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Topic: LP (Liquid propane) reading, consumption & fill station (Read 918 times) previous topic - next topic

LP (Liquid propane) reading, consumption & fill station

I can' tell if my LP tank gauge and/or Audit system is reading the LP level accurately; gauge on the LP tank indicated 1/4 & Audit system indicated a bit under 1/4. Found a place at a truck stop and filed it completely, but that was only 17 gallons. I have 94U225 and it has a 174lb LP tank, so math does not add up. Kid that filled the tank said that LP tank may have water in it and it may have to be serviced.  Without taking a trip to NAC who should I take it to get it checked?
I struggled finding a place to get it filled to start with ... took 287 north almost all the way to Decatur, TX to a truck stop.
I need to figure out where I can get it filled again on 4th heading to gulf cost via 45; I need to fill it up once we are on 45 somewhere 100 mil or so north of Houston and on the way back somewhere south of Houston on 288.
Any suggestions which locations I should look for?
Thank you,
AL
Former 2003 GV U295 (6230) (2015 - 2025)
Former 94 GV U225 (2013-2016)

Re: LP (Liquid propane) reading, consumption & fill station

Reply #1 –
I don't know how FOT specified the tank capacity or calculated where the "full" mark would be but I suspect that you can only fill that tank to 80% of its total capacity. So if the tank is 174lb then it can be filled only to 139lb. Propane weighs 4.3 lb per gallon so that comes out to 33 total gallons. Your tank was already about 1/4 full which would be about 8 gallons. You added 17 gallons which would give you just over 25 gallons of LP in the tank after filling.

Now more guesswork. Was your RV perfectly level? If it was tilted towards the vent valve then you underfilled the tank; if it was tilted away from the vent then you overfilled it.

Even more guesswork: how accurate are the tank metering systems? Did you really have 1/4  tank when you filled it or was it closer to 1/2 tank? Only several fillings and uses will tell.

If you want the tank inspected and the water drained you'd have to go to a propane distributor like Ferrelgas or equivalent. The distributors are licensed to repair and maintain LP tanks and equipment. Since these distributors are the folks the truck stops and gas stations buy their propane from, you can probably fill up cheaper at them, too. So it pays to keep an eye open.

Ferrelgas is all over the USA: Ferrellgas, Your Propane Gas Company - Propane for your home, business and farm

Talk to them about creating an account with them. I suspect that the costs are less that way. They may also be able to fill your tanks from a truck (like they do for homes).

Regardless, you probably have enough propane to go for quite a while unless you spend a lot of time with the generator running. Even so, you'd be good for several days.

Craig
1993 U225 36' Unihome GV with PACBRAKE exhaust retarder, Banks Stinger and Solar Panels.
Toad: 1999 Jeep Wrangler 2-door soft-top.

"No one has ever had to evacuate a city because the solar panels broke."

Re: LP (Liquid propane) reading, consumption & fill station

Reply #2 –
Craig has it right. I'm lucky to get even close to 80% on a fill. As soon as they see visible vapor, they shut the feed off.

Ferrellgas is a good deal. I paid $1.10/gal last year. Gone up to $1.40/gal this year. They will fill anything and everything when they come to the house or you go to the plant. You can get your house price anywhere in the U.S. there is a FG dealer and only have to give them your account number with no payment on site. If I'm not home, I just leave the BBQ tanks out or leave a note and they fill the U300.

Pierce
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

Re: LP (Liquid propane) reading, consumption & fill station

Reply #3 –
Propman, I doubt that there is any water in your LP tank.  IF there was the regulator would be freezing up almost everytime you used it and the regulator would be badly corroded inside and probably not operable. . Check again on the CAPACITY of the tank.  174 Gallons is HUGE when you consider that a typical household TANK holds 100 POUNDS.  It is easy to confuse POUNDS and GALLONS. A small 20 POUND Cylinder holds less than 5 GALLONS. I believe that the tank on my 95 holds 42 GALLONS, I'm curious now, I will check later today.
Gary B
BTW LP at CG's in FL this winter was going for $4.15 a gallon.  ROBBERY.

Re: LP (Liquid propane) reading, consumption & fill station

Reply #4 –
Thank you again!
So it was one of those night, like a song in your head would not go away .... i was .. all night Gallon lps. gallon lps ... galllon lps .. then i got up at 3 am and looked at the specification for my U225, well it is 174 lps not 174 gallon of course ::) ... then i looked at my receipt form the truck stop & it hit me ... Well so if we buy LP by gallon why the specifications for the FT  are indicated by lps .. it does not make any sense, but anyway. So 174lps/4.23gallon=41.13 gallons is the tank on my U225. I read or heard that to never run out of LP to make sure fill it ... if used all the way down to nothing where Generator shuts off ... would there be a problem, if you know? I like to test to see how many hours I can use the Generator on a full LP tank.  We runn both AC's quite a bit and I am sure we may use it both running on the way to cost on Thursday, I predict 6 hour trip.
Thank you all,
AL
Former 2003 GV U295 (6230) (2015 - 2025)
Former 94 GV U225 (2013-2016)

Re: LP (Liquid propane) reading, consumption & fill station

Reply #5 –
Propman,
You can talk to a propane distributor about replacing the outer portion of the gauge or maybe how to calibrate it. 
Or you can use a couple different methods to determine the liquid level in the tank and what the corresponding indication is on the gauge.  One way is just view the tank in the morning when there is dew outside- you'll see dew form above the level.  Another method is to buy a liquid crystal sticker (or two) made for backyard BBQ tanks.  It will show very slight temperature changes as color.  Both methods rely on the fact that liquids evaporating into gas at the surface absorb energy and cool - so neither method works unless you are using propane at the time.  There's a third method (same principle) that I don't recommend because it will get your basement wet and that is just poring a little hot water down the side of the tank.  I suppose a big towel could absorb the water sufficiently - I think is should only take about a cup of water to see the level.

To answer your question about running out of propane, I don't think there's the same issue as running out of diesel where priming has to occur for restart.  I believe when you refill there will just be (maybe) a little extra cranking.
John Fitzgerald
1991 U300 (SAI) Side Aisle Island Bed 40'
Detroit 6V92 with Allison Retarder
Meridian (Boise), Idaho

Re: LP (Liquid propane) reading, consumption & fill station

Reply #6 –
Thank you John.
Once we refill the LP tank at the end of 4th of July weekend, from that point on I do want to use it until LP tank empty so i can match that amount with Generator time to have a +/- idea of use of LP gallons per Generator running hour. I know there is the cooking, water heating & refrigerator use but for the most part I think those will be negligible consumption. We just like it cool & I believe we'll use the generator for running AC's for the most part.
Former 2003 GV U295 (6230) (2015 - 2025)
Former 94 GV U225 (2013-2016)

Re: LP (Liquid propane) reading, consumption & fill station

Reply #7 –
Refrigerator not negligible in my experience. Was about 26 days to empty on my U-320, and I didn't have propane water heater or Genny. Agree cooking is negligible
Tim Fiedler    2025 LTV Unity MBL on Order
2000 Chevy Tracker 2 Door Convertible 4WD Now lifted 4.5"
1985 Citroen 2CV6 Charleston
Murphy Rebel on wheels with 175HP Titan
Cessna P337
1980 48' Westport MY (!/4 Share)

Re: LP (Liquid propane) reading, consumption & fill station

Reply #8 –
Running propane generator nonstop for 3-4 days will pretty much empty your tank, based on other forum members experience.

On Monday, July 1, 2013, Tim Fiedler wrote:
Quote

Refrigerator not negligible in my experience. Was about 26 days to empty on my U-320, and I didn't have propane water heater or Genny. Agree cooking is negligible

Tim Fiedler
2000 U-320 4010

2003 Honda Element Toad
Don Hay
'92 Grandvilla, U-280
The Hayfever Express
Build #4055
'97 GEO Tracker
Life is like licking honey off a thorn.

Re: LP (Liquid propane) reading, consumption & fill station

Reply #9 –
The LP Gas generator will consume 1 gal per hour as a minimum. Mine averaged 1.1 gph on LP, when I used one.  Of course it all depends on the load you have on it. But  1 gph is a good guess.

Re: LP (Liquid propane) reading, consumption & fill station

Reply #10 –
Not on the subject but related.  I filled up 32 gal on our tank at Flying J.  The attendant ask me when the last time I had my tank "Certified" - guess he looked at our beautiful 88 GV-ORED and determined that he had never seen one so he asked. 

Am I alone here - every 12 years? we had ours done when we purchased the Coach in 03.

John
The selected media item is not currently available.
My advice and experiences are Free, you decide if they are worth anything .

John - driving Old Faithful
1994 U280 GV
C8.3, Banks, Pacbrake, 900 watts, Resonator, XLHD tow dolly
Retired Army Warrant Officer

Life is what you make of it - if it is lemons, make lemonade!
Former Coaches:
1988 GV 40' ORED 300HP CAT - 9 years
1990 Winnebago LeSharo - 3 years
2000 Newmar London Aire - 3 years (#18 of 23 produced)

Re: LP (Liquid propane) reading, consumption & fill station

Reply #11 –
Thank you.
I was starting to guess 1gph too. I predict we will use it about 15 hr or so during 4th of July weekend. Since It took 17 Gallons on last fill and gauge showed 1/4 ... it looks like I may not have to stop for LP until we get back. I'll still find Ferrellgas locations on my path.
Former 2003 GV U295 (6230) (2015 - 2025)
Former 94 GV U225 (2013-2016)

Re: LP (Liquid propane) reading, consumption & fill station

Reply #12 –
Should the LP tank have "Certified" date on it a tag or something? I'll look closely tonight too see if there is one.
Former 2003 GV U295 (6230) (2015 - 2025)
Former 94 GV U225 (2013-2016)

Re: LP (Liquid propane) reading, consumption & fill station

Reply #13 –
Quote from: propman –
Should the LP tank have "Certified" date on it a tag or something? I'll look closely tonight too see if there is one.
I think this will answer your question:
Propane tank pressure testing
John Fitzgerald
1991 U300 (SAI) Side Aisle Island Bed 40'
Detroit 6V92 with Allison Retarder
Meridian (Boise), Idaho

Re: LP (Liquid propane) reading, consumption & fill station

Reply #14 –
ASME Tanks do not have to be recertified as the DOT tanks do. Our FT's have ASME tanks unless someone has removed it and installed DOT cylinders.

Gary B

Re: LP (Liquid propane) reading, consumption & fill station

Reply #15 –
We had an 84 foretravel ored and it had the lp generator It would take on average of 1 gallon per hour of generator run time. It had a 45 gallon capacity tank, so I could run for 40 hours before needing to refill. I think that you can figure about 1 gallon per hour and then give yourself a little fudge room to take care of the refer and water heater.
previous 1984 35 ft ORED 250 HP 3208 Cat       
previous 1998 40 ft U295 CAI 325 hp Cummins
previous 2003 40 Ft u320 build #6140 450 Cummins M11.                                                         
1999 Mazda Miata
Ron, Nancy, Tipper the cat, Max The dog
1997 U 270 36 ft build number 5174 8.3 Cummins

Re: LP (Liquid propane) reading, consumption & fill station

Reply #16 –
Thank you all; I will go by 1gph.
Former 2003 GV U295 (6230) (2015 - 2025)
Former 94 GV U225 (2013-2016)
 

Re: LP (Liquid propane) reading, consumption & fill station

Reply #17 –
The fuel burn is one of the large reasons for the diesel powered gensets, to do the same job, they will burn about .4 gph. Plus the economy of long life.
In my world, that was 26..4 gal a day for LP and 10 gal a day for diesel.
Yes its only money.