Date:         Mon, 21 Aug 2000 16:44:25 -0600
Reply-To:     Alfred Bagdan <abagdan@powersurfr.com>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Alfred Bagdan <abagdan@powersurfr.com>
Subject:      Re: filling propane
Comments: To: pokeswagon@blazenet.net
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Hi donna,

I would replace the fill valve with a standard manual fill valve, since most
of the fill attendants don't understand how to fill a vanagon with the
automatic fill valves.
Here is a previous posting of how I solved the propane filling problem:
(If you are afraid to, or unable to do it yourself, then an RV place will do
it for you, it shouldn't cost too much.)

My 85 Vanagon had an automatic fill valve which caused nothing but trouble
at the fill stations.
Some even refused their service as it was not worth it to spend 15 minutes
and only put in 1/2 a gallon!

Emptied tank by lighting burners. (outside with windows open)
Unscrewed fill valve and took it to a local propane parts store and bought a
plain manual fill valve for about $25.
Screwed new valve back in (used a bit of Teflon on the threads).
Went to a propane place and filled tank with no problem.

No problems since (about 11 years now).

This was a long time ago, I forgot all the details but use your common
sense.  Make sure the bleed valve
is still there.

Alfred
85 Vanagon

PS:  Donated the #$@&!^# automatic valve to the brass recycling pile at the
propane parts store.

> Today I tried, for the second time and second service station, to have
> my propane tank filled. Both times gas spews out and the service
> attendant says there is someting wrong with my valve. I read the
> instructions on the tank for filling and something about a bleed valve.
> None of these guys are doing anything about bleeding or resetting. They
> just act like they know their job and they aren't going to let a woman
> tell them how to do it right.
>
> What to do? I'm leaving in two weeks to  go cross country and I have to
> be able to make my morning java? I'm going to try one more place this
> week. Anybody have any suggestions on how to explain this to these guys?
> Is it possible that there really is something wrong with it? How much is
> a new fill valve and where do I get one? - the guy at the RV place
> didn't know.
>