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chuckftboy · 01-09-2013, 08:33 PM

Had my LP tank filled today. Well almost filled. I have a 128 lb. tank (30 gal.). It has a guage mounted on the tank and when it reads full it has 24 gals. in the tank, 80% of the 30 gals. My problem is, I can't convince my local gas company to fill it till the guage reads full or atleast until liquid sprays from the bleed valve. So now I go winter camping with my full tank (18 gals.).

KIX · 01-09-2013, 08:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chuckftboy

Had my LP tank filled today. Well almost filled. I have a 128 lb. tank (30 gal.). It has a guage mounted on the tank and when it reads full it has 24 gals. in the tank, 80% of the 30 gals. My problem is, I can't convince my local gas company to fill it till the guage reads full or atleast until liquid sprays from the bleed valve. So now I go winter camping with my full tank (18 gals.).

Just for clarity. I am assuming that the tank is permanently mounted to your motorhome. If that's the case there will be a data plate on the tank near the fill valve. On the data plate will be a number preceded by the letters w.c. What is that number?

IIRC your sig mentioned that you have 2009 motorhome. Again, assuming the tank is OEM........if so the tank will have a "stop fill" or OPD device that will prevent it from being overfilled. When the OPD shuts off the filling of the tank the bleeder MAY not bleed liquid as the OPD may be shutting off the flow prematurely.

Mr_D · 01-09-2013, 08:58 PM

I haven't yet found a propane dealer that didn't fill to the overflow point. We have a 40 gallon (32 usable) tank. Here in WA they have to use a temperature compensating pump too so we get an accurate fill.

wa8yxm · 01-10-2013, 10:21 AM

I have never seen a propane pump jockey look at the gauge, what is more there is an "overfill protection device" on the tank that is supposed to halt filling at 80%.

Usually they pay attention to the spitter valve.. (This too is an 80 percent device)

ONE time my gauge has read full, Just once, in all the 7 years I've lived in this motor home.. Just once. Usually it's at the 3/4 mark or close to it (80%) when I pull away from the pump.

I think you are likely getting the full safe fill.

I might add, I watch them when filling the tank so I know how they are doing it.

The last fill up I got (I need to fill up again next week) The last time I filled up was at Carmichael's Propane in Tekonsha, MI. The farm I grew up on.

MSHappyCampers · 01-11-2013, 08:00 AM

I believe 80% is considered "full" on an LP tank!

fredaevans · 01-11-2013, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MSHappyCampers

I believe 80% is considered "full" on an LP tank!

+1 here. The extra '20' is the safety factor.

chuckftboy · 01-12-2013, 07:49 PM

The tank is an on board tank, OEM. My whole point is. I can not convince the "kid" filling tanks not to turn his pump off when my guage reads 3/4. My guage clearly has 80% imprinted under the F mark.

KIX · 01-12-2013, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chuckftboy

The tank is an on board tank, OEM. My whole point is. I can not convince the "kid" filling tanks not to turn his pump off when my guage reads 3/4. My guage clearly has 80% imprinted under the F mark.

So, he shuts it off at 3/4 or 75% and you want it filled to 80%. Another way of stating it is that you want another 5% put in the tank. Your first post says you have a 30 gal capacity tank.....5% is 1.5 gals.

Having been in the propane business for many years I fully understand the "kid's" actions. We were sued several years ago by a moho owners insurance co. His coach had caught fire and burned in TX several days after we had filled it in Farmington, NM. It had an OPD and it was determined to have been working when we filled it. We didn't lose the suit but we still paid. We were never reimbursed for investigative work and other expenses to prove we were not at fault. Our ins. co. decided to settle even though we had proof we were not at fault. Our insurance premiums went up too. So, all this is saying is that it perhaps is the "kids" company policy to stop filling when the gauge reads 3/4 or OPD activates...........whichever is first.

Theberrys · 01-12-2013, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chuckftboy

Had my LP tank filled today. Well almost filled. I have a 128 lb. tank (30 gal.). It has a guage mounted on the tank and when it reads full it has 24 gals. in the tank, 80% of the 30 gals. My problem is, I can't convince my local gas company to fill it till the guage reads full or atleast until liquid sprays from the bleed valve. So now I go winter camping with my full tank (18 gals.).

Here is an article about the 80% fill question in the industry.

Dick

Excell · 01-12-2013, 08:41 PM

Why not install an extend a stay kit and bring a 20 lb tank with you to use when your big tank gets low .

chuckftboy · 01-12-2013, 08:44 PM

Maybe I wasn't clear. When my guage is on full, it is at 80% of the tank capacity 24 Gallons. When its at 3/4 guage it is at 3/4 of that 24 gal. which is only 18 gal. Just would be nice to go camping with enough gas so I wouldn't have to use the extend a stay.

KIX · 01-12-2013, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chuckftboy

Maybe I wasn't clear. When my guage is on full, it is at 80% of the tank capacity 24 Gallons. When its at 3/4 guage it is at 3/4 of that 24 gal. which is only 18 gal. Just would be nice to go camping with enough gas so I wouldn't have to use the extend a stay.

In your first post you said the tank capacity is 30 gals. When "full" (80%) with propane it will hold 24 gals. When it is 3/4 or 75% full it will have 22.5 gals of propane in it. (not 18). Whatever the gauge reads as a percentage is a percentage of the water capacity (w.c. on data plate). So, 75% of 30 gal = 22.5 gals in a 30 gal w.c. tank. Hope this helps you get a handle on this

bbeane · 01-13-2013, 06:34 AM

Sounds like much to do over nothing. Have you asked for a manager to explain why they do this? Or simply purchase your propane else where. JMHO but I'll bet if your pressure relief valve let go on your tank and your MH went boom

it would be another story.

palehorse89 · 01-13-2013, 06:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chuckftboy

Maybe I wasn't clear. When my guage is on full, it is at 80% of the tank capacity 24 Gallons. When its at 3/4 guage it is at 3/4 of that 24 gal. which is only 18 gal. Just would be nice to go camping with enough gas so I wouldn't have to use the extend a stay.

I believe all frame mounted propane tanks have a internal capacity shutoff, a shut off float per say. Is the person filling to this shut off level? If you are standing right there while he is filling this tank you will for sure hear it shut off the flow, is this happening? When mine shuts off it is not to my spitter valve yet,just gas no liquid. My guage reads 3/4 when it is full. I check the monitor inside when I get it filled and make sure it reads full.