Rusty propane tank - is it safe?

Being in Florida, it probably went to the beach a few times and wasn't rinsed very well. As long as it's just surface rust, you can sand and paint it without worries. If you smell propane, use a spritz bottle of soapy water and see if bubbles form anywhere.

This is a good reminder to all of us: check your lpg tank, lines and connections at least annually. If you see rust is increasing or started, do something about it. Use soapy water and a small brush to check for leaks on the connections. It just takes a few minutes to do a pretty thorough check on this stuff and certainly pays off in the long run.

By the way, Krylon makes a paint now that can be sprayed directly over light rust. I used it with excellent results on an iron gate a few years ago. It seemed to encapsulate the rust and I guess the paint kept oxygen from getting to it. Hasn't flaked off of the metal gate in all this time.

Back in 2002 Manchester had problems with their paint process. I think shortly after they went to powder coating. Mine, when new, had so much rust I made them replaced it with one that was powder coated. I figured if it looked that bad then I didn't want to have problems years later.
If it's just surface rust not a problem, just cosmetic, but if the metal is being eaten away, I would remove it, strip it, get all the rust off, prime, and spray paint it with a good metal paint.

Not hard to remove the tank, but much easier on a lift. I pulled mine, because I could faintly smell gas. I could not find the leak, figured it had to be somewhere behind the tank, sure enough a compression fitting had a crack in it. About a 2 hr job, and a couple bucks for the fitting. You are dealing with gas lines, so if your not comfortable removing, and reinstalling the tank yourself have a RV dealer do it.

The van came out of Florida where it lived its first 5 years before it was re-po'd. I don't think it looks any different than it did then.

As I mentioned, I'll bring it to Suburban Propane after the weekend and see what they say. It's not that I'd mind replacing it if necessary, I just don't know who is certified or interested in doing it locally what with it being attached to the chassis. I'm sure I could find someone if it's called for.

Corrosion is an effect of oxidation. It can be accelerated in a salty evironment. It only affects the exterior of the tank, as there is no oxygen inside the tank.
If you are concerned, go to a propane certification center, such as a wholesaler to have yours inspected.

You will know when it is not okay when it goes boom. Maybe it will be too late.


Can you post actual photo of it? Rusty tank is a concern as my old class A had one. I got rid of it before I needed to do anything to it.

Surface rust is common. I cleaned by tank and repainted just to make it look better. I used LP tank paint from Ace Hardware.