propane tank

[EPeterman]

I have a 2000 Discovery with a chasis mounted 100 pound tank, It has liquid near the bottom of the tank near a brass plugm it is the odorizing liquid, why is it there???

[Hikerdogs]

dougrainer wrote:

Hikerdogs wrote:

Dutch_12078 wrote:
When the tank is full, about 80% of the tank is liquid. Propane = "Liquified Petroleum Gas" (LPG)

LPG and Propane are not the same. LPG can contain up to 50% butane. Propane has to be a minimum of 90% propane gas to be labeled as such. LPG has more energy per pound, but has a considerably higher vaporization point than Propane.

Propane is primarily sold in colder climates as a heating fuel. It will vaporize at-40*F or colder. LPG on the other hand can have a vaporization point as high as +44*F depending on the mixture.

In Wisconsin several "Propane" dealers were fined a couple years ago for selling LPG as Propane. When the January temperatures dipped to the customary -20*F many of their customers couldn't get their furnaces started. It turned out the offending dealers had purchased the cheaper LPG and sold it as Propane.

Sorry, you are completely wrong. What you probably read about was they purchased the cheaper BUTANE, which will not vaporize correctly in cold or sub cold weather.

LP--Liquid Petroleum
LPG Liquid Petroleum GAS
PROPANE
ALL the same animal. Liquid Petroleum is what ALL LP containers have in them. When vaporized, they then are LP GAS (Propane).
BUTANE is mainly used in warm climates. BUT, There are NO Butane makers in the USA that produce and sell BUTANE for RV's and Home Heating anymore. Butane can usually be purchased in Mexico and other countries south of the border. Doug

While all these gasses are derived from petroleum or natural gas they are not chemically the same. Gasses sold in northern climates require a higher concentration of propane gas to be labeled and sold as "consumer grade" Propane than do gasses labeled and sold as LPG.

Unfortunately the term propane is used to describe a number of gasses that "contain varying amounts" of propane gas.
HD-5 Propane

HD5 grade propane is "consumer grade" propane and is the most widely sold and distributed grade of propane in the U.S. market. HD5 is the highest grade propane available to consumers in the United States and is what propane companies ordinarily sell to their customers. What does HD5 propane mean in terms of specification to an ordinary consumer? It means that the propane is suitable and recommended for engine fuel use, which was the original purpose of the HD5 grade propane specification. HD5 spec propane consists of:
?Minimum of 90% propane
?Maximum of 5% propylene - propylene is used in the manufacture of plastics
?Other gases constitute the remainder (iso-butane, butane, methane, etc.)

The HD5 specification is based on "allowable" contents. For instance, 99% propane and 1% propylene is HD5 grade propane the same as 95% propane and 5% propylene is HD5 propane. Although the product consistency and purity is different, both mixtures are considered HD5 propane because they fall within the allowable limits for the product to be named and labeled as such. Consider this: 10,000 gallons of pure propane (100% propane) is classified as HD-5 grade propane.

LPG

LPG stands for liquefied petroleum gas. It consists of low molecular weight hydrocarbons such as propane, butane, trace amounts of other low molecular weight hydrocarbons (mostly alkenes) and some good ol' ethanethiol (it's what makes it stink). The gas used in BBQ's is mostly propane, but LPG comes in various types of mixtures. Some mixtures are mostly butane, some are roughly 50-50. It all depends on what it's going to be used for.

[wa8yxm]

dougrainer wrote:

Hikerdogs wrote:

Dutch_12078 wrote:
When the tank is full, about 80% of the tank is liquid. Propane = "Liquified Petroleum Gas" (LPG)

LPG and Propane are not the same. LPG can contain up to 50% butane. Propane has to be a minimum of 90% propane gas to be labeled as such. LPG has more energy per pound, but has a considerably higher vaporization point than Propane.

Propane is primarily sold in colder climates as a heating fuel. It will vaporize at-40*F or colder. LPG on the other hand can have a vaporization point as high as +44*F depending on the mixture.

In Wisconsin several "Propane" dealers were fined a couple years ago for selling LPG as Propane. When the January temperatures dipped to the customary -20*F many of their customers couldn't get their furnaces started. It turned out the offending dealers had purchased the cheaper LPG and sold it as Propane.

Sorry, you are completely wrong. What you probably read about was they purchased the cheaper BUTANE, which will not vaporize correctly in cold or sub cold weather.

LP--Liquid Petroleum
LPG Liquid Petroleum GAS
PROPANE
ALL the same animal. Liquid Petroleum is what ALL LP containers have in them. When vaporized, they then are LP GAS (Propane).
BUTANE is mainly used in warm climates. BUT, There are NO Butane makers in the USA that produce and sell BUTANE for RV's and Home Heating anymore. Butane can usually be purchased in Mexico and other countries south of the border. Doug

Let me try to defuse this argument before it gets too hot, cause as you know, when propane gets too hot, bad things happen.

LPG is an Umbrella term, and it means Liquified Petroleum Gas" This can describe several different liquified gasses INCLUDING but not limited to PROPANE.

A similar comparison. FRUIT,, this is an umbrella term that describes APPLES, it also describes ORANGES, Lemons, Limes, Cherries, and if it were not for an act of Congress.. Tomatoes, All are fruit ('ectp congress says the tomato is a veggie) just like Butane and Propane are both LPG.

[pkunk]

Well OK John, but if he (OP) had not already opened the drain how would he have known the oil was there? Purging a tank is easy, instructions on the internet, and anyone can do it safely. A little air in a 25 gal MH tank is not going to make it go BOOM!

[wa8yxm]

pkunk wrote:
A 15 YO tank will have some 'distillate' oil residue. If the tank is empty (no pressure) you can open that drain and reseal it with YELLOW teflon tape. Refill tank as normal and check for leaks.

WHen he says EMPTY he means 100% empty, and following that you will need to purge the tank.

So change the YOU in his statement to a PROPANE TANK INSPECTION FACILITY and you are much better off.. you need a professional.

In Flint, MI, I'd go to Parker's Propane.. Google them, find a "look-alike" near you and you have my suggestion.


Propane properly handled is very safe.. No more dangerous than gasoline, and in fact, likely less so.

Propane when untrained amateurs start messing with it.. I would rather be a long way from them. I grew up with propane.. I know the dangers. and that job.. I WOULD NOT DO MYSELF.

[Dutch_12078]

dougrainer wrote:

Hikerdogs wrote:

Dutch_12078 wrote:
When the tank is full, about 80% of the tank is liquid. Propane = "Liquified Petroleum Gas" (LPG)

LPG and Propane are not the same. LPG can contain up to 50% butane. Propane has to be a minimum of 90% propane gas to be labeled as such. LPG has more energy per pound, but has a considerably higher vaporization point than Propane.

Propane is primarily sold in colder climates as a heating fuel. It will vaporize at-40*F or colder. LPG on the other hand can have a vaporization point as high as +44*F depending on the mixture.

In Wisconsin several "Propane" dealers were fined a couple years ago for selling LPG as Propane. When the January temperatures dipped to the customary -20*F many of their customers couldn't get their furnaces started. It turned out the offending dealers had purchased the cheaper LPG and sold it as Propane.

Sorry, you are completely wrong. What you probably read about was they purchased the cheaper BUTANE, which will not vaporize correctly in cold or sub cold weather.

LP--Liquid Petroleum
LPG Liquid Petroleum GAS
PROPANE
ALL the same animal. Liquid Petroleum is what ALL LP containers have in them. When vaporized, they then are LP GAS (Propane).
BUTANE is mainly used in warm climates. BUT, There are NO Butane makers in the USA that produce and sell BUTANE for RV's and Home Heating anymore. Butane can usually be purchased in Mexico and other countries south of the border. Doug

Thanks for saving me all that typing, Doug! :W

[oldchief7155]

Listen to Doug Rainer. He's a master rv tech.

[dougrainer]

Hikerdogs wrote:

Dutch_12078 wrote:
When the tank is full, about 80% of the tank is liquid. Propane = "Liquified Petroleum Gas" (LPG)

LPG and Propane are not the same. LPG can contain up to 50% butane. Propane has to be a minimum of 90% propane gas to be labeled as such. LPG has more energy per pound, but has a considerably higher vaporization point than Propane.

Propane is primarily sold in colder climates as a heating fuel. It will vaporize at-40*F or colder. LPG on the other hand can have a vaporization point as high as +44*F depending on the mixture.

In Wisconsin several "Propane" dealers were fined a couple years ago for selling LPG as Propane. When the January temperatures dipped to the customary -20*F many of their customers couldn't get their furnaces started. It turned out the offending dealers had purchased the cheaper LPG and sold it as Propane.

Sorry, you are completely wrong. What you probably read about was they purchased the cheaper BUTANE, which will not vaporize correctly in cold or sub cold weather.

LP--Liquid Petroleum
LPG Liquid Petroleum GAS
PROPANE
ALL the same animal. Liquid Petroleum is what ALL LP containers have in them. When vaporized, they then are LP GAS (Propane).
BUTANE is mainly used in warm climates. BUT, There are NO Butane makers in the USA that produce and sell BUTANE for RV's and Home Heating anymore. Butane can usually be purchased in Mexico and other countries south of the border. Doug

[Hikerdogs]

Dutch_12078 wrote:
When the tank is full, about 80% of the tank is liquid. Propane = "Liquified Petroleum Gas" (LPG)

LPG and Propane are not the same. LPG can contain up to 50% butane. Propane has to be a minimum of 90% propane gas to be labeled as such. LPG has more energy per pound, but has a considerably higher vaporization point than Propane.

Propane is primarily sold in colder climates as a heating fuel. It will vaporize at-40*F or colder. LPG on the other hand can have a vaporization point as high as +44*F depending on the mixture.

In Wisconsin several "Propane" dealers were fined a couple years ago for selling LPG as Propane. When the January temperatures dipped to the customary -20*F many of their customers couldn't get their furnaces started. It turned out the offending dealers had purchased the cheaper LPG and sold it as Propane.

[pkunk]

A 15 YO tank will have some 'distillate' oil residue. If the tank is empty (no pressure) you can open that drain and reseal it with YELLOW teflon tape. Refill tank as normal and check for leaks.

[Dutch_12078]

When the tank is full, about 80% of the tank is liquid. Propane = "Liquified Petroleum Gas" (LPG)

[dougrainer]

You have a leak. Get it to a LP repair station. DO NOT HESITATE. Doug