Sorry if this has been covered. I did a search and didn't see what I needed. With gas grill propane tanks you cannot get them refilled once they have expired.
I have a 2003 U320 with an on board 17 gallon (I believe) tank. Does that tank have an expiration date where it cannot be legally refilled ?
No.
Rich
Should not be a problem getting it refilled. We fill ours at Costco if we can.
Here's a cheat for expired inspection on a gas grill tank. Just exchange it for a refilled one at Home Depot or gas station that does exchanges. Done it several times, even with one that was a rusty mess, and the clerks never check for dates. Worth a try. W.
I just do a tank exchange on my expired ones.
As Rich said Earlier: NO!
Portable tanks are governed by DOT and require recertification every 12 years
Built in tanks are a different standard not requiring recertification.
Thanks for all the replies. Great forum with great folks.
The key word here is tank. Your inboard tank is American Society of Mechanical Engineers certified and the only state the requires recertification as far as I know is Texas. Your gas grill bottle is a Department of Transportation upright propane cylinder, a completely different authority.
FWIW 17 gallon sounds like an 85# tank. The one that is in our U225 is 174# and was re-certified in Texas when we purchased our new home.
Propane distributors will re certify your 20 gallon cylinders for about $10. I just had them do a 10 gallon. The tanks have a bursting pressure of over 900 psi. Relief valve goes off at 375 psi, tanks tested at factory at 600 psi.
Pierce
I've picked up a few of these Marine propane cylinders at Garage sales lately 17 & 22# for cheap, very light weight and non corrosive. I wouldn't want to pay the retail price though.
Composite Cylinders | Viking Cylinders Composite Propane Gas Tanks | Viking... (https://www.vikingcylinders.com/products/)
I've also been told that an onboard propane tank doesn't need to be re certified.....
That's until I ran into a rouge employee/ supervisor at a U-Haul that would not fill our big on board tank. She said no date .. no fill. So don't assume that everyone knows the rules.
If its bolted down it does not require reinspection. However it wouldnt hurt either. Its not a hydrostatic check. They open the end and do a visual inspection for internal corrosion.
We'll ok then. I would be onboard with an inspection. Not a bad idea, and I do need the liquid valve replaced. I rarely ( never ) use the liquid valve but I once thought I'd use that valve to refill one pounders.
Opened the valve to check and had a very hard time getting it closed. Scared the heck out of me. But. The local propane dealer doesn't evacuate them any more so I'd have to use it dry to get that done.
Ps. I realize not everyone has a liquid valve but ours does. Possibly for the Optional propane geny?
Many of the valves can be rebuild if your shop is willing to source parts. Absolutely do any maintenance that is needed while the tank is empty/system is open. Also. Best to be near empty prior to any service.
My tank came with all original valves, then one day the tank wouldn't accept propane. The vapor valve "felt" like the shaft was bent and would leak propane when between open and closed. So, since we live full time in our home, I created a port for a 40# DOT cylinder, and waited for the big tank to give its last gasp. While waiting I ordered a new POV valve and the vapor valve. In my case I also needed a pair of Crow's Foot wrenches to turn the valves. And of course the yellow pipe dope. I worked quickly to remove and replace each valve because I didn't want air to enter the tank. In other words the POV was doped up and ready to screw in as soon as I removed the original valve. Then hand tight plus 1-1/2 turns and for the vapor valve "to position." Tapered pipe threads can't be tightened until they don't leak. Only until they'll hold position under normal use. It's the pipe thread compound that seals the gap between the root and the crest of the threads.