CO2 leak question

So.... if I shut the tank off and the gauges are showing 650 psi for the tank and 8 psi to the kegs, should these readings drop at all?
I've been kegging for a year and a half now and it's always dropped to zero after a while .... both gauges.
Since having a conversation with a friend lately and seeing how he has more kegs in the fridge than I do, I was shocked that his tank lasts way more than mine? And he goes through way more beer than I do.
So I checked with soapy water and yup, a very slight leak at the regulator where the gasline fitting to the fridge connects to the regulator.
I noticed there was a little Loctite sort of compound on the threading but very little.
I put some teflon tape on there and solved my leak.

So going back to the question, shutting the valve off.... should the pressure stay for a day or two (or for good) or does the dissolving gas somehow drop the pressure (which I doubt)? If in fact it shouldn't drop, then this would be an indication of a leak... right?

as long as the tank is open and there are no other leaks the pressure in the keg should stay the same. if you close and/or disconnect the tank the CO2 will dissolve into the beer and lower the pressure in the keg.

TipsyDragon said:

as long as the tank is open and there are no other leaks the pressure in the keg should stay the same. if you close and/or disconnect the tank the CO2 will dissolve into the beer and lower the pressure in the keg.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply.
I understand it will drop but what if the beers are carbed?
Ya this is a loaded question that depends on if you have a new uncarbed keg on there. I'm just pissed off that I never checked this leak since buying a new system and it could have been leaking for 1 1/2 years!

if the beer is fully carbed then no new CO2 will dissolve into the beer. but the pressure may vary a few PSI depending on the temperature.