LP Gas Cylinders

M

marlene meineken

New member
Aug 10, 1999
1,859
0
0
Has anyone read the latest Highways Magazine from Good Sam's in regards to
the code on LP Gas Cylinders and the new code to be enforced after April 1,
2002.
This is only part of the story that I am quoting.

The code requires that all 4 to 40 lb. cylinders be equiped with an OPD and
a fixed maximum liquid level guage if they are to be filled after April 1,
2002. While all vertcal cylinders can be retrofitted the hortizontal
counterparts cannot. This requires owners of older rigs to purchase new
cylinders.
This appears to mean us with GMC??

Marlene Meineken
 
>Has anyone read the latest Highways Magazine from Good Sam's in regards to
>the code on LP Gas Cylinders and the new code to be enforced after April 1,
>2002.
>This is only part of the story that I am quoting.
>
>The code requires that all 4 to 40 lb. cylinders be equiped with an OPD and
>a fixed maximum liquid level guage if they are to be filled after April 1,
>2002. While all vertcal cylinders can be retrofitted the hortizontal
>counterparts cannot. This requires owners of older rigs to purchase new
>cylinders.
>This appears to mean us with GMC??
>
>Marlene Meineken

Marlene - there were several postings a year or so ago about the fact
that upright cylinders were required to now have a special valve
fitted so that they could not be overfilled. I believe that it also
incorporated a special shutoff feature so that a sudden large drain
of propane would shut off the tank. This apparently was in response
to a rash of house fires caused by people using these tanks with
their bar-b-que grills. Apparently some propane fillers were filling
and overpressuring these tanks and this was causing fires.

The tank that is used on the GMC is a DOT approved tank. (Dept. of
Transportation). As such it was exempt from this new law. Vertical
tanks such as used on the tongue of trailers are in the same category
as bar-b-que tanks.

Now, with the hugh amount of new laws coming out all the time, there
is always the possibility that there is another law floating around
out there than might affect us but the one that was reported on in
the past did not affect GMC owners.

What issue and what section was this in? Good Sam has web site
issues of Highways on the net but I couldn't find anything on this.
Was it in their Tech Info section of the magazine?

Emery Stora
77 Kingsley
Santa Fe, NM
 
This story is in the June 2000 issue starting on page 70 . There were 2
letters in regards to filling tanks and this was part of the answer that I
quoted.
And it was in the TECH TOPICS. I remember the discussion awhile back on
GMCNet in regards to this issue but this seemed to be something new.
Marlene

- ----- Original Message -----
From: Emery L. Stora
To:
Sent: Saturday, May 27, 2000 12:00 PM
Subject: Re: GMC: LP Gas Cylinders

> >Has anyone read the latest Highways Magazine from Good Sam's in regards
to
> >the code on LP Gas Cylinders and the new code to be enforced after April
1,
> >2002.
> >This is only part of the story that I am quoting.
> >
> >The code requires that all 4 to 40 lb. cylinders be equiped with an OPD
and
> >a fixed maximum liquid level guage if they are to be filled after April
1,
> >2002. While all vertcal cylinders can be retrofitted the hortizontal
> >counterparts cannot. This requires owners of older rigs to purchase new
> >cylinders.
> >This appears to mean us with GMC??
> >
> >Marlene Meineken
>
> Marlene - there were several postings a year or so ago about the fact
> that upright cylinders were required to now have a special valve
> fitted so that they could not be overfilled. I believe that it also
> incorporated a special shutoff feature so that a sudden large drain
> of propane would shut off the tank. This apparently was in response
> to a rash of house fires caused by people using these tanks with
> their bar-b-que grills. Apparently some propane fillers were filling
> and overpressuring these tanks and this was causing fires.
>
> The tank that is used on the GMC is a DOT approved tank. (Dept. of
> Transportation). As such it was exempt from this new law. Vertical
> tanks such as used on the tongue of trailers are in the same category
> as bar-b-que tanks.
>
> Now, with the hugh amount of new laws coming out all the time, there
> is always the possibility that there is another law floating around
> out there than might affect us but the one that was reported on in
> the past did not affect GMC owners.
>
> What issue and what section was this in? Good Sam has web site
> issues of Highways on the net but I couldn't find anything on this.
> Was it in their Tech Info section of the magazine?
>
> Emery Stora
> 77 Kingsley
> Santa Fe, NM
>
 
It is also called a Stop Fill Valve. I have one on my 76. Go to your local
propane service center and ask. It should be a simple retrofit. Your local
propane Service center not filling station. Darren

> Has anyone read the latest Highways Magazine from Good Sam's in regards to
> the code on LP Gas Cylinders and the new code to be enforced after April 1,
> 2002.
> This is only part of the story that I am quoting.
>
> The code requires that all 4 to 40 lb. cylinders be equiped with an OPD and
> a fixed maximum liquid level guage if they are to be filled after April 1,
> 2002. While all vertcal cylinders can be retrofitted the hortizontal
> counterparts cannot. This requires owners of older rigs to purchase new
> cylinders.
> This appears to mean us with GMC??
>
> Marlene Meineken

- --
Darren Paget
76 Experimental
Another Fab Day
http://www.TZEplus.com
 
>Has anyone read the latest Highways Magazine from Good Sam's in regards to
>the code on LP Gas Cylinders and the new code to be enforced after April 1,
>2002.
>This is only part of the story that I am quoting.
>
>The code requires that all 4 to 40 lb. cylinders be equiped with an OPD and
>a fixed maximum liquid level guage if they are to be filled after April 1,
>2002. While all vertcal cylinders can be retrofitted the hortizontal
>counterparts cannot. This requires owners of older rigs to purchase new
>cylinders.
>This appears to mean us with GMC??
>
>Marlene Meineken

Marlene - I have now determined that the April 1, 2002 date does
apply to the law that has been in effect for quite a while. It does
NOT apply to the tanks that we has as original equipment on our GMCs.

For more info on this law you might want to check out these sites:

http://207.4.160.40/standard/newvalve.htm

http://www.grillman.com/tanks.html

http://www.mantank.com/opd.htm

Emery Stora
77 Kingsley
Santa Fe, NM
 
Emery, Marlene, and all concerned

I've scanned and posted the article in question on my web site:
http://www.web-access.net/~bmassey/

Click on the LP Letters link

hth
bdub

>>Has anyone read the latest Highways Magazine from Good Sam's in regards to
>>the code on LP Gas Cylinders and the new code to be enforced after April 1,
>>2002.
>>This is only part of the story that I am quoting.
>>
>>The code requires that all 4 to 40 lb. cylinders be equiped with an OPD and
>>a fixed maximum liquid level guage if they are to be filled after April 1,
>>2002. While all vertcal cylinders can be retrofitted the hortizontal
>>counterparts cannot. This requires owners of older rigs to purchase new
>>cylinders.
>>This appears to mean us with GMC??
>>
>>Marlene Meineken
>
>Marlene - I have now determined that the April 1, 2002 date does apply to
>the law that has been in effect for quite a while. It does NOT apply to
>the tanks that we has as original equipment on our GMCs.
>
>For more info on this law you might want to check out these sites:
>
>http://207.4.160.40/standard/newvalve.htm
>
>http://www.grillman.com/tanks.html
>
>http://www.mantank.com/opd.htm
>
>
>Emery Stora
>77 Kingsley
>Santa Fe, NM
 
>Emery, Marlene, and all concerned
>
>I've scanned and posted the article in question on my web site:
>http://www.web-access.net/~bmassey/
>
>Click on the LP Letters link
>
>hth
>bdub
>
>
Billy - thanks for posting this. I knew that I'd posted something
about a year ago but couldn't find anything in my "sent" file.
Apparently I hadn't kept it. I didn't realize that you had posted it
on your site. Reading the article made it clear that this applies
only to non-ASME tanks. it says that they temporarily put on ASME
valves for a year to make them like the ASME tanks. The law applies
only to DOT tanks but not to ASME tanks. One of the differences is
that ASME tanks are bolted down to the frame and are not removable
for filling as most (perhaps all) DOT tanks are. I'm sure that there
is going to be a lot of confusion on this at propane filling stations
in the next few years. I suggest that GMCers find a knowledgable
company in their area and use them for their fills. While
travelling, hopefully someone such as Flying J which cater to RVs
will know the regs (don't count on it though!).

Emery Stora
 
What size is our tank? I thought it was 20 gallons. Propane must weigh at
least 4 lbs. per gallon. It doesn't sound like the new regulation applies
in any case.
Bob McLaughlin

- -----Original Message-----
From: owner-gmcmotorhome
[mailto:owner-gmcmotorhome]On Behalf Of Emery L. Stora
Sent: Saturday, May 27, 2000 3:53 PM
To: gmcmotorhome
Subject: Re: GMC: LP Gas Cylinders

>Emery, Marlene, and all concerned
>
>I've scanned and posted the article in question on my web site:
>http://www.web-access.net/~bmassey/
>
>Click on the LP Letters link
>
>hth
>bdub
>
>
Billy - thanks for posting this. I knew that I'd posted something
about a year ago but couldn't find anything in my "sent" file.
Apparently I hadn't kept it. I didn't realize that you had posted it
on your site. Reading the article made it clear that this applies
only to non-ASME tanks. it says that they temporarily put on ASME
valves for a year to make them like the ASME tanks. The law applies
only to DOT tanks but not to ASME tanks. One of the differences is
that ASME tanks are bolted down to the frame and are not removable
for filling as most (perhaps all) DOT tanks are. I'm sure that there
is going to be a lot of confusion on this at propane filling stations
in the next few years. I suggest that GMCers find a knowledgable
company in their area and use them for their fills. While
travelling, hopefully someone such as Flying J which cater to RVs
will know the regs (don't count on it though!).

Emery Stora
 
>What size is our tank? I thought it was 20 gallons. Propane must weigh at
>least 4 lbs. per gallon. It doesn't sound like the new regulation applies
>in any case.
>Bob McLaughlin

Bob - the 40" tank holds 62 pounds. The 30" tank holds 42.5 pounds.

62 pounds at 4.24 pounds/gallon equals 14.6 gallons. I think the 62
pounds is the total capacity. Filled to 80% (thats what the 80%
filler vent is for) gives a usable capacity of just under 12 gallons.
So, when that pump jockey (pimply faced kid as Rick Staples referred
to him) fills your tank it should NEVER take more than 12 gallons and
this assumes that your tank was completely empty. I had reported
last year that someone had filled my tank when I wasn't there
watching and I found that he had put in over 14 gallons. When I
asked him how he could get that much in, he said that he fills it
until vapor comes out and then he closes the valve and puts in two
more gallons to be sure its full! I had to get the manager and argue
with him in order to get them to vent off a couple of gallons to get
back to a safe level. Obviously I don't go back there anymore. Its
pretty bad when the customer knows more about the product and
procedures than the so called experts do!

We can't always trust the advice of the mechanic, the tire dealer,
and others about the information that they give us and should always
check it out if it sounds strange, fishy or different than what we
have always heard in the past. I guess that I'm getting cynical of
late.

Emery Stora
77 Kingsley
Santa Fe, NM
 
Emery,
I have a 500 gallon propane gallon tank at home for household utilities. I
routinely have my dealer also fill my GMC when they are here and it's empty.
When filling we always open the fill vent and fill until propane spits out.
That's supposed to be the 80% level and the reason it is there. It is
invariably been at 16 gallons. It has never vented later. That's pretty
close to the 62 pound capacity you mentioned for the 40"(20 gallon) tank.
BTW I think the gallon measure is more accurate than weight. Fewer
variables.
Bob McLaughlin
- -----Original Message-----
From: owner-gmcmotorhome
[mailto:owner-gmcmotorhome]On Behalf Of Emery L. Stora
Sent: Saturday, May 27, 2000 6:44 PM
To: gmcmotorhome
Subject: RE: GMC: LP Gas Cylinders

>What size is our tank? I thought it was 20 gallons. Propane must weigh at
>least 4 lbs. per gallon. It doesn't sound like the new regulation applies
>in any case.
>Bob McLaughlin

Bob - the 40" tank holds 62 pounds. The 30" tank holds 42.5 pounds.

62 pounds at 4.24 pounds/gallon equals 14.6 gallons. I think the 62
pounds is the total capacity. Filled to 80% (thats what the 80%
filler vent is for) gives a usable capacity of just under 12 gallons.
So, when that pump jockey (pimply faced kid as Rick Staples referred
to him) fills your tank it should NEVER take more than 12 gallons and
this assumes that your tank was completely empty. I had reported
last year that someone had filled my tank when I wasn't there
watching and I found that he had put in over 14 gallons. When I
asked him how he could get that much in, he said that he fills it
until vapor comes out and then he closes the valve and puts in two
more gallons to be sure its full! I had to get the manager and argue
with him in order to get them to vent off a couple of gallons to get
back to a safe level. Obviously I don't go back there anymore. Its
pretty bad when the customer knows more about the product and
procedures than the so called experts do!

We can't always trust the advice of the mechanic, the tire dealer,
and others about the information that they give us and should always
check it out if it sounds strange, fishy or different than what we
have always heard in the past. I guess that I'm getting cynical of
late.

Emery Stora
77 Kingsley
Santa Fe, NM
 
>Emery,
>I have a 500 gallon propane gallon tank at home for household utilities. I
>routinely have my dealer also fill my GMC when they are here and it's empty.
>When filling we always open the fill vent and fill until propane spits out.
>That's supposed to be the 80% level and the reason it is there. It is
>invariably been at 16 gallons. It has never vented later. That's pretty
>close to the 62 pound capacity you mentioned for the 40"(20 gallon) tank.
>BTW I think the gallon measure is more accurate than weight. Fewer
>variables.
>Bob McLaughlin

Thanks Bob for the update. It would appear that the 62 pound net of
the tank is probably at the 80% level then and not the total capacity
of the tank.
Good to know this. I don't think that my tank has ever gone to the
completely empty level in all the years that I've owned it.

Emery Stora
77 Kingsley
Santa Fe, NM
 
two weeks ago a 500gal tank exploded at Bay Gas while
the attendant was filling a small tank...Two employees
critical...makes you think twice when you see these
guys filling the tank.....like time for a long walk while they do it!!!!
Rob Teed 74 Painted Desert Lansing,Mi

> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-gmcmotorhome
> [mailto:owner-gmcmotorhome]On Behalf Of
> RickStapls
> Sent: Saturday, May 27, 2000 7:10 PM
> To: gmcmotorhome
> Subject: Re: GMC: LP Gas Cylinders
>
>
> In a message dated 5/27/00 12:59:35 PM Mountain Daylight Time,

>
> > there were several postings a year or so ago about the fact
> > that upright cylinders were required to now have a special valve
> > fitted so that they could not be overfilled. I believe that it also
> > incorporated a special shutoff feature so that a sudden large drain
> > of propane would shut off the tank. This apparently was in response
> > to a rash of house fires caused by people using these tanks with
> > their bar-b-que grills. Apparently some propane fillers were filling
> > and overpressuring these tanks and this was causing fires.
>
> Emery,
> Once again, too many safety laws may make us LESS safe. A
> couple of weeks
> a go, I took my gas grill tank (old style, no shutoff valve) to the local
> rental center to be filled. The kid filling it never opened the
> vent screw,
> just kept filling until the scale they use indicated a certain weight. I
> should have said something, but figured heck, they fill dozens of
> these every
> day.
> After paying an exorbitant price (~$3/gallon), I put the tank in my
> 4-Runner, and drove around looking at some real estate. Arriving home a
> couple of hours later, I put the tank back in our gas grille and
> hooked it
> up. The next day, the morning sun warmed it up, and it began
> venting excess
> propane in my back yard! It continued to do this intermittently
> for the next
> day or two. Fortunately, it is windy here, and the gas dissipatted
> harmlessly, but I don't like to think what might have happened if
> that vent
> had opened up while in my car!
> You can bet that NEXT time I will raise holy hell if the
> pimply-faced fool
> doesn't do it right! It seems that already, the careless are
> RELYING upon
> the new safety backups to do their job for them, and we are no
> safer (in my
> case less safe) than before. Thank you Big Brother.
>
> Rick Staples
> '75 Eleganza
> Louisville, CO
>

_____________________________________________
NetZero - Defenders of the Free World
Click here for FREE Internet Access and Email
http://www.netzero.net/download/index.html
 
It would prob. not convince a station in Podunk, Nv. But I think we should
have an official looking paper saying that our tanks can be filled under
the new regulations.

Is there such a paper available ??

gene

>>Has anyone read the latest Highways Magazine from Good Sam's in regards to
>>the code on LP Gas Cylinders and the new code to be enforced after April 1,
>>2002.
>>This is only part of the story that I am quoting.
>>
>>The code requires that all 4 to 40 lb. cylinders be equiped with an OPD and
>>a fixed maximum liquid level guage if they are to be filled after April 1,
>>2002. While all vertcal cylinders can be retrofitted the hortizontal
>>counterparts cannot. This requires owners of older rigs to purchase new
>>cylinders.
>>This appears to mean us with GMC??
>>
>>Marlene Meineken
>
>Marlene - I have now determined that the April 1, 2002 date does
>apply to the law that has been in effect for quite a while. It does
>NOT apply to the tanks that we has as original equipment on our GMCs.
>
>For more info on this law you might want to check out these sites:
>
>http://207.4.160.40/standard/newvalve.htm
>
>http://www.grillman.com/tanks.html
>
>http://www.mantank.com/opd.htm
>
>
>Emery Stora
>77 Kingsley
>Santa Fe, NM
>
Genef -- 77PB/ore/ca
GMC MOTORHOME INFORMATION
mr.erf
http://www.california.com/~eagle/
 
>It would prob. not convince a station in Podunk, Nv. But I think we should
>have an official looking paper saying that our tanks can be filled under
>the new regulations.
>
>Is there such a paper available ??
>
>gene
>
Gene - this is a good idea. I'll try to see if I can come up with
something appropriate. I'll call ASME and also check with Manchester
tank, the manufacturer of the OEM tank on the GMC and will report my
findings back to the GMCnet.

Meanwhile, if anyone wants to learn more about the difference between
DOT tanks and our ASME tanks go to:
http://www.afdc.doe.gov/documents/cn15.html

By the way, from my Chemical Engineering days, I recall that ASME
(American Society of Mechanical Engineers) got started back in the
days when boilers on river steamboats kept blowing up and killing
passangers (a little before my time). There were no regulations back
in those days and any small town blacksmith could build a boiler.
Insurance companies actually are the ones that got regulations
started on pressure vessels.

Emery Stora
77 Kingsley
Santa Fe, NM
 
Amen Arch. If everyone will listen to you and Emery there will be no more
incidents with propane.
Bob McLaughlin

- -----Original Message-----
From: owner-gmcmotorhome
[mailto:owner-gmcmotorhome]On Behalf Of Gcbr
Sent: Sunday, May 28, 2000 11:03 PM
To: gmcmotorhome
Subject: Re: GMC: LP Gas Cylinders

In a message dated 05/28/2000 2:08:02 AM Central Daylight Time,

> two weeks ago a 500gal tank exploded at Bay Gas while
> the attendant was filling a small tank...Two employees
> critical...makes you think twice when you see these
> guys filling the tank.....like time for a long walk while they do it!!!!
>
Rob

If it was the 500 gal tank that exploded then it was some sort if freak
accident. I have lived on my farm for 30 years. It is all powered by
propane.
I have seen many posts here that almost seem like people just dont
understand this gas. Propane is heaver than air. Design for it. If you have
a propane reefer make sure there is a way for the propane to get out. A vent
hole into the wheel well is easy to do. This is important because since
the reefer is in a sealed compartment you will not smell it inside, nor will
your propane detector mounted inside the coach. Without a lower vent
it could build up the point of a problem.

Inside the coach you are going to smell the problem long before the propane
builds up enough to cause a problem. Even if your smeller is not as good as
it used to be you will notice it. If you still have some fear then put in a
propane
detector. Mount it on the floor between the stove and furnace. Now if you
want
first rate protection cut out the wall behind the detector so it can have a
chance
at sniffing it before it builds up enough to spill out of the cabinet. Think
heavy.
Propane is heavy---most people think of gas as rising---propane will never
be
used in balloons.

Propane fires are nothing like natural gas fires. You hear about big natural
gas explosions. Propane seldom does that. An exploding 500 gal tank to me
says there was a bad pump in the system. In the 30 years here on my farm
with 7 rental units I have had 2 propane fires. One the people stored their
weights next to the hot water heater. They fell over and cracked the gas
line. It built up enough in the closet to catch fire. It was just a flash
over
fire. The carpet was singed and the paneling darkened up about 4 inches.
The other fire was a different cause same results. Neither resulted in any
real damage. Propane does not explode like natural gas. If you have ever
put gasoline on something you wanted to burn----then when you tried to
light it there was a carpet of fire on the ground---thats a propane fire or
explosion if you like. I do know of one house that exploded from a propane
leak. The people stated that the ceiling fan was running when they left.
Yes,
that was the kind of boom you get from natural gas--heard it here about
2 miles away.

Just some thoughts. Emery is right about have a whacker on hand to
fix stuck valves. Here on the farm I use a brass hammer. The one thing
I would add is if a valve sticks 2 times change it out. It will stick again.
I dont care if it is a new one or old one 2 times and it is gone. I dont
know what makes them stick but I do know that if it starts sticking
it will do it again. When on the road I do not fill up at an RV park or some
one horse store. I try to get to a propane company. I know
that my be hard for some of you but gosh I hate those places. I admit
in all my years of camping I have only filled 2 times on the road. The
rest of the time my local propane company does it. Dont fill on a still
day---the stuff hangs around---fill when the air is moving. Much less
chance of a problem. Hope I did not bore you all to death.

Take Care
Arch
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Banner Advertisement for gmcmi.com
GMCMI Fall 2026 Rally

Share this page

Share this page
Top Bottom
Back