Mr. Buddy Heater Fix After Using a 20 Lb Bottle!

You need to use the inline filter made by Mr. Heater on any unregulated hose for these heaters (except one). You also need to change it out every heating season since it will fill up with oil and stop working. The high pressure from the propane causes some of the oils used in the production of the hose to leech out and clog the heater. You can't use a regulated hose because the regulator is in the unit already and double regulating doesn't work well supposedly. They sell a 10 foot hose that apparently doesn't need a filter because they manufactured it differently but it is the only unregulated hose you can use without the filter. The Big Buddy heater (the double bottle heater) has a regulated quick connect hose you can use since it bypasses the regulator on the unit, so no filter needed.

Great vid. Same happened with my little buddy using a hose with no filter. Don’t have a compressor to blow lines out, but found majority of oil gunk was on the bottom of the regulator where the 19mm fitting is. Take that fitting off, there’s a spring electrical valve that can be pulled out. Cleaned it with a rag along with the orifice it fits into (lots of oil there). Put back together, working fine now. Ordered a filter so don’t need to do this again. 🙂

That oil contamination is coming from the hose. The high pressure from the bottle is causing oils in the hose material to release and make its way into your heater. Mr Heater has an inline filter #F273699 that fits between the heater connection and hose. Thanks for posting this video. It has some good troubleshooting tips 😊

I had similar issues with the Little buddy, for some reasons, itty bitty spiders must like the smell of propane or something. I have also had problems with gas grills, propane smokers and camp stoves. Cleaning out the lines is the only fix, sometimes compressed air works other times you need a disassembly and clean out. Just a bit of info on the hoses if opting to use bulk tanks... The proper hose to use for the buddy heaters is the "Mr. Heater Buddy Series Hose Assembly - 10-ft., Model# F273704" This hose is more rigid than other hoses. You can use this hose without a filter. The filter is F273699 and should be used with aftermarket hoses. From Mr. Heater... "Currently, we make three hose models that do not require a filter: the F273704 which is made from a different chemical compound of rubber that does not have the oily substance that can get into the fuel flow, the F271802 that attaches to a low-pressure line, and the F271803 which is a regulated hose. Since the F271802 & F271803 only see low pressure, the oily substances are not squeezed from the hose material." Hope this helps some folks.

I’ve been heating with a buddy heater on a 40lb tank for 10 years. I blow it out real good at being off the winter and it runs fine.

Something to do with the hoses leaching that liquid you described into the lines. If you use the hoses instead of the 1 pound cans, you have to use a filter to filter out the liquid. I heard that Mr. Buddy makes an adapter hose that does not leach, but I am not 100% sure. You can check online.

I use the Mr heater hose & filters, still does it, when it starts acting up, I run a green 1lb can through it, then it works great 2-3 more 20lb cylinders, it’s very strange, even the Mr buddy flex does it, I’ve never took them apart only ran a 1lb through them

Mr BUddy has specific hose made for these heaters that don't have oil. they also have a pressure regulator. Used the wrong hose. For that kind of hose, you do need a filter.

You NEED the Mr Heater Fuel Filter if you gone be hooked up to any propane tanks other than the little green ones. We ran our Little Buddy Heater inside our RV all winter long with no issues. Obviously if using indoors, you need ventilation (fresh air). We cracked open a couple windows in our RV for ventilation and never had any issues. Never even tripped the carbon monoxide or LP gas alarms. Our Little Buddy Heater was hooked up to an 18ft hose running out a window to a 30lb Propane tank outside. Winter in our area doesn't get too cold, on average about 20° for lows and 35° for highs. We would run the Little Buddy Heater pretty much most of the day and all night long, and the 30lb propane tank would last us close to 4 weeks. We also had a small wood stove fan setting on top of the Little Buddy Heater to help circulate the warm air. All in all, this Heater is a must have for my family for off grid camping or emergency situations. It puts out some serious heat. We are going to invest in another one as back up.

The oily gunk comes from the inside of the hoses not the bottle.

I use a 25 gl tank work for 3 years now but my big blue flame heater that junk just dont work dont get it Lil buddy not let me down ever love it works out the box light ever time stay on all night and day just works no mess around

Hey bro. I was told the lining sloughs off the hose and clogs lines. DON'T use a rubber hose. Use a braided steel line. Blow the lines out. Problem solved.

Most of the hoses need a regulator at the bulk tank or a filter at the heater. I have some hoses that don't need a regulator, but I still use one on all of my hoses. Typically, the more flexible the hose, the more oil that will come out of it. I've got a Big Buddy that I've had for ~20 years, a lot of trial and error with that poor thing. I haven't had an issue using a regulator at the tank and going through the regulator in the heater, but I've heard some people have.

I got the filter when I got the hose, glad I did. It was our only heat source during an ice storm for a few days.

If you didn’t put it I a Mr Buddy heater cover that’s your problem. I been using my Buddy heater with 20 lb for the winter so far so good.

I bought a Mr buddy hose and haven’t had any issues

I know a few folks have the same issue, I use 20# bottles with a filter, just changed it too, never had a problem atleast yet

Good day to you all, you can build your own copper lines for your buddy heater instead of the plastic one. If you know a gas fitter or a plumber they can probably help you out if you're unfamiliar with the process. 👌🇨🇦

Most of the time you can take a quilt tip .take some cotton off it wet it with alcohol. Slid it in and out that hole .a few times .usually works

You don’t have to take it down that far bud. You can just take the regulator side off to get to the regulator and line sets