new propane tank - who can purge?

[Ahwahnee]

[RichBenn]

[davevickery]

Leave the fridge running on propane for a week or two until it runs out and refill it. It should have taken more, there is no logical explanation for it not taking 2.8 gallons or so. That will purge most of the air and when you fill it next time, report back how much it takes. The fill valve is just a simple spring loaded mechanism so I doubt anything mechanical is wrong with a new tank.

[drj434343]

I went on a little road trip today. Drove to a different place that fills propane. I just asked for a fill and and didn't say anything. 1.6 gallons went in and then it stopped. I said the tank was empty and should take closer to 3 gallons, but the attendant said once it stopped they had to disconnect.

So I drove down the street to another place and ask for a fill, again not saying anything. This time, the attendant connected and attempted the fill, but nothing else would go in. He tried multiple times, disconnecting and reconnecting a few times, but repeated attempts did not net any more in the tank. We shrugged at each other and I left.

There's not a lot of expertise I'm seeing with these fill guys, though both places did attempt to use the relief valve.

So, I've got 1.6 gallons in there now, and a second opinion that its all the tank will take.

Not sure what is going on. I'm assuming an empty tank should take closer to 3 gallons?

[JudoJeff]

My understanding is you purge a new tank to remove air. Nothing to do with not being able to fill it. The overfill protection valve can be stuck in "safe" mode, you upend the bottle and it becomes unstuck. Or if a fixed tank, tap it with a piece of wood. They're a pita!

If you get really low propane flow, the overflow valve is partially closed, same solution. Opening the valve quickly sometimes causes this, it thinks it's a leak.
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1989 Vanagon GL Westfalia Camper, Burned up on 7/31/16.
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1986 Vanagon GL Westfalia Camper, Bostig Sold May 10, 2021
1999 Ford GTRV Westfalia camper (30% bigger Westy layout)

[RichBenn]

[Sodo]

[RichBenn]

I tried to get mine purged at the local place, where a couple guys know at they are doing. Unfortunately, a younger guy was there, didn't know, and talked to the owner who said they only are setup for removable BBQ style tanks purgjng.

I called "everyone" in a 50 mile radius. Either they just filled, Only recertified (BBQ style) and didn't fill (my home service propane outfit), or refered me to the propane places that only did tanks brought in. Had I known, I wouldn't have installed it first.

So it's fill, use some, fill again, unless I can get someone to bleed off a bit a couple times. Had a guy do that once on a BBQ tank I left open for a couple weeks. Because of all the air in there, it would not fill more than a couple gallons. That technique works.

I think the person who couldn't fill didn't open the bleed valve.
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Rich

[davevickery]

As I recall you are just purging air from the tank by putting in LP vapor. Normally fill stations can only fill with LP liquid. I think it takes too long to try to purge with liquid. If you didn't purge it at all after you have refilled it a few times it would be purged of almost all air anyway. So yes you can put LP in an empty unpurged tank. The safety reason to purge is supposedly the pressure can get too high if you didn't purge. Also there can be moisture in the air that can supposedly cause rust or freezing if it was winter. But I didn't purge a tank once and it was fine. Plus I think our tanks have blow off valves if the pressure gets too high

You don't need to remove the tank from the van. You just need a service station that can put in a few rounds of LP vapor and let it out to displace the air. Call around.

[Sodo]

[erdonline]

Not being able to fill the tank shouldn't have anything to do with not being purged. It's not like it's pressurized with air and won't let any propane in; as mentioned earlier in this post, tanks contain residual air at atmospheric pressure and purging them means you'll have pure propane in your tank instead of mostly propane with some air which may not make its way out and will hole moisture. Quite a few places simply don't know how to fill the tanks or they may not have the right adapter.

I also don't believe that a tank would need to be removed to purge it. Shop around to find someone who knows what they're doing.

Ed
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'85 Vanagon Westfalia
'84 Vanagon 7-passenger
'98 Mexican air-cooled Beetle

[jimf909]

[drj434343]

I need to resurrect this thread. I installed a brand new tank from GoWesty recently. I originally found this thread and took Terry's previous advice about not needing to purge the tank before filling.

The U-haul propane center was not able to put any propane in the tank today when they attempted to fill. When I told them it was new, they said it had to be purged before any propane could get in.

I called Suburban Propane here in Portland, OR and they thought it was strange it needed to be purged before it would accept any propane. They were willing to purge my tank, but they said I would have to remove it first!

Was the U-haul place incompetent, or do you have to purge before putting propane in for the first time?

If I do have to purge, does anyone know of a place in the Portland area that would be willing to purge the tank while installed? I don't want to have to take this thing off again.

[alijonny]

[Terry Kay]

<<< Our van has sliders, so access to the tank is probably even more challenging than most, but it seems to work. >>>

Purging the tank;
Overkill.

Open the bleeder and have Festus fill the tank.

Worry not, it'll fly without purging anything.

"Our van has sliders"
Interesting,
You bolt on sliding room extensions onto the vehicle?

Cool.

An add on living room & den?
Or kitchen & a head?
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T.K.

[turbotransporter]

I worked in the Propane industry for a few years...

Simplified: Purging new Propane tanks is to remove air that may contain water vapor that may cause the pressure regulator to freeze up and other issues.

Purging can be done with two POL fillings, one on each end of a short piece of hose or copper tubing and a properly functioning bbq tank. When I was purging and filling pallets of new Propane tanks I made up a "tool" out of brass fittings but if you only need to do this once or twice in your lifetime keep it simple.

The object is to release/remove whatever air is present inside the new tank tank and replacing it with pure Propane vapor.

Basic technique: Release air from new tank, add propane vapor, release air/propane vapor mixture, add Propane vapor, repeat 3 to 4 times, purging complete.

Now take your freshly purged tank to your local Propane Dealer to be filled. If asked if tank has been purged simply say yes. Boasting about your purging prowess will NOT impress your Propane Professional What will impress them is bringing along a piece of old carpet for them to kneel on while filling your Propane tank.

I purge new Westy tanks before mounting them on the van. I also purge used Westy tanks that I've rebuilt with new valves. (Once you've troubleshot a non-purging competitors mistakes you never go back)

Always, always, always check for leaks before using your propane system. Always! Diluted dish soap works but most of it is corrosive to copper, brass and aluminum. Home Depot sells a leak check product that the pros use...

If any of this doesn't make sense or causes you any stress or fear please don't attempt to do it.

[velovino]

Thanks for the help! I think I'll just get it filled and see how it goes.

Other than some grumbling from the guy who fills my propane tank (he says it's the only time he does yoga) I've not had issues with getting the tank filled. Our van has sliders, so access to the tank is probably even more challenging than most, but it seems to work.

thanks again!

[PDXWesty]

If you really want to do it, a propane place like Amerigas or Suburban Propane, anyplace that services or re-certifies tanks, should be able to do it. Look some places up near you and call around.
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89 Westy 2.1 Auto

[Ahwahnee]

I think on every fill I have had they opened the bleed valve - then close it and shut it all down once liquid comes out. Seems stinky, messy & wasteful - but that is how I have always seen it done.

[outcaststudios]

^sounds like he was afraid to overfill it and opened the relief valve to make sure it didnt get too much liquid inside. they sometimes fill it up and vent the excess at the same time which is unsettling but standard in the industry iguess.
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