How do you read a date stamp on a propane tank?

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How to Read the Age of a Propane Tank
  1. Locate the collar of your propane tank.
  2. On the bottom half of the collar, look for the letters "MFG DATE." This indicates the manufacturing date.
  3. Locate four numbers with a space between the second and third numbers directly beneath the letters "MFG DATE."



Just so, what do the numbers on my propane tank mean?

Cylinders Filled By Weight These two things are the water capacity and tare weight. The water capacity is how much water the propane bottle will hold in pounds. The "WC" stamped on the bottle followed by a number such as "47.6" means the bottle will hold 47.6 pounds of water.

Also Know, how do I know if my propane tank is recertified? To check your propane tank's certification date, take a look at the metal collar of the tank, which is the highest part nearest the valve. There should be a date stamped onto this piece.

Keeping this in consideration, how many years is a propane tank good for?

The best bet is to buy a new tank . When you go to a propane filling station the attendant should check the date and if it is 12 years old they should not legally refill it. That is it expires at the end of the tanks 12th year. Propane tanks must be re-certified 12 years from manufacture and every 5 years after that.

Where do you find the expiry date on a propane tank?

A propane tank's date of manufacture or requalification date can be found stamped onto its collar. It will be in a month-year format — for instance, 06-17 for June 2017. Tanks that have been requalified will have an E on the end of the date.

35 Related Question Answers Found

What gauge do you read a propane tank?

Most propane tank gauges read anywhere from 5% to 90%. To determine how much gas is in your propane tank, multiply the outage reading by the capacity of the tank. For example: A 500 gallon propane tank at 40% = 500 x 0.4 = 200 gallons remaining in the tank.

Why do propane tanks not have gauges?

So why don't propane tank makers add a propane tank pressure gauge to their products? Because when it comes to propane, pressure gauges are effectively useless. There isn't a direct correlation between the amount of pressure in a tank and the amount of propane left in it.

At what percent should I fill my propane tank?

Reading Propane Tank Numbers
The maximum fill percentage is always going to be 80%. You can perform some simple math to determine how much gas is in your propane tank. Just multiply the tank's capacity by the reading on the tank gauge.

What does R mean on a propane tank gauge?

means "reserve," as in you can drive awhile without running out of gas. Not sure how many gallons.

How do you read a fuel tank?


If the gas tank on a car holds 20 gallons of gas, and the gauge read "1/2", you have 10 gallons of gas. If your car gets 30 miles to the gallon, this means you can drive about 300 miles on a half tank of gas. Chefs measure recipes using 1/4 ounce, 1/2 tablespoon, 2 1/2 cups

What indicates the weight of a cylinder when empty?

The tare weight is the weight of the cylinder when empty and includes the weight of the cylinder valves, but not the filling hose and nozzle. Cylinders with the same water capacity can have different tare weights, so each cylinder should be treated individually.

How do you convert propane gallons to pounds?

Convert pounds to gallons. As propane gas weighs 4.2 pounds per gallon, you will need to divide the total amount of gas dispensed in pounds by 4.2. This results in 20 punds of propane equaling approximately 4 3/4 gallons of gas (20 ÷ 4.2 = 4.76).

Does propane ever go bad?

Unlike fuel sources that can degrade over time (kerosene, diesel, gasoline), propane fuel has no expiration date, nor will its potency suffer while being stored. The only thing you need to worry about when storing propane is maintaining the health and integrity of the propane storage tank.

Do 16 oz propane tanks expire?

A disposable 14 or 16 ounce propane tank will last about 1.5 to 2 hours. A standard 20 lb propane tank should last about 18-20 hours on most grills.

What do you do with expired propane tanks?


Propane cylinders should never be thrown in household garbage or recycling containers for roadside pick-up! If your refillable propane cylinder has expired, or is rusted, dented or otherwise damaged, it can no longer be filled.

Can I fill a 20 pound propane tank?

you need to fill LIQUID propane. the ONLY way to do that from a 20lb tank is to turn the 20lb tank on its side (or upside down) to allow the liquid to be in contact with the valve. well there is a "safty" feature, a ball in a seat that floats in liquid propane.

Do propane tanks explode?

Propane Explosions 101
Propane tanks do not explode. They do not implode and nor do they rupture or come apart on their own. In fact, bringing a propane tank to the point of "explosion" is a tremendously difficult and time consuming task that's not as simple as most people think.

Do I own my propane tank?

Check for stickers or logos on the actual tank itself.
Most leased tanks will be branded with a sticker or logo on the actual tank or the lid of the tank. If you see something, call that company and simply ask them if they own the tank.

Do 1 lb propane tanks expire?

The propane can never go bad, only the container. Keep them rust free .

Do gas bottles expire?


Gas bottles have a date stamp applied during manufacture. A bottle older than 10 years, must be rigorously inspected before it can be refilled. The inspection must be done by a licensed tester. Once satisfied the bottle meets Government safety standards, the tester will re-stamp it for a further 10 years of refilling.

How many times can you recertify a propane tank?

All propane cylinders must be recertified every 10 years. Dates can be verified on new cylinders by checking for a manufacturers 4 digit month/year stamped on the collar.

Does Costco sell propane?

Costco Propane Refill
Note: Propane refill is available for fixed tanks on RVs and portable tanks. The service is not available at all Costco locations.