Had 2 tanks needed filled. $4.50 / gallon here Guy says one tank has expired & need rectified. That meant my tank was out of test date which is 12 years from the Mfg date stamped in the collar. His solution was to take the expired tank Walmart & exchange it for a full one. $20.50. Got one filled at the gas place, 4.5 gallons exchanged other one at Walmart "Blue rhino." I refused the first tank she offered, it had a Mfg date of 2001 (+ 12 year = expired in 2013) Brought home & weighed the bottles. LP is (4.2 lbs/gallon at 60°f, ) Bottle has a TW weight (empty weight) stamped in the collar, One at gas store, 19.0 lbs empty weighed 38.2 = 4.57 gallons of LP ($20.25) Walmart , empty weight 16.6, bottle weighed 31.8 = 3.61 gallons of LP ($20.28) cylinders are tested at 240 psi (stamped on collar) MFG date (stamped in the collar) WC is water capacity in lbs. (volume of the empty tank) 5.6 gallons. Tank to be fill with 20% space left for temperature expansion. (4.5 gallon tank ) Learned I get a full tank 4.5 gallons) at the LP store & & a gallon less at Walmart & the propane R&R places , HD & Lowes Just go and R&R the tank when it's near the expiration date & check the date on the tank when you do , in case you are like me, & get them filled at the LP store. They won't fill an expired cylinder. You get a gallon less but now have a tank that can be refilled.
My fill site will fill about anything. And like you, they fill it full. The exchange tanks say right on them it's only 15lbs.
Interesting, I never got into the logistics of propane tanks and filling them. We use blue rhino here, it's more of a matter of convenience than anything. Never knew about the 12 yr rule and stamp on the tank. We pay 19.95 for the exchange here. I used to go to a refill station and would watch the attendant place the empty tank on the scale and fill it until the scale started to level out. I never looked at the weights, they could have run a racket with that. Thanks for sharing that.
I haven't paid for 20lb propane in 15 years. I use them in place of acetylene and grilling and a future wall heater . Prolly have a lifetime supply. Crazy how many get throwed in dumpsters half or 3/4 full.
Yep, stinky job. I always remember being told fill them to 38lbs and shut her off. That was 10+ years ago, the tanks seem heavier now.
I just had to refill one of my 20lb. tanks today. The propane shop in my town has a 10$ Tuesday year round deal, so I just wait for a Tues. and give em my 10 bucks. They also stamp a little card every time and the 10th refill is free.
I got my BBQ tank filled around 2 weeks ago. They have never checked the date. Usually crack open a screw on the top to fill, not sure if that is normal? They put 4.8 gals in it and it was about $20. I just went and checked my tank out of curiosity and it has 01-99 manufacture date. I'm actually suprised cause it looks almost brand new. Looks just like this:
Nate. The screw is just a bleeder valve. As the tank gets close to full, you open that valve a half turn or so and when propane starts spitting out, she's full.
Yea.. Many of the exchange places only fill to 15lbs... Not many people realize this, as they don't want you to know.
If you're getting LP out the bleeder, you are a little beyond full, lol. The bleeder is really only necessary if the tank needs to be purged.
The stem of the bleeder drops down the tank a few inches. When LP comes out at the screw, it means your tank is "full" while still having the necessary headspace. Now, if you don't use the bleeder and get LP coming out at the main valve, then you know it's at true full......bad idea. edit: the OPD valve has overfill protection built in as well. The main reason propane dealers can't/won't fill bottles with the old valves anymore.
One dealer I used to go to for all my tank refills( welding and Forklift) won't refill 20lb's at all. Switched to a different gas distributor, first guy was getting bit uppity in prices any way.
