On board propane filling question

^^ I totally agree.

Learn how to do it yourself ... then watch carefully the fill station "trained operator" to make sure that they do it the correct way that you have learned.

If fact, it's best to do the above on a whole bunch of things in which you have "experts" do the actual work for you. ;)

What do you suppose you are doing when you turn on a cook top burner ?
Right, you are mixing air w/ propane. And if you light it, is it going to explode ?? Why are you being so stupid about this propane thing ? Some of you treat people like they have no common sense. I think it would be hard to find anyone that would close up an RV, turn on a couple cook top burners, wait 30 minutes, and then strike a match.

So referring to the above post, mixing air w/ propane is not dangerous unless you are completely stupid, so, I really have to wonder about some people !

OH. How I know the proper name of the Visual Overfill Indicator Valve....
One of my Summer Campgrounds was hosting a Pump Jockey class in the family center. They were reviewing their answers to the final test while I was doing my morning internet run. The question came up.

Another question: What happens if you mix air and propane in the proper ration and there is a flame or spark?

Before anyone could answer I piped up with: "You land 2 counties over"
THe room.... broke up in laughter.. and when it died down the instructor said "Exactly".

So be cautious around vaporized propane. NOTE Gasoline vapor... I hear all the time from folks afraid of propane (For just that reason)

THe same amount of gasoline vapor. properly mixed with air... 3 counties over.

OP here... Thanks again to everyone for responding.

And an especially heartfelt thanks to Ductape, wa8yxm and DutchmenSport.

Knowing the process and how it all works is what I wanted to know and will definitely help me in the future.


Knowledge is the key to understanding. :)

Personally I like U-Haul since they also do alt fuel vehicles and from time to time the attendant will charge it as an alt fuel saving you from fifty cents to a dollar twenty five depending on state. I also like that they post their current prices online so there's no guessing what the propane price is at any of the dealers.

That "nut looking thing" is a spit valve. Opened slightly when filling and then when it spits liquid propane the tank is full.

Any competent propane station would know that - so since they don't, run away (as said above).

jerseyjim wrote:
Go to a PROPANE ONLY outfit near you. They have the equipment and the knowledge to fill your tank.
Your tank is bolted on...drive the RV to the filling station. They have the long hoses to get to it.

I found most "propane only" facilities such as AmeriGas do not have anyone around during normal business hours or weekends that will fill a motor home tank. The operators are all out servicing stationary customers and only clerical staff are in the facility.

Be sure to call ahead and ask. The answer I usually got was to be there between 4 and 4:30 when the service people are getting back from their rounds. I had to break camp a couple of times because they were the only ones around.

Most Flying-Js have propane and someone who knows what to do.

Filling a propane tank is nothing to be afraid of,......as some here would have you believe.

Just so you know,....and have a little more info, you can fill the tank w/o ever opening the bleeder valve,....many attendents do, but you are taking the chance that it could overfill if the float valve inside the tank malfunctions.
Having said that, no harm is done if you fill till the pump stops, except that it may be over filled, which also does no harm, except that if you don't use propane right away, and you filled in the morning, the heat of the day could expand the propane enuff that it could start bleeding off slowly from the bleed valve. It does NOT suddenly pop off like some people here would have you believe. And if for any reason it did get overfilled and start bleeding off, still no harm is done as long as there is no open flame nearby.

Having said all that,.....for info only, it is always better and safer to open the bleeder when filling, and shut pump off if it starts bleeding.
Most times, if all is working correctly, the pump will stop before liquid shows at the bleeder valve.

pasusan wrote:

We have a gas station near us that can do it, but no one is familiar with the process and they don't seem to know what to do.

So, you actually have a gas station near you that CAN'T do it...