Gas cylinders not emptying out

Bruce and Bev · Guru

Gas cylinders not emptying out

Dougwe · Chief one feather

I have always had some gas left for the suppliers bigB. Nothing out of the ordinary really IMO.

The pressure left is just not enough to use anymore. A bugga really cos they don't usually fill all the way these days so between that and what you are saying we don't get the full amount of gas anymore. That all said, we still pay for the full bottle though.

I just keep on keeping on and don't let it get to me .

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

I reckon it is a winter temperature thing.
Google the differences between butane and propane and when they turn from liquid to gas.

Cheers,
Peter

Muzzlehatch · Senior Member

Butane boils at -1C and Propane -42C. I cant see Propane doing what Gasmate does on a cold morning. Maybe some water has found it's way past the QA ?

Baz421 · Guru

Peter_n_Margaret wrote:
I reckon it is a winter temperature thing.
Google the differences between butane and propane and when they turn from liquid to gas.

Cheers,
Peter

Yep and it could be freezing in the outlet/reg/or line also.

Bruce and Bev · Guru

Yep - I think its a cold thing. I emptied out the tank today and the gas didn't produce water as it vented. When I shook the tank, no noise at all.

Dougwe, I always send the BOSS into the get the tank filled and get her to flirt with the male that's filling it - it always gets really filled up.

When its a lady filling the tank, I carry it out and give her the sympathy thing about girls having to lug round heavy tanks (and carry it to and from the filling area). Cant flirt with her otherwise she will think Im just a dirty old man lol

wasn_me · Guru

Does this occur as you are using the appliances or after you pull up & turn the gas on. If you turn the gas tap on too quickly the blow off protector valve can seat & stop gas flow. Although the bottle being full or near empty shouldn't make any difference to the blow off protector valve. cheers pete

george57 · Senior Member

G'day

As a gas tanker driver I can tell you that it is only propane used in gas bottles....butane will still burn, but it is a heavier gas and therefore you either can shake the bottle or just turn it upside down. I find it interesting that there is still product left in the bottle as it is under pressure and therefore it should empty. I have never had any problem completely emptying my 9kg bottles.

Cheers
George and fatdog

hako · Guru

If you can hear/feel liquid swilling around in the supposedly empty gas cylinder then I'd suggest it is not liquid gas but water.

Hey Jim · Guru

Hi Bruce & Bev,

Try this.

Unscrew the hose from the bottle in use. open the valve on the bottle and see / listen if there is gas coming out at high pressure.(put your finger over the outlet)

If so, then the jets on your applanceses could be blocked up.

If so go and buy $3.00 can of oven cleaner (and soak the nipples (Gas) in a lid from vegie mite or simular for 15min. Reinstall. Hold the nipple to the sun you can see light after treatment.

I allway's turn off the bottle and let the gas run / burn out first.

OTHER WISE you WILL GET A GUM residue build up. Time After Time.

Jim

Bruce and Bev · Guru

Appreciate all that guys..........

When I switch to the other bottle (turn the direction lever and open the other tank tap) its no problem, all the gas appliances work. It also doesn't apply to just the one tank and other than the initial fill by the selling Dealer, neither of the bottles have been filled from the same outlet.

Its not a biggie, just curious to hear if others had the same problem and what they did about it. It will be interesting to see if the problem persists once the weather warms up. In Batemans Bay NSW, where we are presently, its up to 20c during the day, but drops to almost 0c at night (but we are only about 10 metres above the large Clyde River so don't get any frosts or freezing)

Once again thanks for all that :)

PeterD · Guru

Dougwe wrote:
A bugga really cos they don't usually fill all the way these days so between that and what you are saying we don't get the full amount of gas anymore. That all said, we still pay for the full bottle though.

The truth. The swap and go people fill their bottles by weight and not by the old "overflow method." You get a guaranteed weight each time. Whether the price per kilogram is value or not is a separate issue.

dogbox · Guru

Bruce and Bev wrote:
Appreciate all that guys..........

When I switch to the other bottle (turn the direction lever and open the other tank tap) its no problem, all the gas appliances work. It also doesn't apply to just the one tank and other than the initial fill by the selling Dealer, neither of the bottles have been filled from the same outlet.

Its not a biggie, just curious to hear if others had the same problem and what they did about it. It will be interesting to see if the problem persists once the weather warms up. In Batemans Bay NSW, where we are presently, its up to 20c during the day, but drops to almost 0c at night (but we are only about 10 metres above the large Clyde River so don't get any frosts or freezing)

Once again thanks for all that :)

if you use the near empty bottle in the warmer part of the day you may find it will work ok if you use it when it is cold the temp difference may not be enough for the liquid to convert to gas when near empty or you could try to warm the bottles if your desperate

Bruce and Bev · Guru

dogbox - I like your reply, as it fits with my theory and the fact the problem has only happened in cold weather!!!!

-- Edited by Bruce and Bev on Wednesday 12th of August 2015 05:29:40 PM

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

george57 wrote:
G'day

As a gas tanker driver I can tell you that it is only propane used in gas bottles....butane will still burn, but it is a heavier gas and therefore you either can shake the bottle or just turn it upside down.

NEVER EVER shake or turn a gas bottle upside down while it is in use.

If you do, liquid will be delivered to the appliance and you will be lucky to survive the ensuing fire ball.

Cheers,

Peter

dogbox · Guru

Bruce and Bev wrote:
dogbox - I like your reply, as it fits with my theory and the fact the problem has only happened in cold weather!!!!

-- Edited by Bruce and Bev on Wednesday 12th of August 2015 05:29:40 PM

thank you all part of the service

KevKim37 · Senior Member

I had the same problem with two bottles filled at different towns across Vic ie liquid still in bottles but appliances wouldn't work. We have been in lower temps since the bottles were refilled and No problems so I still think it is a Problem as with Summer/Winter Diesel that the LPG has a Larger amount of Butane used in Summer ( otherwise they have to burn it off as Waste) and on the Season changeover the problems arise. As I also have a Diesel/Gas System fitted on the Cruiser Ute, at the same time I had trouble with the LPG Bottles I also experienced the two of the Worst ever Consumption of Gas Figures in the Cruiser over 10 yrs of Records. The Gas consumption stabilized after two refills and operating in even Colder weather - 3 degrees. Even the 15 months in Tassie through Winter 2013 I didn't have troubles with LPG or Auto gas and I used 37 bottles of gas there using the Truma Heater etc.

ps I have also read on the Government Gas Regs Sites where they are Allowed certain Percentages of Butane Mixed with the Propane depending on the Seasons plus a lot of other ingredients that are and are not allowable in the Consumer Product for Sale to the Public.

Cheers Kev.