If a 20-lb grill tank dies on a Tuesday in San Diego, Maps will usually send you to a locked cage in a Vons, Ralphs, or big-box lot — Midway, El Cajon Boulevard, Chula Vista, or the 78. That cage is almost always an exchange: you drop your cylinder and leave with a different, prefilled one, often lighter than a legal fill, with no credit for gas still in the tank you turned in. A refill is the other product: a certified attendant (or a U-Haul pay-at-pump) puts propane into the tank you already own and bills gallons added.
This directory is for San Diego County people who want that refill — U-Haul stations whose location pages say Tank Refills, Tractor Supply stores whose official pages list propane tank refill, Ferrellgas Miramar and Escondido (published grill-cylinder refill hours), and Ez Pz Propane’s two public fill yards (Kearny Mesa and Kettner). It is not a map of every cage from Imperial Beach to Oceanside, and it is not a price board. Call before you drive. Office hours on a U-Haul door are not a guarantee that the pump is staffed that minute. Ferrellgas cylinder hours are weekday-only on the pages opened this pass, and the Escondido page does not list Thursday on the cylinder-refill block. Greater Los Angeles is a later page. No public page opened for this pass lists San Diego on U-Haul’s Greater Los Angeles delivery product — do not assume it is here.
How refill differs from exchange
U-Haul San Diego-area refill pages state that refilling is cheaper than exchange and that exchange does not credit leftover propane in the tank you turn in. Gallon prices on those pages change by location and by day; they are omitted from the cards below. One station in this table (Oceanside) lists both refill and 20-lb exchange — it is a refill stop; the cage is a side product, not why it is here.
Verified refill locations (San Diego County)
Only stations with a public page that describes refill (not exchange-only). Hours below are office / store / published fill hours from those pages — propane attendant coverage can be shorter; call ahead. Gallon prices are omitted; they change. There is no U-Haul propane location page inside San Marcos, Santee, La Mesa, or Carlsbad in this pass. San Marcos neighborhood results point at U-Haul at Mission Ave (Escondido) and Oceanside. Santee / La Mesa results point at El Cajon and Lemon Grove. Do not invent a Carlsbad or San Marcos U-Haul propane street address. Tractor Supply is an east / inland county story here (Lakeside, Ramona, Valley Center, Jamul) — Riverside County stores are a later page. U-Haul rows below all use the same published office hours unless noted: Mon–Thu 7am–7pm; Fri 7am–8pm; Sat 7am–7pm; Sun 9am–5pm. Those are office hours, not a separate propane-attendant schedule.
Jump: Point Loma / Midway · City Heights · Clairemont Mesa / Kearny Mesa · Kettner / airport · Miramar · South Bay · Lemon Grove · East County · Poway · North County coastal · Escondido / inland north · Ramona · Valley Center · Jamul
Point Loma / Midway
Point Loma / Midway
U-Haul
U-Haul Moving & Storage of Point Loma
3820 Midway Dr, San Diego, CA 92110
Office hours (published on this location’s U-Haul page): Mon–Thu 7am–7pm; Fri 7am–8pm; Sat 7am–7pm; Sun 9am–5pm
Details
- Hours
- Office hours (published on this location’s U-Haul page): Mon–Thu 7am–7pm; Fri 7am–8pm; Sat 7am–7pm; Sun 9am–5pm. These are office hours, not a separate propane-attendant schedule — call ahead.
- Tank sizes
- ~3–100 lb portable (page text); also lists RVs, campers, forklift tanks, autogas
- RV
- Yes (page lists RVs/campers)
- Pay-at-pump
- Yes (page lists “Propane pay at pump”)
- Also on page
- Page title is refill; propane exchange not listed in the services bullets when checked. Landmark on the page: south of Sports Arena Blvd; no parking — cars cannot be left on property.
- Last verified
- 2026-09-01 (source page checked)
(619) 223-2131
· Google Maps
· Apple Maps
· Source
City Heights
City Heights
U-Haul
U-Haul of City Heights
4311 El Cajon Blvd, San Diego, CA 92105
Office hours (published on this location’s U-Haul page): Mon–Thu 7am–7pm; Fri 7am–8pm; Sat 7am–7pm; Sun 9am–5pm
Details
- Hours
- Office hours (published on this location’s U-Haul page): Mon–Thu 7am–7pm; Fri 7am–8pm; Sat 7am–7pm; Sun 9am–5pm. These are office hours, not a separate propane-attendant schedule — call ahead.
- Tank sizes
- ~3–100 lb portable (page text); also lists RVs, campers, forklift tanks, autogas
- RV
- Yes (page lists RVs/campers)
- Pay-at-pump
- Yes (page lists “Propane pay at pump”)
- Also on page
- Page title is refill; propane exchange not listed in the services bullets when checked. Landmark on the page: east of 43rd; no parking — cars cannot be left on property.
- Last verified
- 2026-09-01 (source page checked)
(619) 283-5528
· Google Maps
· Apple Maps
· Source
Clairemont Mesa / Kearny Mesa
Clairemont Mesa
U-Haul
U-Haul Moving & Storage of Clairemont Mesa
5871 Copley Dr, San Diego, CA 92111
Office hours (published on this location’s U-Haul page): Mon–Thu 7am–7pm; Fri 7am–8pm; Sat 7am–7pm; Sun 9am–5pm
Details
- Hours
- Office hours (published on this location’s U-Haul page): Mon–Thu 7am–7pm; Fri 7am–8pm; Sat 7am–7pm; Sun 9am–5pm. These are office hours, not a separate propane-attendant schedule — call ahead.
- Tank sizes
- ~3–100 lb portable (page text); also lists RVs, campers, forklift tanks, autogas
- RV
- Yes (page lists RVs/campers)
- Pay-at-pump
- Yes (page lists “Propane pay at pump”)
- Also on page
- Page title is refill; propane exchange not listed in the services bullets when checked.
- Last verified
- 2026-09-01 (source page checked)
(858) 569-1488
· Google Maps
· Apple Maps
· Source
Kearny Mesa
Independent
Ez Pz Propane — Kearny Mesa
5596 Kearny Mesa Rd, San Diego, CA 92111
Published on ezpzpropane.com (home + contact): Mon–Sat 7am–6pm (page also says “OPEN ALL DAY”); Sunday 8am–5pm, closed noon–1pm as printed next to Sunday
Details
- Hours
- Published on ezpzpropane.com (home + contact): Mon–Sat 7am–6pm (page also says “OPEN ALL DAY”); Sunday 8am–5pm, closed noon–1pm as printed next to Sunday. Call ahead.
- Tank sizes
- Unknown on the public pages opened (company copy is “filling your propane tanks and cylinders”)
- RV
- Unknown (not stated on those pages)
- Pay-at-pump
- Unknown (not listed as pay-at-pump)
- Also on page
- Public fill yard. Expo Propane’s “Refill Your Tank” page lists the same street address with different hours (Mon–Sat 8:30am–5pm) and the same Kearny Mesa phone — treat as one lot, not two stations. Do not add Expo as a second pin.
- Last verified
- 2026-09-01 (source page checked)
(858) 715-4617
· Google Maps
· Apple Maps
· Source
Kettner / airport
Kettner / airport
Independent
Ez Pz Propane — Kettner
3650 Kettner Blvd, San Diego, CA 92101
Published on ezpzpropane.com (home + contact): Mon–Sat 7am–6pm (page also says “OPEN ALL DAY”); Sunday 8am–5pm, closed noon–1pm as printed next to Sunday
Details
- Hours
- Published on ezpzpropane.com (home + contact): Mon–Sat 7am–6pm (page also says “OPEN ALL DAY”); Sunday 8am–5pm, closed noon–1pm as printed next to Sunday. Call ahead.
- Tank sizes
- Unknown on the public pages opened
- RV
- Unknown
- Pay-at-pump
- Unknown
- Also on page
- Landmark on the contact page: I-5 & Washington. Expo Propane lists this street as a public autogas/refill station with different hours (Tue–Sat 8:30am–5pm) and a different phone ((562) 335-7633), and prints zip 92111 on that page — Ez Pz prints 92101. Same street number; call ahead. Expo’s Inglewood yard is Greater Los Angeles, not this card.
- Last verified
- 2026-09-01 (source page checked)
(619) 510-7087
· Google Maps
· Apple Maps
· Source
Miramar
Miramar
U-Haul
U-Haul Moving & Storage of Miramar
9650 Camino Ruiz, San Diego, CA 92126
Office hours (published on this location’s U-Haul page): Mon–Thu 7am–7pm; Fri 7am–8pm; Sat 7am–7pm; Sun 9am–5pm
Details
- Hours
- Office hours (published on this location’s U-Haul page): Mon–Thu 7am–7pm; Fri 7am–8pm; Sat 7am–7pm; Sun 9am–5pm. These are office hours, not a separate propane-attendant schedule — call ahead.
- Tank sizes
- ~3–100 lb portable (page text); also lists RVs, campers, forklift tanks, autogas
- RV
- Yes (page lists RVs/campers)
- Pay-at-pump
- Yes (page lists “Propane pay at pump”)
- Also on page
- Page title is refill; propane exchange not listed in the services bullets when checked. Landmark on the page: just north of Miramar Air Base, Camino Ruiz & Miralani.
- Last verified
- 2026-09-01 (source page checked)
(858) 271-7753
· Google Maps
· Apple Maps
· Source
Miramar
Ferrellgas
Ferrellgas — Miramar Road
8088 Miramar Road, San Diego, CA 92126
Cylinder refill hours (published on the official location page): Mon–Fri 7am–3pm; Sat–Sun closed. Office hours on that page match the same weekday block
Details
- Hours
- Cylinder refill hours (published on the official location page): Mon–Fri 7am–3pm; Sat–Sun closed. Office hours on that page match the same weekday block. Do not treat a grocery-cage pin on Miramar as this dock.
- Tank sizes
- Unknown (page lists Grill Cylinder Refill; sizes not stated)
- RV
- Unknown (not stated on this location page)
- Pay-at-pump
- Unknown (not listed as pay-at-pump)
- Also on page
- Services listed include Grill Cylinder Refill, Cylinder Recertification, appliance / parts sales, home and business delivery. Tank exchange not listed on the service bullets opened this pass.
- Last verified
- 2026-09-01 (source page checked)
(858) 271-4400
· Google Maps
· Apple Maps
· Source
South Bay
Chula Vista
U-Haul
U-Haul Moving & Storage of Chula Vista
99 N 4th Ave, Chula Vista, CA 91910
Office hours (published on this location’s U-Haul page): Mon–Thu 7am–7pm; Fri 7am–8pm; Sat 7am–7pm; Sun 9am–5pm
Details
- Hours
- Office hours (published on this location’s U-Haul page): Mon–Thu 7am–7pm; Fri 7am–8pm; Sat 7am–7pm; Sun 9am–5pm. These are office hours, not a separate propane-attendant schedule — call ahead.
- Tank sizes
- ~3–100 lb portable (page text); also lists RVs, campers, forklift tanks, autogas
- RV
- Yes (page lists RVs/campers)
- Pay-at-pump
- Yes (page lists “Propane pay at pump”)
- Also on page
- Page title is refill; propane exchange not listed in the services bullets when checked. Landmark on the page: SR-54 and Highland / 4th Ave exit; limited parking — 15 minute limit — cars cannot be left on property.
- Last verified
- 2026-09-01 (source page checked)
(619) 426-6432
· Google Maps
· Apple Maps
· Source
Lemon Grove
Lemon Grove
U-Haul
U-Haul Moving & Storage of Lemon Grove
1805 Massachusetts Ave, Lemon Grove, CA 91945
Office hours (published on this location’s U-Haul page): Mon–Thu 7am–7pm; Fri 7am–8pm; Sat 7am–7pm; Sun 9am–5pm
Details
- Hours
- Office hours (published on this location’s U-Haul page): Mon–Thu 7am–7pm; Fri 7am–8pm; Sat 7am–7pm; Sun 9am–5pm. These are office hours, not a separate propane-attendant schedule — call ahead.
- Tank sizes
- ~3–100 lb portable (page text); also lists RVs, campers, forklift tanks, autogas
- RV
- Yes (page lists RVs/campers)
- Pay-at-pump
- Yes (page lists “Propane pay at pump”)
- Also on page
- Page title is refill; propane exchange not listed in the services bullets when checked. Landmark on the page: west of Lemon Grove Ave. La Mesa neighborhood U-Haul propane results point here — there is no La Mesa city-limits propane location page this pass.
- Last verified
- 2026-09-01 (source page checked)
(619) 460-6370
· Google Maps
· Apple Maps
· Source
East County (El Cajon / Lakeside)
El Cajon
U-Haul
U-Haul Moving & Storage of El Cajon
1186 E Main St, El Cajon, CA 92021
Office hours (published on this location’s U-Haul page): Mon–Thu 7am–7pm; Fri 7am–8pm; Sat 7am–7pm; Sun 9am–5pm
Details
- Hours
- Office hours (published on this location’s U-Haul page): Mon–Thu 7am–7pm; Fri 7am–8pm; Sat 7am–7pm; Sun 9am–5pm. These are office hours, not a separate propane-attendant schedule — call ahead.
- Tank sizes
- ~3–100 lb portable (page text); also lists RVs, campers, forklift tanks, autogas
- RV
- Yes (page lists RVs/campers)
- Pay-at-pump
- Yes (page lists “Propane pay at pump”)
- Also on page
- Page title is refill; propane exchange not listed in the services bullets when checked. Landmark on the page: west of 2nd. Santee neighborhood propane results point here this pass.
- Last verified
- 2026-09-01 (source page checked)
(619) 442-3483
· Google Maps
· Apple Maps
· Source
Lakeside / El Cajon
Tractor Supply
Tractor Supply Co. #2010 (Lakeside)
14140 Olde Hwy 80, El Cajon, CA 92021
Store hours (published on official store page, search-opened HTML this pass): Mon–Sat 8:00am–8:00pm; Sun 9:00am–7:00pm
Details
- Hours
- Store hours (published on official store page, search-opened HTML this pass): Mon–Sat 8:00am–8:00pm; Sun 9:00am–7:00pm. Propane attendant hours: not published on the store page — call ahead (staff fill; TSC process is not listed as pay-at-pump).
- Tank sizes
- Unknown on this store page. TSC company propane-refill page says tanks up to 100 lb, including RV tanks, sold by the gallon — confirm at the store.
- RV
- Unknown at this store (TSC company FAQ: majority of stores fill RVs; call ahead).
- Pay-at-pump
- Unknown / not listed as pay-at-pump (staff fill).
- Also on page
- Service listed: Propane tank refill. California locator also links propane-refill for this store number.
- Last verified
- 2026-09-01 (source page checked)
(619) 561-1230
· Google Maps
· Apple Maps
· Source
Poway
Poway
U-Haul
U-Haul Moving & Storage of Poway
13210 Poway Rd, Poway, CA 92064
Office hours (published on this location’s U-Haul page): Mon–Thu 7am–7pm; Fri 7am–8pm; Sat 7am–7pm; Sun 9am–5pm
Details
- Hours
- Office hours (published on this location’s U-Haul page): Mon–Thu 7am–7pm; Fri 7am–8pm; Sat 7am–7pm; Sun 9am–5pm. These are office hours, not a separate propane-attendant schedule — call ahead.
- Tank sizes
- ~3–100 lb portable (page text); also lists RVs, campers, forklift tanks, autogas
- RV
- Yes (page lists RVs/campers)
- Pay-at-pump
- Yes (page lists “Propane pay at pump”)
- Also on page
- Page title is refill; propane exchange not listed in the services bullets when checked. Landmark on the page: about 4 miles east of I-15 on Poway Rd, two blocks west of Community Rd.
- Last verified
- 2026-09-01 (source page checked)
(858) 486-3660
· Google Maps
· Apple Maps
· Source
North County coastal
Oceanside
U-Haul
U-Haul Moving & Storage of Oceanside
802 S Coast Hwy, Oceanside, CA 92054
Office hours (published on this location’s U-Haul page): Mon–Thu 7am–7pm; Fri 7am–8pm; Sat 7am–7pm; Sun 9am–5pm
Details
- Hours
- Office hours (published on this location’s U-Haul page): Mon–Thu 7am–7pm; Fri 7am–8pm; Sat 7am–7pm; Sun 9am–5pm. These are office hours, not a separate propane-attendant schedule — call ahead.
- Tank sizes
- ~3–100 lb portable (page text); also lists RVs, campers, forklift tanks, autogas
- RV
- Yes (page lists RVs/campers)
- Pay-at-pump
- Yes (page lists “Propane pay at pump”)
- Also on page
- Also offers propane exchange (page title is refill and tank exchange; services bullets list “Propane exchange”; page says they can top off an exchange tank at the refill station). Landmark on the page: across from 101 Cafe on PCH; cross street Wisconsin.
- Last verified
- 2026-09-01 (source page checked)
(760) 967-1251
· Google Maps
· Apple Maps
· Source
Escondido / inland north
Escondido
U-Haul
U-Haul Moving & Storage at Mission Ave
950 W Mission Ave, Escondido, CA 92025
Office hours (published on this location’s U-Haul page): Mon–Thu 7am–7pm; Fri 7am–8pm; Sat 7am–7pm; Sun 9am–5pm
Details
- Hours
- Office hours (published on this location’s U-Haul page): Mon–Thu 7am–7pm; Fri 7am–8pm; Sat 7am–7pm; Sun 9am–5pm. These are office hours, not a separate propane-attendant schedule — call ahead.
- Tank sizes
- ~3–100 lb portable (page text); also lists RVs, campers, forklift tanks, autogas
- RV
- Yes (page lists RVs/campers)
- Pay-at-pump
- Yes (page lists “Propane pay at pump”)
- Also on page
- Page title is refill; propane exchange not listed in the services bullets when checked. Landmark on the page: Mission Ave between Rock Springs Rd and Metcalf St. San Marcos neighborhood propane results point here this pass — do not invent a San Marcos U-Haul propane address.
- Last verified
- 2026-09-01 (source page checked)
(760) 741-7805
· Google Maps
· Apple Maps
· Source
Escondido
Ferrellgas
Ferrellgas — South Vinewood Street
107 South Vinewood Street, Escondido, CA 92029
Cylinder refill hours (published on this location page as fetched): Mon–Wed 7am–4pm; Friday 7am–4pm. Thursday is not listed on the cylinder-refill block. Office hours on the same page list Mon–Fri 7am–4pm. Lunch hour published: 11am–12pm. Saturday and Sunday are not listed on the hour blocks fetched this pass
Details
- Hours
- Cylinder refill hours (published on this location page as fetched): Mon–Wed 7am–4pm; Friday 7am–4pm. Thursday is not listed on the cylinder-refill block. Office hours on the same page list Mon–Fri 7am–4pm. Lunch hour published: 11am–12pm. Saturday and Sunday are not listed on the hour blocks fetched this pass. Do not treat office hours as a guarantee the dock is staffed — call ahead, especially Thursday.
- Tank sizes
- Unknown (page lists Grill Cylinder Refill; sizes not stated)
- RV
- Unknown (page lists a propane fueling station and forklift cylinder service; grill-cylinder RV fill is not stated)
- Pay-at-pump
- Unknown
- Also on page
- Services listed include Grill Cylinder Refill, Grill Cylinder Dropoff, Propane Fueling Station, Forklift Cylinder Service, Cylinder Recertification.
- Last verified
- 2026-09-01 (source page checked)
(760) 746-5500
· Google Maps
· Apple Maps
· Source
Ramona
Ramona
Tractor Supply
Tractor Supply Co. #1862
203 Hunter St, Ramona, CA 92065
Store hours (published on official store page, search-opened HTML this pass): Sun 9:00am–7:00pm; Mon–Sat 8:00am–9:00pm
Details
- Hours
- Store hours (published on official store page, search-opened HTML this pass): Sun 9:00am–7:00pm; Mon–Sat 8:00am–9:00pm. Propane attendant hours: not published on the store page — call ahead (staff fill).
- Tank sizes
- Unknown on this store page. TSC company page: up to 100 lb including RV, sold by the gallon — confirm at the store.
- RV
- Unknown at this store (call ahead).
- Pay-at-pump
- Unknown / staff fill.
- Also on page
- Service listed: Propane Tank Refill. California locator lists propane tank refill for Ramona. A geo-tagged TSC service URL can show a generic “not available at this store” banner — the store page and state locator are the sources used here.
- Last verified
- 2026-09-01 (source page checked)
(760) 789-7052
· Google Maps
· Apple Maps
· Source
Valley Center
Valley Center
Tractor Supply
Tractor Supply Co. #2319
27444 Valley Center Rd, Valley Center, CA 92082
Store hours (published on official store page, search-opened HTML this pass): Mon–Sat 8:00am–9:00pm. Sunday close time did not render in the snippet opened this pass
Details
- Hours
- Store hours (published on official store page, search-opened HTML this pass): Mon–Sat 8:00am–9:00pm. Sunday close time did not render in the snippet opened this pass — unknown. Propane attendant hours: not published — call ahead (staff fill).
- Tank sizes
- Unknown on this store page. TSC company page: up to 100 lb including RV — confirm at the store.
- RV
- Unknown at this store (call ahead).
- Pay-at-pump
- Unknown / staff fill.
- Also on page
- Service listed: Propane tank refill.
- Last verified
- 2026-09-01 (source page checked)
(760) 751-5465
· Google Maps
· Apple Maps
· Source
Jamul
Jamul
Tractor Supply
Tractor Supply Co. #2441
3018 Jefferson Rd, Jamul, CA 91935
Store hours (published on official store page, search-opened HTML this pass): Sun 9:00am–7:00pm; Mon–Sat 8:00am–9:00pm
Details
- Hours
- Store hours (published on official store page, search-opened HTML this pass): Sun 9:00am–7:00pm; Mon–Sat 8:00am–9:00pm. Propane attendant hours: not published — call ahead (staff fill).
- Tank sizes
- Unknown on this store page. TSC company page: up to 100 lb including RV — confirm at the store.
- RV
- Unknown at this store (call ahead).
- Pay-at-pump
- Unknown / staff fill.
- Also on page
- Service listed: Propane Tank Refill. California locator lists propane tank refill for Jamul.
- Last verified
- 2026-09-01 (source page checked)
(619) 825-1602
· Google Maps
· Apple Maps
· Source
Not listed (on purpose): grocery / big-box Blue Rhino–style cages (Vons / Ralphs / Walmart lots) unless a page explicitly says they also refill. U-Haul Moving & Storage of Carlsbad (6175 Paseo Del Norte) — truck/trailer pages do not list propane as a service at that location. No U-Haul propane location page inside San Marcos, Santee, or La Mesa city limits this pass. AmeriGas San Marcos (120 Woodland Pkwy) and El Cajon (15289 Old Hwy 80) — official pages say walk-in service is no longer available / no walk-in traffic. Ferrellgas Alpine (5000 Willows Road) — page says the location is not open to the public (delivery only). Suburban Propane San Diego service-area page is delivery / tank install. Eagle Gas (8445 Los Coches Rd) — no official business page opened this pass. Ez Pz Propane Inglewood and Expo Propane LAX/Inglewood and Sylmar/Pomona yards stay on a later Greater Los Angeles page — not this dump. Riverside County Tractor Supply (Temecula / Lake Elsinore) is later. Do not invent a Carlsbad or San Marcos U-Haul propane street address.
What to check before you drive
- Refill ≠ exchange. If the pin is only a cage with a card reader and no attendant fill, you are in exchange territory (Vons / Ralphs / big-box lots on this metro).
- Call ahead. Ask: “Do you refill my tank today, what sizes, and is someone available now?” Store hours ≠ propane attendant hours. Ferrellgas cylinder hours are weekday-only; Escondido does not list Thursday on the cylinder-refill block.
- Bring the empty (or low) tank you own. Refill keeps your cylinder; exchange swaps it.
- Read the collar date. DOT cylinders must be requalified within 12 years of manufacture (then again per method). Out-of-date tanks get refused at refill.
- Look for OPD. Cylinders up through 40 lb propane capacity generally need an Overfill Prevention Device valve; missing OPD is a common turn-down.
- Condition matters. Excessive rust/pitting, dents/bulges/cuts, damaged collar/footring, or a bad valve — refillers are told not to fill those.
- Expect a partial “full.” Legal fill leaves vapor space (~80%); OPD can stop short of a nominal 20 lb on a warm day. California fill stations follow the same OPD / 80% expansion-space rules as other states for portable cylinders.
- Parking. Point Loma, City Heights, and Chula Vista U-Haul pages warn that cars cannot be left on the property (Chula Vista: 15-minute limit). Plan a drop-in fill, not a storage stop.
- Sizes. Ask about 20 / 30 / 40 / 100 lb and whether they fill RV ASME tanks.
Call-ahead script
“Hi — I’m looking to refill my own tank, not exchange. Do you refill today? What sizes? Do you fill RVs? Is someone at the pump now?”
Common rejection rules (cite, don’t invent)
From U.S. DOT / PHMSA consumer guide Is Your Cylinder Safe to Fill? (PDF):
- Do not fill cylinders with excessive rust/corrosion/pitting, dents/bulges/cuts/cracks, missing/damaged footring, neckring/collar, or valve cover, or leaking/defective valve or relief device.
- Check manufacture / requalification dates; cylinders must be requalified within 12 years of manufacture (then per marking — e.g. “E” visual often means 5 years).
California fill stations follow the same OPD / 80% expansion-space rules as other states for portable cylinders. A “full” 20-lb grill cylinder is limited by that valve; exchange cabinets often sell lighter net weights than a proper refill. Ask which billing method the station uses.
Sources