with the first big cookout of the season almost upon us everyone must be busy tuning up their grills and getting propane tanks refilled and stuff. i just got through doing mine.

wondering if anyone has run into new propane tanks that can't be refilled. i did - with one of those tank exchange places where you drop of your tank and they give you a new one for roughly double the price of a refill. turns out that they use a special magnetic check valve that not all propane refill stations can deal with. this forces most customers to come back to them for another exchange. a refill around here in NJ costs about $10. the tank exchange places (like HOME DEPOT!) charge as much as $20+. the brand they use is "bluerhino" - buyer beware!!!

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joE
1993 300e-2.8 - gone now <sigh>
"Do not adjust your mind, it's reality that's malfunctioning"
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There was a federally mandated swtich to propane tanks with OPD or Overfill Protection Device valves, to prevent over pressurizing the tanks. LP/Propane dispensers are not supposed to refill non-OPD tanks.

yeah i know about the OPD (triangular handle). but i don't think all OPD's have the magnetic check valve. i have a brand new one with the OPD and one of the bluerhinos that someone in my household got through an exchange (that's how i found out about this). i don't know who else makes such a check valve, from what my propane dealer told me it seems it's only bluerhino tanks that have 'em. i guess bottom line is to stay away from those.

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joE
1993 300e-2.8 - gone now <sigh>
"Do not adjust your mind, it's reality that's malfunctioning"
http://banners.wunderground.com/bann...L/Key_West.gif

Ahem... Propane? There's your problem. Block charcoal all the way!

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You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows - Robert A. Zimmerman

The perfect accessory for any gas grill is a Weber Smokey Joe, maybe the Jr. if you're on a diet.