Someone once told me a trick to tell how much gas is left in a BBQ
(Grill) gas bottle, but I'm not sure what is was...

I think it involved pouring either hot or cold water on the tank and
seeing ?? maybe where the condensation formed - hot makes more sense
since I assume the gas under pressure is very cold, but I'm not sure I
like the idea of pouring boiling water on a pressurised gas bottle!

Also I've noticed recently sometimes only one side of a burner lights
up straight away, the other comes on eventually - is this a sign of low
pressure & imminent embarrassment in front of hungry guests?

> wrote in message
oups.com...
> Someone once told me a trick to tell how much gas is left in a BBQ
> (Grill) gas bottle, but I'm not sure what is was...
>
> I think it involved pouring either hot or cold water on the tank and
> seeing ?? maybe where the condensation formed - hot makes more sense
> since I assume the gas under pressure is very cold, but I'm not sure I
> like the idea of pouring boiling water on a pressurised gas bottle!

The propane under pressure is NOT very cold (except when it is getting
filled). By the time you've been using it for awhile and are wondering
about the level of liquid left in the tank, it is at the same
temperature as the air around it. However, if the temperature drops
suddenly, obviously the liquid in the tank will lag behind that
temperature. So pour hot water down the side of the tank to heat of the
tank itself. Then run your hand down the tank to see where the
temperature changes from warm to cold (or to whatever was the air
temperature before at which the tank had settled). You're not looking
for where the tank gets colder than the surrounding air. You're looking
at the point where the hot water could manage to heat up the tank which
only had gas on the inside instead of liquid. Where the tank goes from
hot to cold[er] is the liquid level.

> Also I've noticed recently sometimes only one side of a burner lights
> up straight away, the other comes on eventually - is this a sign of
> low
> pressure & imminent embarrassment in front of hungry guests?

More likely due to rust around the jets. I end up replacing the burner
about every 2 years (and the 2nd year is when the flame isn't all blue
anymore). It could depend on where the gas inlet is to the burner. If
it is to one side then the pressure will greater on that side and get
reduced by the time it gets to the other end.

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On 25 Mar 2006 19:48:39 -0800, wrote:

>Someone once told me a trick to tell how much gas is left in a BBQ
>(Grill) gas bottle, but I'm not sure what is was...
>
>I think it involved pouring either hot or cold water on the tank and
>seeing ?? maybe where the condensation formed - hot makes more sense
>since I assume the gas under pressure is very cold, but I'm not sure I
>like the idea of pouring boiling water on a pressurised gas bottle!
>
>Also I've noticed recently sometimes only one side of a burner lights
>up straight away, the other comes on eventually - is this a sign of low
>pressure & imminent embarrassment in front of hungry guests?

We weighed our gas bottle empty and then weighed it full and monitor
it that way. It's a fairly good way to do it.


Daisy

Carthage demands an explanation for this insolence!

wrote:

> Someone once told me a trick to tell how much gas is left in a BBQ
> (Grill) gas bottle, but I'm not sure what is was...
>
> I think it involved pouring either hot or cold water on the tank and
> seeing ?? maybe where the condensation formed - hot makes more sense
> since I assume the gas under pressure is very cold, but I'm not sure I
> like the idea of pouring boiling water on a pressurised gas bottle!
>
> Also I've noticed recently sometimes only one side of a burner lights
> up straight away, the other comes on eventually - is this a sign of low
> pressure & imminent embarrassment in front of hungry guests?
>

Our camping trick was to pour boiling water down the side of the tank.
It works to at least give you an indication. With the problem you are
noting, I would check for spiders and or spider nests in the slow burner
side. A couple of other possibilities is dirt or rust on that side
blocking the gas flow. Ideally burners should be cleaned anually for
best performance and to check for any problems. Good luck.

"Daisy" > wrote in message
...
> On 25 Mar 2006 19:48:39 -0800, wrote:
>
> >Someone once told me a trick to tell how much gas is left in a BBQ
> >(Grill) gas bottle, but I'm not sure what is was...
> >
> >I think it involved pouring either hot or cold water on the tank and
> >seeing ?? maybe where the condensation formed - hot makes more sense
> >since I assume the gas under pressure is very cold, but I'm not sure I
> >like the idea of pouring boiling water on a pressurised gas bottle!
> >
> >Also I've noticed recently sometimes only one side of a burner lights
> >up straight away, the other comes on eventually - is this a sign of low
> >pressure & imminent embarrassment in front of hungry guests?
>
> We weighed our gas bottle empty and then weighed it full and monitor
> it that way. It's a fairly good way to do it.


Good answer.......the average 20# grill tank will weigh about 18# empty and
38# full.

Another way to look at it is to check the TW (tare weight) that is stamped
on the tank. That is the empty weight.

Dave