old propane tanks

Francesca Knowles wrote:

But since BlueRhino sells at a set unit price and not by the pound/gallon, the cost difference between 15 pounds of LP and 17.8 (real capacity) is huge for RV users.

My 20# cylinders have a 20# capacity of LP. It needs to be cold enough to get 'em 'full', the dip tube length is based on 40F, not sure about the OPD specs. YMMV. Most often the OPD stops the filling but when it is cold, the filler stops filling when the 20# of propane tips the scale.

Exchanges provide a service that some folks are willing to pay for, it's a long hike to filler locally.

Ex-Tech wrote:

Sorry but I just don't get why people think Blue Rhino is a rip-off. It states right on their tanks the amount of propane you are getting inside that tank so you are getting exactally what they state you are getting. No more, no less.
Just because you have a 5-gallon tank doesn't automatically mean you are getting 5 gallons of propane. READ THE LABEL!
And yes, I know about the lawsuit a few years ago because people couldn't read the labels on the tanks.

The lawsuit wasn't because folks couldn't read the tanks- it was because Blue Rhino used a special valve that prevented folks from getting the tank filled elsewhere. That's what's changed now.

As for the labeling- I think most folks expect to be paying for a "full" cylinder, and that's not what they're getting. I'd bet that not one in fifty BlueRhino users knows that, especially since most are just BBQ users and don't trade in very often.

But since BlueRhino sells at a set unit price and not by the pound/gallon, the cost difference between 15 pounds of LP and 17.8 (real capacity) is huge for RV users.

20# cylinder

Worthington cylinder nominal TW 16.6

Manchester Tank TW 18

4aSong wrote:

BobsYourUncle wrote:
I'd rather have the older tanks re-certified with the new valve than the cheap new ones.

The steel on the old tanks is thicker than those cheapo WalMart and other places tanks.

I remember doing some research on this a number of years ago when the stop fill valves became mandatory.

I did not give it a thought that the steel on the new tanks is thinner than the old tanks, has anyone else experienced this?. I will have to do some further research on this.

Sorry but I just don't get why people think Blue Rhino is a rip-off. It states right on their tanks the amount of propane you are getting inside that tank so you are getting exactally what they state you are getting. No more, no less.
Just because you have a 5-gallon tank doesn't automatically mean you are getting 5 gallons of propane. READ THE LABEL!
And yes, I know about the lawsuit a few years ago because people couldn't read the labels on the tanks.

4aSong wrote:

I did not give it a thought that the steel on the new tanks is thinner than the old tanks, has anyone else experienced this?. I will have to do some further research on this.

My newish cylinders are TW 16.5 or maybe 17, the '80s model I exchanged was TW 18 so they've lost a lb or so of metal.

When I exchanged, I received 3/4 full new cylinders, a month or two old, to be exchanged in 7 more yrs.

Javi1 wrote:

Francesca Knowles wrote:
I'd rather do the recertification than smile while I do that pay-them-for-twenty-and-get-fifteen thing Blue Rhino sticks its customers with.

You do know that the trade-in is a one time thing and you can get those tanks filled at your friendly neighborhood propane dealer, no need to get in a cycle with Blue Rhino.

So I've heard...but knowing Blue Rhino sorta had legislation to allow that forced on them makes me uncomfortable. Plus, I'd still be getting only 3/4 of a tank to begin with! I'll stick with recertification, thanks.

powderman426 wrote:
I dont know where you guys are, but here in Ohio a tank gets hydro tested and a new date is stamped into the collar. It its much more than just giving it a visual check.

Here in FL, it's 7 yrs for a hydro test and 5 yrs for a visual check. Most of the re-cert dates I've seen have been hand scribed in the collar.

I have a 10# propane tank I take for the 3-burner stove (and as a spare for the TT.) Back in '06 I had it re-valved and re-certified. Now it's due again.
Durn 10# tanks cost more than the 20# to buy new, so it'll get re-certified this year.

I dont know where you guys are, but here in Ohio a tank gets hydro tested and a new date is stamped into the collar. It its much more than just giving it a visual check. My local welding supply dealer does it and with a refill its about an extra $15.
I like having full tanks, so I never do the blue rhino as they never give a full tank.