What to look for when buying used propane tank?

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: PandaBear
I'd prefer something I can fill by the lb / gal instead of tank exchange for cost reason.

Just curious, but do you have conveniently located propane shops near you that will actually refill it for you on the spot?

Near me, the most convenient/quickest thing to do is to do an exchange, which is about $18, but if you shop around, you can find it for even less. And if you do that, the quality of the initial tank that you buy doesn't matter. Nobody is going to check whether the tank you leave in exchange actually works or not.

 

[TooManyWheels]

Originally Posted By: AandPDan

Check again. My last Blue Rhino was 15 pounds - by the label.


I did, and you are correct.

The real problem with an exchange tank is that if you use all of the limited quantity in the tank, you are going to run out in the middle of cooking. Therefore you need to have a spare on hand. I would rather be able to refill in advance, paying only for what I need.

 

[PandaBear]

Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Originally Posted By: PandaBear
I'd prefer something I can fill by the lb / gal instead of tank exchange for cost reason.

Just curious, but do you have conveniently located propane shops near you that will actually refill it for you on the spot?



Living within 3 minutes of one reputable refiller that everyone loves, actually closer than the closest Blue Rhino exchange location.

 

[scurvy]

Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Nobody is going to check whether the tank you leave in exchange actually works or not.


They certainly didn't check to see if the ancient tank I had worked, DOT certification date, OPD, no checks of any kind.

 

[mechtech2]

Make sure the stamped date has not been altered/changed.
[It is easy to do for resale.]
I'd get a new one, if you don't want to simply exchange Blue Rhino types. You must have a long term reason, so go right for the throat.

 

[pzev]

From the picture it looks fine. Only thing I can add is that if you live in a rural area, meth heads are likely to use propane tanks to transport anhydrous ammonia (for their meth production), and anhydrous ammonia will destroy the valves on your standard propane tank in short order. Good news is these valves turn a blueish green when they are being attacked by ammonia, so its easy to spot.
Most manufacturers now are keen on this and are required to replace "blue" valves whenever they are spotted before a tank can be refilled.

 

[PandaBear]

Originally Posted By: scurvy

And you absolutely can refill a Blue Rhino tank - all the OPD valves are standardized. I've done it before with no issues.


I heard the TS2 valve is proprietary, and could not be refilled by other than Blue Rhino. Is it still true?

 

[TooManyWheels]

As I said earlier, I get my Blue Rhino tank refilled at U-Haul. No trouble, as of a few weeks ago.

 

[scurvy]

Originally Posted By: PandaBear
I heard the TS2 valve is proprietary, and could not be refilled by other than Blue Rhino. Is it still true?


Not all Blue Rhino tanks have the ridiculous "Tri-Safe II" valves - you can tell if it is by a triangular indentation on the side of the valve.

Even if it does have it, many refillers know where to place a magnet to allow propane to flow back into the tank. It's just a little steel ball check valve.

AmeriGas used the same valves, too. It's not a big deal, really. If your local place doesn't, won't or can't refill them, exchange it for a tank that does not have it.

 

[Chris142]

Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Originally Posted By: PandaBear
I'd prefer something I can fill by the lb / gal instead of tank exchange for cost reason.

Just curious, but do you have conveniently located propane shops near you that will actually refill it for you on the spot?

Near me, the most convenient/quickest thing to do is to do an exchange, which is about $18, but if you shop around, you can find it for even less. And if you do that, the quality of the initial tank that you buy doesn't matter. Nobody is going to check whether the tank you leave in exchange actually works or not.
Plenty of places around this 2 horse town to get it refilled. I usually go to an rv supply place that I can see from my work or to one of the several gas stations that fill them right now for you. Whats time consuming is going to K-Mart and waiting 45 minutes for the clerk to leave her checkout stand then another 15 minutes for her to fumble around till she finds the key to open the Blue Rhino cage.

I have 3 Blue Rhino bottles at home and 2 at work and have never had a problem getting them filled or me transferring fuel from one to another with a hose.

 

[PandaBear]

Update:

So I stop by the seller and found this tank, 85% full. He told his dad to sell it to me for $20 instead of $30. His dad seems to be not too happy about the price but nonetheless agree to. However the tank has a manufacturing date of 05/01, so it is not going to be useful for much longer.

Turns out the guy got the tank with a welding kit and kept it in the garage for the whole time. He didn't know about tank date nor propane tank has expiration date on it. Since his dad could use it grilling, we all agree it is the best to cancel the sales and he just give the tank of propane to his dad.

Waste of my time, I'm probably going to buy a new tank from Walmart.

 

[scurvy]

Originally Posted By: PandaBear
However the tank has a manufacturing date of 05/01, so it is not going to be useful for much longer.


It's perfectly useful as long as it doesn't leak! DOT certification date only matters if you go to get it filled, and in my experience that gets checked about half the time, max.

For $20 it's a steal and I would have taken it.

FWIW, most place around here charge near $50 for a 'filled' tank purchase. Costco carries empty, pre-purged tanks for $29 which would then take another $18 or so to fill.

 

[bigmike]

I got fed up dealing with old tanks sold by tank cages around here. After the last one leaked, I said enough is enough.

After that, I found a tank delivery service. I send the company a paypal payment and select the delivery date. The guy picks up the old tank and delivers the filled tank. I think it cost around $23 "OTD" for a 20lb tank.

It's well worth it to me. I don't have to lug tanks around and they make sure the thing doesn't leak. They also fill the tank to full capacity, which I've noticed alot of the tank cagers around here do not do.