Am I being ripped off with exchange bottles of L.P.G. ???

kiwijims · Guru

Am I being ripped off with exchange bottles of L.P.G. ???

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Often short filled ?

Lancelot Link · Senior Member

Refills here in Victoria at those replacement bottle places are now no longer 9kg. Even though the bottles are rated at 9kg, they are not allowed to be filled to the 9kg amount. Explained to me by an irate service person who was annoyed at having to explain it to people! Maximum allowed is 8.5kg! Don't abuse or shoot me down, only relaying that company policy has changed. Sort of like cereal packets getting smaller and charging the same! Yet, the same bottles, refilled at a refilling centre are guaranteed 9kg, if you watch the person doing it and doesn't screw the screw in before the solid stream of gas comes out.

PeterD · Guru

Lancelot Link wrote:
Refills here in Victoria at those replacement bottle places are now no longer 9kg. Even though the bottles are rated at 9kg, they are not allowed to be filled to the 9kg amount. Explained to me by an irate service person who was annoyed at having to explain it to people! Maximum allowed is 8.5kg!

Not abusing you, just putting you straight - straight from the horses mouth. Scroll down to the heading "Why 8.5kg and 3.7kg Refills?"

KevinC · Senior Member

Very interesting Peter. That means that the bottle I have which is marked 9kg may in fact hold less. And when I get it refilled I may think I'm getting more than what actually goes in.
Bugger!
I've just decided that I have more things to worry about than a half kilo of gas.

Wizardofoz · Guru

I can't understand how you only get 5 BBQ's out of a bottle???

my 2 bottles last me for the whole 6 or 7 months trip...how many are you cooking for 100 people??!!

brickies · Guru

LPG refills , Here we go again .

Dougwe · Chief one feather

Just don't bring up the weight of them disbelief biggrin

I just take my 4kg as they come. I get my own 9kg bottles filled and will do as long as I can.

Ron-D · Guru

Wizardofoz wrote:
I can't understand how you only get 5 BBQ's out of a bottle???
my 2 bottles last me for the whole 6 or 7 months trip...how many are you cooking for 100 people??!!

Yeah my bottle on the barby at home lasts for months it might be a typing area and left the zero out biggrin

kiwijims · Guru

Wizardofoz wrote:
I can't understand how you only get 5 BBQ's out of a bottle???
my 2 bottles last me for the whole 6 or 7 months trip...how many are you cooking for 100 people??!!

I use a 4 burner B.B.Q. ( cooking for three people ) every weekend, come rain hail or shine Wizardofoz,

I suppose your 2 bottles would last you 6 or7 months if they were only used a few times,

Real helpful comment there Brickies !!!

K.J.

Wizardofoz · Guru

kiwijims wrote:
Wizardofoz wrote:
I can't understand how you only get 5 BBQ's out of a bottle???
my 2 bottles last me for the whole 6 or 7 months trip...how many are you cooking for 100 people??!!
I use a 4 burner B.B.Q. ( cooking for three people ) every weekend, come rain hail or shine Wizardofoz,
I suppose your 2 bottles would last you 6 or7 months if they were only used a few times,
Real helpful comment there Brickies !!!
K.J.

No KJ, I use it at least twice a week and more, plus my stove and oven are also connected to the bottles...same with the one at home, it lasts me 12 months but then again I am only home for the summer and because I live on the beachfront, my bottles rust and the stores refuse to exchange them again even though they are not out dated. furious

All I can say to your original question is...YES, you are being 'ripped off' big time!!! doh

-- Edited by Wizardofoz on Wednesday 31st of May 2017 09:22:29 AM

kiwijims · Guru

Wizardofoz wrote:
kiwijims wrote:
Wizardofoz wrote:
I can't understand how you only get 5 BBQ's out of a bottle???
my 2 bottles last me for the whole 6 or 7 months trip...how many are you cooking for 100 people??!!
I use a 4 burner B.B.Q. ( cooking for three people ) every weekend, come rain hail or shine Wizardofoz,
I suppose your 2 bottles would last you 6 or7 months if they were only used a few times,
Real helpful comment there Brickies !!!
K.J.
No KJ, I use it at least twice a week and more, plus my stove and oven are also connected to the bottles...same with the one at home, it lasts me 12 months but then again I am only home for the summer and because I live on the beachfront, my bottles rust and the stores refuse to exchange them again even though they are not out dated.
All I can say to your original question is...YES, you are being 'ripped off' big time!!!

-- Edited by Wizardofoz on Wednesday 31st of May 2017 09:22:29 AM

You could do what I did with an old bottle which was out of date by about 15 years, I bought a cheap can of chrome paint from Supercheap, gave the bottle a quick wipe with a wire brush then a spray, looked a treat, then swapped it for a full one ,

This B.B.Q. I have was bought from Bunnings new, maybe that explains why I have only managed to get 5 Barbies per bottle out of it !!!!

K.J.

The Belmont Bear · Guru

The bottle I exchanged at Bunnings recently I found that the valve was not seating correctly unless I really over tightened it, I know that because when I finish I always turn the bottle off first until the flame goes out then I shut off the BBQ this time the flame just kept burning with the valve closed. The first time I used the bottle I had difficulty opening the valve because it was shut off so tight - when it runs out I will definately be exchanging it for another one. Maybe you could have also gotten a bottle with a damaged valve seat which allows a slow escape of gas when not shut off tight enough especially if you forgot to close the gas knob on the BBQ all the way - to me that usage still seems to be pretty high even using a 4 burner..

kiwijims · Guru

The Belmont Bear wrote:
The bottle I exchanged at Bunnings recently I found that the valve was not seating correctly unless I really over tightened it, I know that because when I finish I always turn the bottle off first until the flame goes out then I shut off the BBQ this time the flame just kept burning with the valve closed. The first time I used the bottle I had difficulty opening the valve because it was shut off so tight - when it runs out I will definately be exchanging it for another one. Maybe you could have also gotten a bottle with a damaged valve seat which allows a slow escape of gas when not shut off tight enough especially if you forgot to close the gas knob on the BBQ all the way - to me that usage still seems to be pretty high even using a 4 burner..

Yes, I had thought of there being a slow leak BB, I did change the regulator and hose a short while ago,

I also ( when finished with the B.B.Q ) always turn off the burner farthest from the bottle first, working back to the first burner, which I leave open until I have turned off the gas bottle, I then listen for the POP of the last burner going out, this tells me the whole line is empty of gas and the bottle is properly shut.

I think it's time to give this B.B.Q the old "heave ho" and buy a new one, ( Not from the Green Shed )

K.J.

Bryan · Guru

I reckon you're right KJ, I get a lot more barbies out of my 4kg bottle. I know we're not comparing apples with apples but your bbq seems to be a bit heavy on gas consumption.

May also be a very slow leak from the bottle and if its outdoors the smell of the gas may dissipate very quickly.

The Belmont Bear · Guru

KJ if your thinking of replacing your old 4 burner you should consider a Webber Q - for 3 people either the Baby Q or the mid size Q2000 would be big enough. You will get a better result and use a lot less gas, I do a BBQ and a roast once a week on a Q2000 with a 9kg bottle and it probably lasts me 3 months, even longer if I used my BabyQ which is in the van. Other people may recommend similar style different brand BBQs but in my opinion cooking with the lid down is definately the way to go in order to keep in the flavour and save on your gas usage. Don't worry the green shed don't sell Webber anyhow so you would need to go somewhere else to buy one usually to a camping shop like BCF.

kiwijims · Guru

Thanks for that BB, Yes I've looked at the Baby Q , they sure are a neat looking unit, and very portably which would be handy in our van as well. Now where did I put that Money sack ????? confuse biggrin biggrin biggrin

K.J.

Phil C · Guru

Gday all

I have a self made rule not to buy exchange bottles unless Im seriously in the mire for gas, especially from Bunnings.

A mate of mine owns the local hardware, he tells me there is a rule/law/standard someplace that deems 80% fill to be max (I have no clue as to the validity of that). This 80% starts when the white frozen liquid starts to spurt out of the relief valve.

I ask him to fill mine higher so the white spurt is a solid stream. That will do me at least 6 weeks if I use gas in the HWS and cooking on gas. Im told the bottles are tested to way beyond that pressure.

Cheers all, hope you are all thriving.

The Belmont Bear · Guru

Look on the bright side KJ you may have to spend a little bit more up front but the way your using gas you will probably get it back within 6 months.

bill12 · Guru

You are lucky. An exchange bottle is $39.95 on Magnetic island, and $75 at Bamaga , last year......

The Belmont Bear · Guru

Bill its probably because they have to supply non magnetic gas bottles if they didn't they would be too hard to exchange due to the difficulty of getting them apart biggrin biggrin biggrin biggrin biggrin just kidding those prices are ridiculous.

kiwijims · Guru

biggrin biggrin biggrin biggrin

K.J.

bill12 · Guru

You have no choice, really. if you want to cook for meals or have a hot shower. I take two emptys to townwhen I go, but the barge, 8 klms, is $140 return, and thats for locals. I supose living on an island on the barrier reef is expected to be expensive. Everything is at least 20% dearer.

rockylizard · Guru

PeterD wrote:
Lancelot Link wrote:
Refills here in Victoria at those replacement bottle places are now no longer 9kg. Even though the bottles are rated at 9kg, they are not allowed to be filled to the 9kg amount. Explained to me by an irate service person who was annoyed at having to explain it to people! Maximum allowed is 8.5kg!
Not abusing you, just putting you straight - http://www.elgas.com.au/swapngo/camper-bbq-gas-bottle-cylinder-sizes-dimensions-9kg-4kg-refill-price Scroll down to the heading "Why 8.5kg and 3.7kg Refills?"

Phil C wrote:
Gday all

I have a self made rule not to buy exchange bottles unless Im seriously in the mire for gas, especially from Bunnings.

A mate of mine owns the local hardware, he tells me there is a rule/law/standard someplace that deems 80% fill to be max (I have no clue as to the validity of that). This 80% starts when the white frozen liquid starts to spurt out of the relief valve.

I ask him to fill mine higher so the white spurt is a solid stream. That will do me at least 6 weeks if I use gas in the HWS and cooking on gas. Im told the bottles are tested to way beyond that pressure.

Cheers all, hope you are all thriving.

Gday...

The above post from earlier in this thread gives the background to the 85% 'rule' ... click on above.

cheers - John

mezza56 · Senior Member

I bought one of the gauges that indicate the gas level in the bottle , I always check b4 I take them away from where I buy from.

hako · Guru

mezza56 wrote:
I bought one of the gauges that indicate the gas level in the bottle , I always check b4 I take them away from where I buy from.

If you don't mind me asking, what sort of variation have you found?

Regards

JayDee · Guru

We only exchange if and when we can not gain a refill.

Refilled our bottle today at BCF Griffith for $19.90

We have paid up to $38 for out of the way refills.

It is BCF for us.

Jay*Dee

Cruising Cruze · Guru

Just wandering

Why can't we with using an adapter just fill up at the petrol station
As I believe it's the same gas and at least you can see how many liters you put into the bottle for only 95 cent a liter here

Cheers John

Ps let me know what adapter I need :))

-- Edited by Cruising Cruze on Friday 2nd of June 2017 07:56:40 PM

Craig1 · Guru

BIG BIG no no John, lots of safety issues or potential for same. Plus a real chance of someone crackin the s...ts with you, fines ,brawls etc

PeterD · Guru

Cruising Cruze wrote:
Why can't we with using an adapter just fill up at the petrol station
As I believe it's the same gas and at least you can see how many liters you put into the bottle for only 95 cent a liter here

Sometimes the gas is pure propane but in the cities and large country towns you can get a mixture of propane and butane. If you have butane in the mixture it will mean that the jets in your appliances will be the wrong size.

In addition the filling arrangements of cylinders and auto tanks differ. I believe you can overfill a cylinder with the pumped delivery of the auto pumps.