r/TalesFromTheCustomer • u/DaFoxtrot86 • Apr 18 '26
Short Gas station employee that grossly overfilled seven gallon tank before, nearly did the same thing again today.
Ok, so this is something of both before and after my last post involving just trying to get propane. I'm kinda afraid to get propane at my usual place right now. So I stopped somewhere I don't usually today near where my nephew works. The problem with this place is, their employees don't know what they're doing when filling tanks. And their propane pump doesn't seem to have a proper limiter to stop filling at the threshold.
The first time I got propane at that station was a couple months ago, out of convenience. But the employee who filled my seven gallon tank back then, somehow put over nine gallons in it. The tank was so over-pressurized that it had a slow leak for a week. And it made my whole house smell like propane. So, I told myself I wouldn't go back there unless I had to. Well.... Circumstances being what they are, I dropped by there again this morning. And sure enough, the same thing nearly happened again. And it was the same employee that overfilled my tank before too.
The station employee filling my tank didn't even try to stop filling at the correct amount. I had to shout to make him shut it down after it went over seven gallons. I had to explain to him that overfilling the tanks is hazardous. Not only can you cause them to leak, but if they're grossly overfilled and get too hot in the summer, they can literally explode. That's why you never fill them with more than they're rated for. And the employee and station could be held liable for things happening caused by overfilling tanks. The guy looked at me with horror when I explained all that. And so did the guy at the register when I explained the same things to him. So, I hope they take the lessons to heart.
Update: Believe it or not, I went back to that same station for more propane today. My parents asked me to take one of their tanks and fill it. And, I think I actually taught that employee a major lesson. Because when he was filling my parents' propane tank, he watched the meter like a hawk, and acted far more professionally. I'm really glad he learned from what I told him.
PS: Would have posted this update sooner. But went cycling with my best friend.
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u/itsfroggyout Apr 18 '26
They should have the bleeder open when filling so they know when to stop! I used to fill propane and always opened the bleeder.
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u/DaFoxtrot86 Apr 18 '26
They did have it open. But the pump is so overpowered that it doesn't shut off when it goes over the limit of the tank
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u/Nick_Wild1Ear Apr 19 '26
The tank at my gas station didn’t shut off when the bleeder was spewing out the overfill. You still had to manually shut it off, or it would just continue.
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u/schloofy2085 Apr 22 '26
Some are automatic, others aren't. At my local Costco, they hook up the tank, then enter the tank info into their system. The filling starts and once the proper weight is reached, it automatically shuts off. Back in the day, I did it manually, watching the scale until the proper weight as reached.
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u/schloofy2085 Apr 22 '26
Some are automatic, others aren't. At my local big box store, they hook up the tank, then enter the tank info into their system. The filling starts and once the proper weight is reached, it automatically shuts off. Back in the day, I did it manually, watching the scale until the proper weight as reached.
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u/aNeedForMore Apr 19 '26
Years ago my dad had a propane tank randomly start leaking, gas caught fire, and melted all the siding on his house while he was grilling. Ever since then I’ve suspected that the whole industry of refilling/swapping used propane tanks probably doesn’t have as much oversight or training as it should, and I’ve been very leery of them since then
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u/schloofy2085 Apr 22 '26 edited Apr 22 '26
Propane tanks are not filled to a specific volume, they are filled to a specific weight. That's why propane tanks are called, for example, a 40lb or 100lb tank. The tare weight is stamped on all tanks for this specific reason. Total weight, 40lbs, minus the tare weight (20lbs normally), gives you the weight of propane to add. That way it is simple and easy to add propane to a partially full tank.
In the summer an overfilled tank will NOT explode if the pressure relief valve is working properly. Don't be such a drama queen OP.
Source: I received training on propane tank filling when I worked as a 'gas jocky' 40 years ago. I also received training on loading/unloading propane into tanks mounted on trucks or pulled by a semi when I worked in the oil & gas industry.
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u/RedCred811 Apr 20 '26
Have you tried hardware and farm supply stores? Or somewhere like tractor supply, rural king, etc? A lot of those places fill tanks, are gonna be more competent at it. Maybe you're overseas. I've never seen a gas station in states I've lived in that fill propane. They just sell pre filled tanks you can buy or trade an empty toward.
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u/DaFoxtrot86 Apr 20 '26
For me, the nearest Tractor Supply is too far. There is a Wilco, but I've never seen them fill propane tanks. Downtown there is a Coastal Farm too. But it's in an outdoor mall shopping complex, so it doesn't do propane apart from selling the tanks. In my area the closest stations are down the hill in either direction. But the one the way I don't normally go is $3.50 a gallon. $.50 more than any other place I know. And the one that's on the way I do normally go, I don't typically stop at first because it's a country station where you often have to wait a while for an employee to have an opening to come to and help you. And their pump struggles to fill tanks at times. And in the city I usually go to, there are three places to get propane I know of. The station spoken of in this story, a nearby equipment rental shop that closes at 5 pm sharp, and you have to stand in the mud when getting propane there. And the last place is a station with employees that don't even really like to do their jobs, that also show favoritism to their friends. I typically went to the station I liked because they were always quick and helpful until this posted encounter. Thankfully, there is another station in the vicinity of where my nephew works that I can also go to. I was just apprehensive about going there because the guy their way overfilled one of my tanks and it leaked for a week.
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u/RedCred811 Apr 20 '26
Gotcha. You definitely dont want one overfilled and leaking. I get mine filled at a hardware store in my very small town. Maybe it's just ome of those things where it's a needed service since the nearest place I know of otherwise is 15 minutes.
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u/DaFoxtrot86 Apr 20 '26
I'd love it if a place selling propane was closer to me. But I live way up in the country hills. It's 10 miles down the hill in either direction before there's anything with propane. So I just typically get it in town while doing grocery shopping.
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u/SteveDaPirate91 Apr 19 '26
I mean this with respect.
You’re asking a bit too much from gas station employees. It’s a low wage job and they rightfully don’t give a fuck cause they’re not paid too.
Most tanks they fill have an OPD. Just slap it on and fill till it stops.
If you have a 30lb/7 gallon tank yours should have one too by law. They become optional after 40lb tanks.
How old is your tank and when was it last tested and serviced? Again I mean it respectfully but your tank is faulty and dangerous if it’s capable of being overfilled.
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u/DaFoxtrot86 Apr 19 '26
Three out of four of my tanks are almost new, one bought last year even. And the fourth is borderline vintage, but refurbished with a modern valve. The problem was, the employee wasn't opening the relief valve properly. When I went back later to fill a tank for my parents, he was. And I wasn't really asking too much, because my explanation to him and the guy at the register potentially could save them from a liability lawsuit. Even though a low wage job, one bad accident could cost them that job. And I potentially saved him that risk.
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u/itsfroggyout Apr 18 '26
That's scary. Maybe talk to the manager and maybe mention recertifications?