LPG question
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Forum Name: I need HELP!!!
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URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=13231
Printed Date: 13 May 2025 at 3:12pm
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Topic: LPG question
Posted By: OldNeumanntapr
Subject: LPG question
Date Posted: 13 Oct 2019 at 11:38pm
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Hey all,
Just back from Shaver Lake for a weekend of camping. On the way home we stopped for gas and I went into the rPod to switch the fridge off before refueling and I noticed the fridge was flashing the warning light. I have never had the propane tank refilled since buying the rPod new a year and a half ago so I figured the tank was low. I checked the online pressure gauge at the tank and it read empty so I figured I was out of gas. I switched the fridge to battery and we gassed up the truck and then called ahead to the next town for a gas station that could fill a propane tank. We drove about an hour and stopped at the 76 station in Paso Robles for propane. When I went to remove the tank I noticed that the regulator was loose. I took the tank off and could feel gas sloshing around inside. The station attendant was able to fill it with 2 and a half gallons. She said that the check valve in the tank probably prevented the gas from escaping when the regulator loosened. What was odd was that when the tank was filled the gauge only read half full instead of completely full. I had heard that those pressure gauges were not that accurate but reading half full on a full tank seemed more than a little off. |
Replies:
Posted By: podwerkz
Date Posted: 14 Oct 2019 at 4:04am
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What is the question? Does a propane fill normally last a year and a half? lol....no. Can the check valve stop leaks, yes. Sometimes. Can whatever gauge you have be wrong? Probably. You might want to carry a spare tank. ------------- r･pod 171 gone but not forgotten! |
Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 14 Oct 2019 at 6:19am
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Or just get a cheap and simple 50 lb spring scale and weigh your tank when you suspect its getting low. The tank tare weight is stamped on it, typically around 17 lbs. Subtract that from the total weight and that's how much propane you have left. Propane weighs 4.2 lbs per gallon and a "full" tank should have about 4.7 gallons or just under 20 lbs of propane in it. ------------- 1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 14 Oct 2019 at 7:47am
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Those inline gauges are notorious for two things.. causing flow issues and not being worth a darn at actually indicating the amount of gas in the tank.
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Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 14 Oct 2019 at 8:52am
That be the truth! Those gauges measure pressure (sometimes) and don't measure level until empty. I suggest you apply that gauge to the top of a trash can and let it settle to the bottom  . The spring weight gauges work but it's a pain th remove the tank. The best solution is two tanks with an auto switch regulator. I also have great results with the ultrasonic devices like https://www.amazon.com/Dometic-LPGC10-LP-Gas-Checker/dp/B00Q7379X0/ref=sr_1_6?crid=6QHKDC7QJJ2L&keywords=propane+tank+level+indicator&qid=1571060632&sprefix=propane+tank+%2Caps%2C186&sr=8-6 - https://www.amazon.com/Dometic-LPGC10-LP-Gas-Checker/dp/B00Q7379X0/ref=sr_1_6?crid=6QHKDC7QJJ2L&keywords=propane+tank+level+indicator&qid=1571060632&sprefix=propane+tank+%2Caps%2C186&sr=8-6 ------------- Charlie Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |
Posted By: podwerkz
Date Posted: 14 Oct 2019 at 9:49am
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The 'hot water pour' along the side of the tank works pretty well. ------------- r･pod 171 gone but not forgotten! |
Posted By: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 14 Oct 2019 at 9:51am
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I use the armstrong method with my calibrated elbow. That and you can hear the sloshing. I also think the hot water method is among the cheapest and easiest. ------------- bp 2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River 2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost |
Posted By: john in idaho
Date Posted: 15 Oct 2019 at 9:51am
| Also - just remember if you buy the prefilled tank, you will only 16 # of propane. |
Posted By: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 15 Oct 2019 at 9:54am
------------- bp 2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River 2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost |
Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 15 Oct 2019 at 11:02am
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Will only speak from experience from those who do the Blue Rhino exchange. Every time we have weighed a Blue Rhino tank it is only 75% filled. I realize that many do the exchange when their old tank is near the expiration date (10 years from production date on tank). Our local hardware store does the "upgrade" on the tank for $3.00 and this is good for another 5 years. May want to check with your local propane supplier to see if this is an option. The upgrade takes them almost 5 minutes at tops with normal time being about 3 minutes.
------------- God's pod '11 model 177 '17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake "...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free." |
Posted By: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 15 Oct 2019 at 3:27pm
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We have some local places that supply Blue Rhino, and I've found those are often short of a full load. However, we also have numerous outlets that supply pre-filled tanks from Amerigas. Those seem to be filled most of the time; at least the ones we've checked. However, most of the time, we just fill the tanks. Occasionally, we have one with a damaged shut-off valve or other issues, and we just exchange them. We use about 10 times the propane for our Weber grill than we do for the R-pod. ------------- bp 2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River 2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost |
Posted By: OldNeumanntapr
Date Posted: 15 Oct 2019 at 4:42pm
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I have heard that the standard practice is to only fill the 5 gallon tanks with 4 1/2 gallons. I don’t know if that’s because they need a margin of error when atmospheric pressure changes?
What’s the best thing to do with my in-line pressure gauge? Should I take it off? If it’s not really that accurate I don’t see the point in having it. Is it true that it can cause problems with gas flow. |
Posted By: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 15 Oct 2019 at 5:50pm
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Filling propane tanks is somewhat temperature sensitive. The higher the temperature, the more the stuff expands. The gauge on our 500 gallon tank that we use for our house has a built-in de-rating to accommodate temperature expansion. In fact, it is posted to not fill over 80%. ------------- bp 2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River 2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost |
Posted By: podwerkz
Date Posted: 15 Oct 2019 at 8:35pm
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Blue Rhino fills LP tanks to 15 pounds. This is stated on the tank label and on the website. ------------- r･pod 171 gone but not forgotten! |
Posted By: RockyMtnRPod
Date Posted: 15 Oct 2019 at 8:40pm
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These work well too. Might need a different size for a non-20lb tank. https://www.amazon.com/PBKay-PG100-Propane-Gauge-Scale/dp/B011ACGEEW low tech. ------------- 2020 TRD/Off Road Tundra with Sway Bar and SuperSprings 2016 178 "Sage" |
Posted By: twodues
Date Posted: 16 Oct 2019 at 7:37am
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Posted this a couple years back:
Check out these products: www.mopeka.com/products Mine works extremely well and can be moved from one tank to another (magnetic attachment to bottom of cylinder). |