Before you accept an exchange 20# propane bottle

[past-MIdirector]

Make sure you check the date on the propane bottle that you exchange next time. We've noticed that both Blue Flame and AmeriGas are using outdated bottles. We went to Walmarts the other day and the young man pulled a Blue Flame bottle with a 02/00 date on the bottle. I told him I wanted a bottle with a current date to which he said what date. We went threw half the rack before we found one with a 12/10 date. Most were 02 and earlier. Propane suppliers will not refill outdated exchange bottles so you are therefore stuck with exchanging them only. This same thing happened to us up north at a campground with AmericGas and the newest bottle they had was 06/97 in there rack and again the individual did not know about the date. They were also filling bottles on site and not checking dates. Bottles are good for 12 years from manufacture date and then need a re-inspected sticker that are not being done on these exchanged bottles!!

[byronlj]

A lot of you are forgetting the new procedure that came into effect with the new style valves. They can only fill the opd equipped cylinders to 80% of full. If you take this into account, 15lbs pre-filled is close to what you would get filling your own.
Dave

[JiminDenver]

The shop by me told me one of my tanks was a year from being out of date. It cost more to re-certify it than to exchange it.

Exchange or refill is just a matter of convenience for me. A run to the shop takes more time and effort than a exchange. Propane shops are fewer and farther between anymore. You can get a exchange all over.

I take both the pair of 20 pounders off the trailer and a pair of Blue rino to be filled at the start of the season. After that if we need any we just exchange a Blue rino when we pick up the groceries for the next trip.

[Caveman_Charlie]

RoyB wrote:
So far I usually get away with re-filling my tanks here at home before going on our trips. Still have my same 2008 propane bottles. We usually always use the camp ground 20AMP pedestals for our oil-filed portable electric heaters when camping so it saves a bunch of propane use for us on the trips. Roy Ken

Yup, I fill mine at home and use electric when I can too. Don't know how old my bottles are. They are still the old style that they don't even make anymore. But, I'm just a weekend camper and always stay close to home.

[wbwood]

When we had our two 30# tanks filled (tt we had), we were charged a set price no matter if there was any propane in the tanks at all. And if I recall, it was was over $45 for the 2. I guess that was about $3/gallon and was a year ago. A 20# exchange tank goes for less than $20 here. That less than $4/gallon plus I can exchange 2 miles from the house, but need to drive at least 6-7 miles to fill up. Plus they had weird hours. That's another downside of places that fill up. More than likely, you can't go at 8pm to get a tank filled up.

[RAS43]

MitchF150 wrote:


Looking a new tanks in the stores, they want $30-$40 for them.... Then you have to fill them up!

And some places will have a charge to purge the new tank before filling it, especially if you didn't buy it there.

[trnfla]

mowermech wrote:

trnfla wrote:
Does this date policy apply to the big tank mounted in my class C?

NO! The small (up to 100 lb.) portable cylinders are USDOT cylinders. The tanks mounted on class A, B, or C motorhomes are ASME tanks. The ASME tanks should be inspected for rust, and cleaned/repainted as needed, but no recertification is necessary.

Thanks or as Forrest Gump said "That's good, one less thing" to worry about.

[parkmanaa]

Confirming another post here:
I have a propane dispensing station, and assure you propane cylinders must be re-certified 12 years from date of manufacture, then again 5 years from that date.
In my area the standard customers' joke is, if they present an out-of-date cylinder "that's OK, I'll take it to Wal Mart and exchange it for one in-date"

[mowermech]

trnfla wrote:
Does this date policy apply to the big tank mounted in my class C?

NO! The small (up to 100 lb.) portable cylinders are USDOT cylinders. The tanks mounted on class A, B, or C motorhomes are ASME tanks. The ASME tanks should be inspected for rust, and cleaned/repainted as needed, but no recertification is necessary.

[notruffinit]

I will do an exchange only when my tanks are getting close to their date or are showing a little rust. For the $10 difference in filling/exchange I get a newer tank and 5# less gas. good trade for me.

[TNRIVERSIDE]

MitchF150 wrote:

What am I missing?

You are comparing pounds to gallons and for a simple "20 lb" cylinder, it holds at most 5 gallons of LPG.

Mitch

Thank makes more sense. Thanks

[trnfla]

Does this date policy apply to the big tank mounted in my class C?

[MitchF150]

What am I missing?

You are comparing pounds to gallons and for a simple "20 lb" cylinder, it holds at most 5 gallons of LPG.

Mitch

[TNRIVERSIDE]

I must be missing something. I keep seeing the comment that you can save money by having your 20 LBS LP tanks refilled rather that exchanging them. That seems to be followed by the comment that the exchange tanks ONLY have 15 Gallons not the max 20 Gal. Maybe my maths off but if I have my tank refilled at $3.99 a gal. (cost at local CW)and I get only 15 gal. that's really close to $60.00. No where close to the exchange cost. What am I missing?

[mlts22]

With the fact that I either go to either a RV park or dealer (well out of the city), or pay for a 250 gallon contract before a number of local fillers will bother to lift a finger, the gasoline I save by not driving out of town more than compensates for the money lost doing an exchange compared to a fill.

[past-MIdirector]

Clay L there is only one place they are allowed to stamp on the bottles we use on RVs and no where else on the bottle. I read up on this and also found that with one pressure type test instead of visual it can go another 12 years. The bottles when tested properly require a stamped letter for type inspection and new date stamped below the manufacture date. I talked to a couple of the LP places around here and they will not fill out dated bottles and not all are certified to do the inspections.