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trevor68's avatar
trevor68
Explorer
Dec 23, 2014

help! unable to fill propane tank in rv

I recently purchased a MB Sprinter RV that comes with a 6 gallon propane tank used for water heating and furnace. Today, I went to fill it up since it was empty and once the technician connected the propane line and turned the machine om, propane would not flow in. We tried to see if turning the shut off valve did anything, but nothing happened. I then brought my older RV to do the same, and propan flowed in without any issues. Any ideas why my new one is unable to fill up? Much appreciated!
Class A
  • wa8yxm's avatar
    wa8yxm
    Explorer III
    Dec 24, 2014
    The Correct name for that valve is the Visual Overfill indicator Valve.

    I call it the spitter valve cause when it spits liquid propane, which vaporises at like -40 (About) and condenses all the water out of the air as a white cloud of ice.. The tank is full.

    One of the tank-swapp firms (Blue Rino) used a special one way valve that takes a special tool to open for filling. If you have a BR tank, swap it for something different. (Far as I know they stopped using it due to the fact everyone (Nearly) figured it out so it was no longer effective).
  • darsben's avatar
    darsben
    Explorer II
    Dec 24, 2014
    Som people call the bleed valve a spit valve. If you have a built in tank that should be opened.
  • trevor68's avatar
    trevor68
    Explorer
    Dec 24, 2014
    The tank has one of those smart valves that goes up to 80 % and then shuts off. I have never had to purge any tank with my previous RV's which have the same valve.
    If I understand you all correctly, before attempting to fill it up, I have to remove any propane left in the tank?
  • dougrainer's avatar
    dougrainer
    Nomad
    Dec 23, 2014
    Did it have LP prior to you filling it up?
    If NO, then the manual cut off at the LP tank may be closed since you have a remote type system.
    If it had LP before and nobody has messed with the tank mounted fill valve, then the usual cause on your type remote fill is, the auto shut off spring freezes from the initial flow of liquid LP.
    If this happens, you disconnect the LP filler nozzle and then reconnect and SLOWLY open the nozzle fill handle. This prevents a large amount of Liquid LP from hitting the spring and freezing it. You let it fill slowly for 10 to 15 seconds and then open the fill nozzle handle to full open. "Most" trained knowledgeable LP fillers know about this type problem. Doug

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