Tank expiration

[D W]

Originally Posted by SeaDog

Its not easy to find a dealer that will actually hydrostatic test a tank in my area so I paid the 25.00 for a valve reseal and visual inspection that adds 5 years I have 30lb tanks.

$25 for a valve reseal and visual inspection is about the norm. Both are included on a hydrostatic test which only takes 30 seconds.

[Chuck_S]

With new 20# propane tanks available for under $35 it makes little sense to me to test an old one. Even at $50 a new tank seems a better option.

-- Chuck

[NMWildcat]

Originally Posted by Chuck_S

With new 20# propane tanks available for under $35 it makes little sense to me to test an old one. Even at $50 a new tank seems a better option.

-- Chuck

Most of us are talking about 30lb or larger tanks. The 20lb tanks are easily exchangeable at any exchange kiosk before the expire date.

[TitanMike]

Originally Posted by NMWildcat

Most of us are talking about 30lb or larger tanks. The 20lb tanks are easily exchangeable at any exchange kiosk before the expire date.

Just curious. The exchange tanks I've seen are plainly marked with the exchange company label/wrap.

What happens when one is away from an exchange kiosk and has to settle for a "Gas Station or Convenience Store" fill from a bulk tank? Do they just fill them even though they from an exchange company? Or are the label/wraps easy enough to remove that nobody knows?

Just curious. I know that was (and probably still is) a problem when trying to get a welding gas tank filled.

[bob213]

Originally Posted by TitanMike

Just curious. The exchange tanks I've seen are plainly marked with the exchange company label/wrap.

What happens when one is away from an exchange kiosk and has to settle for a "Gas Station or Convenience Store" fill from a bulk tank? Do they just fill them even though they from an exchange company? Or are the label/wraps easy enough to remove that nobody knows?

Just curious. I know that was (and probably still is) a problem when trying to get a welding gas tank filled.

Every place I've been will refill them as long as they are in date. I have found that the majority of exchange tanks around here have expired dates on them.

[NMWildcat]

Originally Posted by TitanMike

Just curious. The exchange tanks I've seen are plainly marked with the exchange company label/wrap.



What happens when one is away from an exchange kiosk and has to settle for a "Gas Station or Convenience Store" fill from a bulk tank? Do they just fill them even though they from an exchange company? Or are the label/wraps easy enough to remove that nobody knows?



Just curious. I know that was (and probably still is) a problem when trying to get a welding gas tank filled.

At the exchanges I have used, you see many different companies tanks on the empty side, and the exchange brand on the full side. Also many exchanges are automatic (no human interface) so there is no way to check brands.
When I am filling my 30lb tanks, I watch them fill any 20lb tank from exchange or not.

[Flybob]

Check your local full service propane dealer ( not a fill only place). Mine will certify an expired tank for free with a fill up.

[Chuck_S]

"20 pound" exchange cylinders seem to contain 16 pounds of propane at the max -- I've weighed them with a luggage scale, the tare weight is on the collar.. They claim is the full rate is 80% of capacity (0.80 x 20 = 16). The actual capacity of a "20 pound" cylinder, though, is 25 pounds. Only exchange in an emergency. Hasn't been a need to weigh these in 15 years of so as there's a float valve in the tank to limit their fill.

-- Chuck

[SeaDog]

The typical 20lb tank weighs in at about 16 to 18 empty add 4 gal of propane at 4.24 per gallon and it gives you a full (80%) tank weight of about 33 to 35 lbs

[Flybob]

See this info in the library section of the forum.
https://www.forestriverforums.com/fo...do=file&id=214

[Iwritecode]

Originally Posted by Chuck_S

These must have been massive! A gallon of propane weighs 4.2 pounds making each tank weigh probably 150 pounds (including the cylinder).

According to this site:

A 20 lb propane tank holds 4.5 gallons of propane and weighs 37 pounds full.

A 30 lb tank holds 7 gallons of propane and weighs 55 lbs full.

https://www.emptygrilltank.com/tank-...pecifications/

[wmtire]

Originally Posted by Iwritecode

According to this site:



A 20 lb propane tank holds 4.5 gallons of propane and weighs 37 pounds full.



A 30 lb tank holds 7 gallons of propane and weighs 55 lbs full.



https://www.emptygrilltank.com/tank-...pecifications/

You may have missed the typo and corresponding joke in post 20. It was a joke about the typo saying 30 gallons instead of 30 pounds.

[TitanMike]

Just a heads up on "Exchange" tanks.

Prices are going up on Propane and if history repeats itself you will get even less propane in your "20 lb tank".

Here's a recent report on "Oil Prices" including Propane (which is a byproduct of the refining process):

Propane increased 0.81 USD/GAL or 124.85% since the beginning of 2021, according to trading on a contract for difference (CFD) that tracks the benchmark market for this commodity.

https://tradingeconomics.com/commodity/propane

Not only is Propane expected to get expensive, it may be scarce.

As for the exchange services, they've alredy played with tank fill amounts for pricing purposes (and profits) so expect them to consider the same again.

Look at the label for actual content. I'd expect it to be less as time goes on just like with candy bars, cereal, etc. Prices stay close to the same but you get less.

[Iwritecode]

Originally Posted by wmtire

You may have missed the typo and corresponding joke in post 20. It was a joke about the typo saying 30 gallons instead of 30 pounds.

I did miss that.

[NMWildcat]

Originally Posted by TitanMike

Just a heads up on "Exchange" tanks.



Prices are going up on Propane and if history repeats itself you will get even less propane in your "20 lb tank".



Here's a recent report on "Oil Prices" including Propane (which is a byproduct of the refining process):









https://tradingeconomics.com/commodity/propane



Not only is Propane expected to get expensive, it may be scarce.



As for the exchange services, they've alredy played with tank fill amounts for pricing purposes (and profits) so expect them to consider the same again.



Look at the label for actual content. I'd expect it to be less as time goes on just like with candy bars, cereal, etc. Prices stay close to the same but you get less.

We have been getting less propane at propane exchanges for years. I exchange my 20lb tanks for convenience. Much easier and quicker than waiting in line at the distributor for me unless I'm also filling my 30lb tanks.
As far as scarcity and cost, nothing new these days

[5picker]

Originally Posted by TitanMike

Just curious. The exchange tanks I've seen are plainly marked with the exchange company label/wrap.

What happens when one is away from an exchange kiosk and has to settle for a "Gas Station or Convenience Store" fill from a bulk tank? Do they just fill them even though they from an exchange company? Or are the label/wraps easy enough to remove that nobody knows?

Just curious. I know that was (and probably still is) a problem when trying to get a welding gas tank filled.

Absolutely everyone I know (including me the ONE time I exchanged a tank for my brother) simply peels off the plastic shrink wrap labeling.

[NMWildcat]

Originally Posted by 5picker

Absolutely everyone I know (including me the ONE time I exchanged a tank for my brother) simply peels off the plastic shrink wrap labeling.

And the exchanges I use don't care what the wrapper says, they will take any any brand 20lb tank.....

[elind]

The exchange tank companies had a class action lawsuit recently. They were filling 20lb cylinders at 17 lbs changing to 15lbs amount without notifying of the change in fill at the same price. So the standard fill was 17lb and now is 15lb. Bring your own tank to a refill station and get 20lb per fill up.

https://www.classactionrebates.com/s...on-settlement/

[D W]

Where I live, they couldn't care less whose wrapper is on the tank, but they do check the stampings for current certification. In past years several venues have been nailed by US DOT PHMSA Compliance/Enforcement for filling tanks that have expired dates on them. From what I understand there's a hefty fine if caught.

[TitanMike]

Originally Posted by NMWildcat

We have been getting less propane at propane exchanges for years. I exchange my 20lb tanks for convenience. Much easier and quicker than waiting in line at the distributor for me unless I'm also filling my 30lb tanks.
As far as scarcity and cost, nothing new these days

As always there is a price to be paid for convenience.

Here's a comparison from Ferrellgas from last July. At the time the price for convenience was around $1.75 per gallon.

https://www.ferrellgas.com/tank-talk...etter-for-you/

For me, I pass on convenience especially with the $7 per tank extra cost stated in the article. I just fill my 20# tanks when I stop at the Distributor to have my 30# tanks on trailer filled/topped off as I leave on my trips.

I'm fortunate I guess that I have two distributors and one Co-Op nearby that I've never had to wait in line at or drive very far to.

From what I've seen at the exchanges in my area there would be a big wait to find help that could unlock the "cage" for a fresh tank. Especially after Covid.