QUOTE ]
BTW - if you have been varnishing or painting, then use the gas whilst it is still drying, you also get a very strong Paraffin smell.

[/ QUOTE ]


Interesting, swmbo had painted the empty (sob) engine room in the morning, I thought of that, but when I put my hooter over the hob the smell was really strong, yet the smell of paint had gone away hours before.

I guess you are saying that the heat and combustible gases in the air are all mixing and floating about, even though without the flame they are too minute to smell.

Weird, though, it does not explain why the newest bottle stopped the smell. I guess it might have been my nose getting used to it and blocking it out. The bottle that gave the smell had only been used for around 15 minutes, so is near full. Yes Butane.

I will try it again now the paint it dry and see if what you say pans out, I have never come across this before.

Cheers big ears.