Date:         Wed, 30 May 2001 21:54:22 -0400
Reply-To:     The Bus Depot <vanagon@BUSDEPOT.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         The Bus Depot <vanagon@BUSDEPOT.COM>
Subject:      Re: Propane Tank, Overfill - what happens?
Comments: To: Miguel Calvin <mcalvin@MAC.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <B73B0EDF.35E5%mcalvin@mac.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

> I call upon your experience: What exactly happens if there is too much
> propane pumped into the propane tank?
> Where does it go?
> Does it escape through the vent on the regulator when you open
> the valve to pressurize the system?


Perhaps this does not answer your question, nor am I a propane expert, but I
can relay this experience. When I first bought my '89 Westy, the propane
wouldn't work.  Yet at the same time, the tank wouldn't accept any propane.
I took it to a local propane tank specialist, who discovered that the tank
had been severely overfilled due to failure of the autostop valve and the
inexperience of the last person who filled it.  Apparantly in a severely
overfilled state the tank in some cases will not allow propane to flow at
all (because it freezes??).  He bled the tank and replaced the valve. He
also told me that had I continued to attempt to use the stove etc. while it
was that badly overfilled, it was quite possible that an explosion could
have resulted.

- Ron Salmon
  The Bus Depot, Inc.
  www.busdepot.com
  (215) 234-VWVW