The overfill hole is only a 10th (or less) the size of the hole that it is
filled through. Therefor when they start to see it coming out of the
overfill hole its at 80%. It takes the average attendant at least 10 seconds
to shut the propane down. This is where I believe the overfill comes from.
The LP cannot possible bleed from the overfill port as fast as it is pumped
in.

Just my 2 cents though :-)
SeanG

>From: Paul Borghese <paul98@PRODIGY.NET>
>Reply-To: Paul Borghese <paul98@PRODIGY.NET>
>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>Subject: Re: Filling LP tank for the first time
>Date: Wed, 19 Apr 2000 17:03:00 -0400
>
>If you look at your valve, there is a very small wheel to the right of fill
>connector.  The propane distributor opens the wheel before filling the
>thank.  When the tank is filled (I believe at 80%), propane will start
>shooting out the small side nozzle, again to the right.  This tells the
>operator that the tank is filled to the correct specification.
>
>The wheel is turned the opposite direction to close the nozzle and stop the
>flow of propane, money exchanges hands and you drive off into the sunset
>assured that your tank is at 80%.
>
>While I am not a propane expert, I seem to recall that the distributor can
>not even begin to fill the tank unless the wheel is opened.  It is usually
>a
>situation where we both stare at each other wondering why no propane is
>entering the tank until one of us remembers the wheel.  Once the wheel is
>opened the propane flows.  At 80% it starts shooting out the side.
>
>To overfill the tank beyond the 80% maximum, the operator would need to
>continue filling while propane is shooting out the side!  The entire system
>is a safety mechanism to prevent overfill.
>
>
>Take care,
>
>Paul
>
>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: John Fried <john@DATAKNIGHT.COM>
>Newsgroups: groupstudy.vanagon
>Sent: Tuesday, April 18, 2000 4:04 PM
>Subject: Re: Filling LP tank for the first time
>
>
> > Pardon me for jumping in, but how can you tell how full/empty the
> > propane tank is? There is no gauge or indicator that I can find.
> >
> > John
> > '85 Westy
> >
> > Sean Garrett wrote:
> > >
> > > Be careful here, some service stations will overfill your tank. Until
>you
> > > get a handle on how much it will hold I would only put in 2 dollars of
>LP
> > > the 1st time (if it is truly empty). Overfilling your tank can cause
>some
> > > minor problems operating the fridge (in my experience). I don't think
>that
> > > two many people will agree with me, but I have a theory about
>overfilled
> > > tanks and their casual impact on fridge operation. It wont hurt to
>just
>put
> > > in a little and not more than 80%. Most idiots that fill these tanks
>will
> > > shut off the gas after it has reached the recommended 80% level.
> > ---

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