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greenrig · 04-07-2008, 10:11 PM

could there be a heat issue (baking in the summer sun) if i paint my propane tanks black?

Inland RV Center, In · 04-07-2008, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greenrig

could there be a heat issue (baking in the summer sun) if i paint my propane tanks black?

Absolutely.

Andy

dwightdi · 04-08-2008, 04:30 AM

The tanks will overheat and vent in the sun. This is a potentially dangerous situation. Do not do it. Look at all the tanks out there now. Most are painted white or light gray.

jdalrymple · 04-08-2008, 05:30 AM

I am not advocating one way or the other. I can tell you my personal experience. I have had several propane powered vehicles in the past. I once had a new 1986 model pickup, it was black and silver. Not wanting to spoil the looks of the pickup with a large, white tank in the back, 80 gallons water capacity to be exact, but to cheap give up nearly free fuel I chose to paint the tank black to match the vehicle.

The only problem I had was parking the truck in full sun with a full tank of fuel. It did vent a few times, via the pressure relief valve. I finally learned to fill only to half capacity during summer months, and hunt for shade to park in.

I believe the summer heat would cause your tanks to vent. Filling to half capacity on a 30 or 40 pound bottle would not leave you much fuel. The other problem is that the relief system on a small bottle can be a burst disk. Once over-pressured, this disk bursts and vents all the fuel in the tank. Then, the disk must be replaced. So, IMHO, it is not worth the risks. I would get a tank cover that leaves lots of air space around the tanks and paint it.

fotochop · 04-08-2008, 06:48 AM

- some propane shops will not fill a tank that is not white or silver...sorry.

greenrig · 04-09-2008, 07:40 AM

thanks. guess i'll stick with the silver.

Boondocker · 04-09-2008, 08:10 AM

On the other hand, I painted mine forest green last spring and have had no problems at all....

flamingo-kid1 · 04-09-2008, 08:28 AM

ours are bright blue, with no problems

consider other colors of the spectrum that might not bake.. I think only darker colors will give trouble.

(???)

gypsygirl1 · 04-09-2008, 09:29 AM

We painted a SMALL 10 lb tank REDto match our teeny tiny other "SOB" we're currently re-doing. Any opinions on the red???? Didn't need a tank except for the little 2 burner stove in the little thing.
Thanks.....

Jim Foster · 04-09-2008, 09:58 AM

Walk up to a black and white police car in the sun. Put one hand on the black, the other on the white. Red is almost as bad as black.

Stay with white or silver. Even a white tank will vent in the hot sun if it is full to the top.

overlander63 · 04-09-2008, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gypsygirl1

We painted a SMALL 10 lb tank REDto match our teeny tiny other "SOB" we're currently re-doing. Any opinions on the red???? Didn't need a tank except for the little 2 burner stove in the little thing.
Thanks.....

1-It will still get hotter than it should, and may vent.
2-Red will fade horribly in the sun.