Propane Life

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Texasmark1

Well-known Member

• Jan 10, 2015

• #1

First of all I know it's dino fuel and dino fuel makings are millions of years old. Yea but that's not the stuff you put in your propane tanks exactly.
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The other day the subject of Propane life in the tank came up. Folks were talking about getting large quantities that would take awhile to consume. Wondering if there was anything to worry about like if it were gasoline or even diesel.

Today I connected a bottle to an appliance and it worked as good if not better than the stuff I bought recently after I had drained that tank. Fill date on the bottle was 1988.

One reason I was curious if the stuff degrades is that I have a 250 gallon tank whose sole purpose is to run my standby generator for the house. No telling how long that gas will sit in that tank before it gets used. Now I'll find something else to worry about.

So much for that!
Mark

 

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David G

Well-known Member

• Jan 10, 2015

• #1

It will not go bad.

 

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Deere Mark

Member

• Jan 10, 2015

• #1

Cross this one off your list of potential worries. Propane for generator fuel is better than gas or Diesel fuel due to very long shelf life.
"What is the Shelf-Life of Propane?
Propane has an indefinite shelf-life. It will last and be good to use literally forever. The only long term storage issue propane has is the container it’s stored in. Most all tanks are made from steel with some smaller RV tanks made from aluminum and lately some are now being made from a translucent fiber glass resin compound and they’re called ‘Clear-View’ which allows you to see the liquid propane level inside. As we know steel rusts and as the tank begins to rust it can cause a pin hole and the propane will leak out. Proper tank maintenance is needed and will allow many years of safe storage." Saw an underground propane storage tank recently - don't know how that would be inspected.

 

Hobo,NC

Well-known Member

Location

Sanford, NC

• Jan 10, 2015

• #1

I think you could put a shelf life on it... R12 has a shelf life of 100 years but of course the container is the weak link...

 

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john in la

Well-known Member

Location

What part of in La do you not understand

• Jan 10, 2015

• #1

That's one of the reasons propane is such a good choice for stand by generators.

Unlike diesel that will start growing algae; or gasoline that will evaporate and varnish parts; the propane will outlast the steel the generator and tank are made of.

 

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gwstang

Well-known Member

• Jan 10, 2015

• #1

I have never hear of the clear tanks. That would be interesting and I bet rather expensive. Seems I learn something new every time I get on here.

 

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Arnold Layne

Member

• Jan 10, 2015

• #1

Probably five or six years ago I bought an F30 on lp, it had been parked in a barn in 1975 and still had fuel in the tank. I oiled it up a little, turned on the fuel and it fired right up.

 

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john in la

Well-known Member

Location

What part of in La do you not understand

• Jan 10, 2015

• #1

The clear tanks are a carbon composite material; same thing some airplanes are made of. They are made for tailgating and marine applications as they are lighter and will not rust.
The place I bought my boat sells them.

The draw back is I think they are only available in small 10/15 lb cylinders and cost over $100.

 

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Richard G.

Well-known Member

• Jan 11, 2015

• #1

Bought an LA Case years ago on propane. Switched it to gas. Called the Ag Engineering prof at Clemson U, who was the fuel guru, about the fuel change over and the propane that was still in the tank I took off. He said propane will never go bad. The suppliers around here told me the same thing.
Still got that big old tank of propane. Need to figure out how to hook up my grill to it.
Richatd in NW SC

 

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mtny

Member

• Jan 11, 2015

• #1

High School where the kids went had a huge tank for standby generator. They ran gas to the school years ago. Don't know why but nothing was done with the tank until recently they took bids on the contents . Sold it no problem.

 

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rick deere

Well-known Member

• Jan 11, 2015

• #1

longer than anyone lives.so in that being said no one knows.

 

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Frank A

Member

• Jan 11, 2015

• #1

They are supposed to check voltage on underground tanks to make sure the anode bags are still working.

 

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Frank A

Member

• Jan 11, 2015

• #1

Another draw back may be that they can't be re-qualified. At least that was the way it was when they first came out but then again a lot of them were recalled too.

 

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Texasmark1

Well-known Member

• Jan 11, 2015

• #1

I'm not worried about that. Besides being out of date code, it doesn't have the triangle knob which indicates it has the newly required over fill preventing port, both requirements for filling.

However, these 20# gas cages that are springing up all over aren't interested in your trade in. Part of the high price you pay for the convenience is the restoration fee. On some nothing, on others, like this one they will probably take an over fill valve off a tank they salvaged for another reason, put it on this one, recertify it, paint it, fill it, put a plastic wrap around it with the suppliers info and out she goes. Saw a video on it recently.

Mark

 

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Texasmark1

Well-known Member

• Jan 11, 2015

• #1

Thanks for the replies. Hope someone digs out an old tank and uses the contents after reading this.

Mark

 

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GeneMO

Well-known Member

Location

Pilot Grove, Mo.

• Jan 11, 2015

• #1

This has nothing to do with your question, but. I had to quit scuba diving in 1990 for health reasons. My scuba tank still has the air in it from back then.

I hooked it up while back and tooks 8 or 10 hits of air.

24 year old air tasted as good as it did back then.

Gene

 

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Frank A

Member

• Jan 11, 2015

• #1

I was replying about the new clear cylinders. I wasn't sure if someone would want to pay $100 for a cylinder good for only 12 years.

 

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SCUBAInstr

Member

• Jan 13, 2015

• #1

Yeah - but please don't dive with it. Over the years, some of the O2 oxidizes with the tank metal, and is replaced with trace gasses. Air that is fine to breathe all day on the surface can kill you at depth...lol

Sorry if TMI....

BTW, Aluminum or Steel Tanks? I am in the market for tanks myself...lol

Tommy D.!

 

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Owen Aaland

Well-known Member

• Jan 13, 2015

• #1

About the only thing to be aware of with propane that has been in storage a long time versus fresh propane is the ethyl-mercaptan (the part that makes the smell) will settle out and if you were to get a leak you would not be able to smell it.