Overfilled propane tank

[Lt Dan]

Originally Posted by Rubyred4

Have had a little trouble navigating this thread. Tank is probably 95% full now. Managed to bleed off 5% using grill (no flame of course). Slow progress. Can the fill station really remove some of the propane? How? I don't want to mess with bleeder valve and liquid propane.

As previously posted, just because the gauge shows 100% doesn't mean the tank is totally full. It just means you have 100% of the usable 80% that the tank is limited to.

[Mudfrog]

Originally Posted by Rubyred4

Have had a little trouble navigating this thread. Tank is probably 95% full now. Managed to bleed off 5% using grill (no flame of course). Slow progress. Can the fill station really remove some of the propane? How? I don't want to mess with bleeder valve and liquid propane.

Using the bleeder valve to reduce the propane liquid level is exactly what a propane service company would do. It's very easy to do. Any liquid would come out cold so you might want to wear gloves when opening the valve. Propane comes straight out the tiny hole in the valve and is easy to dodge. You don't open the valve much, just enough for propane to escape. Watch for liquid and close the valve when it's just vapor coming out.

Again, you just don't want any sparks or flame near you when you're doing this. Make sure to put out that stogie...

When you bled through the grill, did any liquid come out? I agree with others, the tank may not be overfilled.

[Glenn and Kathy]

I agree with other responses that it is unlikely that the tank is overfilled. So far the OP has not given any reason why he thinks it is overfilled. Is there a gauge on the tank that reads 100%?

Glenn

[grindstone01]

Originally Posted by Rubyred4

Have had a little trouble navigating this thread. Tank is probably 95% full now. Managed to bleed off 5% using grill (no flame of course). Slow progress. Can the fill station really remove some of the propane? How? I don't want to mess with bleeder valve and liquid propane.

Yes, a propane dealer should have a pump that will remove propane from a small tank. They can also hook up a long hose with a burner to flare off a tank if needed. A propane dealer would have the tools to empty a tank.

[Old Scout]

….think we have a "solution" out in search of a "problem" here ????????…. but lets keep the posts coming......

[Rubyred4]

Originally Posted by Old Scout

….think we have a "solution" out in search of a "problem" here ????????…. but lets keep the posts coming......

When I first noticed the problem, I was driving home from an emissions test and could smell propane while stopped in traffic. When I got home I could hear hissing at the tank. It eventually stopped when I bled off some propane via the external grill. I've got it down to 90% and will have the system checked tomorrow. Never found any leaks with water and soap test at the height of the pressure. Thank you all for your input. I've learned some things. Mainly, never let your neighborhood gas station fill you tank. I will go back to the old reliable source I've always used.

[Ljwt330]

Originally Posted by Rubyred4

When I first noticed the problem, I was driving home from an emissions test and could smell propane while stopped in traffic. When I got home I could hear hissing at the tank. It eventually stopped when I bled off some propane via the external grill. I've got it down to 90% and will have the system checked tomorrow. Never found any leaks with water and soap test at the height of the pressure. Thank you all for your input. I've learned some things. Mainly, never let your neighborhood gas station fill you tank. I will go back to the old reliable source I've always used.

Look at the picture of a tank, below. Your tank will be similar.



The devices shown, from left to right, are; fuel level indicator, pressure relief valve tube, Overfill Protection Device arm, bleed valve tube, and tank valve tube.

It is possible to overfill the tank if the attendant did not use the bleed valve, and the OPD arm is bent or otherwise unable to prevent the incoming LP from entering.

As you can see, the bleed valve tube extends into the 20% area of the tank that is to be only vapor. No moving parts. As soon as liquid LP reaches the top of the tube, it will spew out the bleed valve telling the attendant that the tank is "full" to the 80% level. If that valve is not open, the fill valve OPD or the stations measurement of LP discharged, is the only indicator of a full tank.

What you heard/smelled afterward is probably LP vapor escaping the pressure relief valve. That is set at ~200psi to prevent tank explosion when being filled. If you would have put soapy water around that valve, I bet there would have been bubbles.

You were correct in bleeding off propane, and you are correct to go to a different place for filling. However, I would strongly encourage you to return to the station, talk to the management and advise them of the error made by their attendant. If your bleed valve works, there is no way the tank could have been overfilled if the attendant had opened it during the filling process, as it SOP.