--- title: Propane Cylinder Expiration Dates | American River Gas url: https://americanrivergas.com/guides/propane-cylinder-expiration-and-requalification/ business: American River Gas Co., Inc. phone: (530) 888-7438 address: 10290 Ophir Rd, Newcastle, CA 95658 hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM (closed noon-1:00 PM) updated: 2026-10-28 --- Cylinders & price # When a propane cylinder expires: dates and requalification Grill, camping and RV cylinders built to U.S. DOT specifications must be requalified 12 years after the manufacture date stamped on the collar, and after that the next due date depends on the method used: 5 years after a visual inspection (marked E), 10 years after a proof pressure test (marked S), or 12 years after a full volumetric test. A cylinder past its due date cannot be refilled until a certified requalifier passes it again, so an out-of-date cylinder has to be requalified, exchanged or retired. [Call (530) 888-7438](tel:+15308887438)[Open an account](https://americanrivergas.com/open-an-account/) ## Cylinders do not expire the way milk does People say a propane cylinder has expired, but federal rules talk about requalification. Under 49 CFR 180.209, the DOT specification cylinders used for propane must be inspected or tested on a schedule to confirm the steel is still sound. The clock starts on the date of manufacture. The date matters at the fill station. Federal hazardous materials rules (49 CFR 173.301) say no one may fill a cylinder that is overdue for requalification and then offer it for transportation. In practice, that means a cylinder past its date will be turned away until it is requalified. The rule does not reach back to a cylinder filled before its due date, so the propane already in an older cylinder can still be used. ## How to find and read the dates Look at the collar, the steel ring that protects the valve on top. Among the stamped markings is the date of manufacture, shown as a month and a two-digit year. Add 12 years and you have the first requalification due date. For example, a cylinder made in June 2014 was due by June 2026. If the cylinder has already been requalified, there will be a second date. Federal marking rules in 49 CFR 180.213 set it out as the month and year with the requalifier's identification number (RIN) between them, arranged in a small square, followed by a letter or symbol that tells you which method was used. - E after the date: requalified by external visual inspection. The next one is due 5 years later. - S after the date: requalified by a proof pressure test. For propane cylinders under 49 CFR 180.209(e), that test is repeated every 10 years. - No letter: a volumetric expansion test, which for these cylinders is good for 12 years. - Several dates stamped over time: read the most recent one. ## Who can requalify a cylinder Requalification is not a quick look at the counter. Federal rules require that inspections be made only by people who hold a current RIN issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation, and that the results be recorded and the cylinder marked. A cylinder that does not pass is taken out of service. Because of that, many owners of a 20-pound grill cylinder simply trade an old one in at an exchange rack, which hands them a cylinder that is already current. Owners of larger cylinders, or of several, may find requalifying worth it. Call the office at (530) 888-7438 and we will talk through the options for your cylinder before you make the trip. ## The OPD valve check The date is only one of two checks before a small cylinder is filled. The other is the overfilling prevention device, or OPD, which stops a fill before the cylinder is too full. The Propane Education & Research Council describes the OPD as a safety feature required by law and says most OPD valves have a triangular handwheel with the letters OPD on it. A cylinder without an OPD should not be used or refilled. PERC's advice is to exchange it for one that has an OPD or buy a new cylinder. ## Retire it if it is damaged, whatever the date A current date does not make a damaged cylinder safe. PERC says never use a cylinder that is damaged or has been in a fire, and never repair or modify one yourself. - Dents, gouges, bulges or deep rust on the shell - A bent collar or foot ring, or a cylinder that no longer stands upright - A damaged or leaking valve - Any exposure to fire, including a wildfire that reached the yard ## Getting rid of an old cylinder the right way Never put a propane cylinder in household trash or recycling. Even an empty-looking cylinder can hold enough propane to be dangerous. PERC recommends checking for a local cylinder disposal program or asking your propane retailer for guidance. Until it is gone, store it like any other cylinder: outdoors, upright, valve closed, and away from heat. Never keep it in a garage, shed or basement. If a cylinder leaks, close the valve only if there are no flames and no visible cloud of propane, then move away and call 911. If you smell gas inside, leave the building first, then call 911 and us from outside. ## Refills at our Newcastle yard American River Gas refills portable cylinders at our yard at 10290 Ophir Rd in Newcastle during business hours. Every cylinder is looked over before it is filled, and if yours is out of date, missing an OPD or damaged, we will tell you what it needs. Bring it upright and secured, drive straight there, and do not leave a filled cylinder in a closed car afterward. Questions ## Straight answers ### How long is a propane cylinder good for? The first requalification is due 12 years after the manufacture date on the collar. After that it depends on the method: 5 years for a visual inspection, 10 for a proof pressure test, 12 for a volumetric test. ### Can I use propane that is already in an expired cylinder? The federal rule bars filling an overdue cylinder, not using propane that was put in before the due date. Once it is empty, it needs requalification or replacement before its next fill. ### What does the E after the date mean? The cylinder was requalified by external visual inspection in that month and year. The next requalification is due 5 years later. ### Is it cheaper to requalify or exchange a grill cylinder? It depends on who does the work and on the cylinder. For a standard 20-pound grill cylinder, many people find an exchange simplest. Call the office and ask about your situation. [All questions →](https://americanrivergas.com/faq/)  ·  [Propane guides →](https://americanrivergas.com/guides/) Related ## Keep reading - [Propane Cylinder & RV Refills](https://americanrivergas.com/services/propane-cylinder-refills/): Fill BBQ, RV and portable cylinders at our Newcastle yard. - [Cylinder refill vs exchange](https://americanrivergas.com/guides/cylinder-refill-vs-exchange/): Cylinders & price - [RV propane systems: filling, safety and storage](https://americanrivergas.com/guides/rv-propane-systems/): Cylinders & price Sources: [49 CFR 180.209: requalification of specification cylinders (Cornell LII)](https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/49/180.209) · [49 CFR 180.213: requalification markings (Cornell LII)](https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/49/180.213) · [49 CFR 173.301: filling cylinders overdue for requalification (Cornell LII)](https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/49/173.301) · [Propane Education & Research Council: Safety Guide for Portable Propane Cylinders (PRC-101044)](https://cloudinary.propane.com/images/v1738864217/website-media/24PERC0268_PRC-101044-Small-Cylinder-Brochure_digital_r8_LRpg/24PERC0268_PRC-101044-Small-Cylinder-Brochure_digital_r8_LRpg.pdf)