Propane Tank Exchange Warning
 

I came across this on an classic Winnebago forum and thought it was worth passing on. I don't know about the chemisty involved but thought it was a better safe than sorry thing!

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RVers use a great deal of propane and so do drug dealers. The problem is drug dealers who manufacture methamphetamine, also known as "crank" the popular illegal drug that rots your teeth, are using exchangeable propane bottles to store anhydrous ammonia during the manufacturing process. When they return the bottles to the exchange rack at the store they are endangering future users because they have compromised the safety of the brass valves. A blue-green color on the brass service valve is evidence that it may have been in contact with anhydrous ammonia. Here is what the safety bulletin says, "The brass valve in a propane cylinder will be damaged if it comes in contact with anhydrous ammonia. This deterioration will lead to cracking of the valve body or its components and can ultimately result in a violent, unexpected expulsion of the valve from the cylinder, causing personal injury or death." Sounds serious to me and you can see photos and read more about it at the National Propane Gas Association website here: Safety Bulletin The best advise is to refill your own propane tanks and not use an exchange bottle. However if you do use exchange bottles or pick one up at a yard sale be sure the brass valve is not a blue-green color.

my camper has 2 huge tanks that no exchange places carry so i have to refill mine.which is fine with me as i really for some odd reason don't trust the exchange thing.and i guess for good reason.the only thing good about exchanging is if you have an old tank that is about to expire you trade it in and get a new tank then your good to go til that ones about expired.

When the price of fuel went up a few years ago, propane exchange refillers started putting about 20% less fuel in each bottle rather than raising prices.

They say I need a new kind of valve now for some reason.

That tank must be pretty old. The new valve requirements (prevent overfill?) went into effect years ago.

It was bought new about 10 years ago.

And didn't increase it again with falling prices.

And that doesn't make the tank any safer- the vapor pressure is still the same.

Are you talking about the new valve or underfilling the tank?

Underfilling the tank.

A leaky valve is pretty dangerous too, and I've gotten them with exchange tanks. Also very bad but fresh paint jobs, clearly an attempt to put lipstick on a pig and cover the fact that their tanks are abused.

I am done with propane exchange places. They are not a good bargain. To buy a tank from them costs as much as buying an *actually new* tank elsewhere and having it filled, but you get an old tank and less propane for your money. Of course, they are also happy to take your new tank in trade for one of their old crappy ones.

I use about two propane tanks a month year around. I think the guy at the local hardware store thinks i'm making drugs, but the face is that I grill out everyday. I love me some pork ribs. :D:D:D:eek:

man you sound about like me.we grill out 3-4 times a week.even in the winter at -10 degrees.

Are you a fellow pork rib lover? :D

well living in iowa land of pork,beef,and corn on the cob,i pretty much love anything pork or beef.

A friend Indeed. :D

i prefer beef ribs

If it's a critter, I'll throw it on some fire and eat it! :D

Yes Sir!

I found out about them short changing at the propane exchanges so I just kept the last bottle I exchanged. It was pretty new and hey I bought the original one.

I bring it to my local Propane dealer and watch them weigh it to make sure I get my full amount.

I use it to power the mosquito killer in the yard. I go through a bottle every two weeks.

The tanks expire after 10 years - check the date stamp on it. Also, a 10 year old tank would have still the old style valve I believe.

My method is to buy a brand new nice empty tank at the store, then have it filled (and re-filled)....I don't do the exchanges. It's much cheaper to have it filled. (about $9-12 or less)

I bought a used truck camper to go on my FG. It has a typical sized propane tank (20lb?) mounted on it's side in a compartment with a fuel gauge on it. I was surprised that it has the old style valve on it. I can't imagine it hasn't been refilled since the law requiring new style valves went into effect. Does anyone know if there is an exception for tanks mounted on their sides or can tell me if I'm going to have to replace this tank once it runs out of fuel?

Does it have a special valve to allow running on its side? The normal valve would give you liquid until you're half empty, then gas for the rest.

It must because it was designed to be installed on it's side. Are such valves exempt from the new valves with float requirements?

Answered my own question. I found this online:

Recent Exclusion of horizontal DOT tanks: Owners of older RV's that use horizontal rather than vertical propane cylinders should read the following information:

The new OPD (Overfilling Prevention Device) valves will be required on 4 lb. to 40 lb. propane cylinders from 1 April 2002. However, the currently available new valves are designed only for vertical cylinders and cannot be used with horizontal cylinders. Therefore, horizontal cylinders manufactured prior to 1 October 1998 have been exempted from having OPD valves, provided they are so labeled. (Such cylinders manufactured after 1 October 1998 do already have OPD valves).

This information is on the website of the National Propane Gas Association. See OPD's: Information for Consumers - Questions & Answers..

Since propane dealers do not seem always well-informed, it is suggested that RV owners with pre-1998 horizontal DOT tanks should print this article and carry it with them, in case a dealer balks at filling a cylinder without an OPD valve.

The relevant part of the document is on the second page:

Q: I have a horizontal cylinder on my recreational vehicle. Are OPD's available for that kind of service?

A: The 2001 edition of NFPA [National Fire Protection Association] 58 (the LP-Gas Code) recognizes that horizontally oriented cylinders that were manufactured prior to October 1, 1998, are unable to be retrofitted with the OPD's. As a result of this fact, the Code now exempts these cylinders from having to be retrofit with OPD valves. Any such cylinder must have a label affixed to it to inform the user and the refiller that an OPD valve is not installed."