Why those 20 pound box store “exchange” propane bottles have 15 pounds of fuel, interesting discussion.

[John E Davies]

 

Some interesting info in the following thread. Those handy bottles don’t have 20 pounds of fuel in them, just 15! You may want to rethink that box store cylinder exchange routine, because your usable fuel capacity just dropped by 25%. I bought a new empty 20 pound bottle at U-Haul for my new pizza oven at home, so I could get an actual 20 pound fill, by weight. My trailer bottles are 30 pounders, which get filled to 30 real pounds.

https://www.rvforum.net/threads/the-cost-of-propane-and-propane-tank-exchanges.125642/

Maybe under-filled bottles is one reason those exchange ones are “easier” to lift into position …😬 If I ever start to have trouble lifting my large ones, I will just have them partially filled.

John Davies

Spokane WA

 

 

[Rivernerd]

Good catch.

I suspect the reason for the "15 lbs. of liquid" notation is the class action suit Amerigas recently settled. 

See, e.g.:

https://www.classlawgroup.com/amerigas-propane/

Instead of actually filling 20 lb. tanks, Amerigas opted to just specify the amount of underfill.   Caveat emptor ("Buyer Beware").

[John E Davies]

1 hour ago, Rivernerd said:

Good catch.

I suspect the reason for the "15 lbs. of liquid" notation is the class action suit Amerigas recently settled. 

Actually I added that note to a stock Home Depot image. It was meant to be humor…..The tank does not say that anywhere. 

John Davies

Spokane WA

 

[Rivernerd]

1 hour ago, John E Davies said:

Actually I added that note to a stock Home Depot image. It was meant to be humor…..The tank does not say that anywhere. 

 

In that case, double thanks for highlighting the practice of under filling in your post!

[Steve Morris]

I became aware of this practice several years ago, and thought it was common knowledge. The *only* time I use a trade in cylinder is when I have a bad valve on the one I have. Then I'll use up the 3/4 full new cylinder, and get it filled at Landmark or similar the next time. Cheaper than buying a new cylinder.