Gas valves - hab check and replacement intervals

[engelside]

2004 Mirage 5000. Very low mileage, the previous (only) owners had done less than 5000 miles before we bought it in Sep 2019. It now has about 15k miles on the clock.

We had hab checks done on purchase and last year (1st anniversary of purchase) by the dealer.

I decided not to go with them this year but the guy doing the gas checks for me basically said that valve on gas bottle was well out of date and the fixed gas tank was out of date!

I emailed the dealer that I bought van from and their response was

The gas system is pressure tested in line with the ACOPs regulations prior to sale and habitation tests.



Regulators have a recommended life span of 10 years but this depends greatly on it’s use, orientation and location. Regulators are checked to make sure they are in good condition and fit for further service.

I'm in a bit of a quandary as to what to do now, the valve to the bottle would be relatively straightforward to change I think, but changing the fixed gas bottle seems a little OTT!

Anyone else out there had similar experiences? I don't know how common a fixed gas tank is and I suspect changing this would be a pretty big, and potentially very difficult (impossible?) job.

Thanks in advance

Martin

 

[Mikeco]

It’s not clear from your post whether you have a fixed refillable bottle, an underslung tank or a normal gas bottle.

 

[Spriddler]

Well you've had it for more than two years and done 15k miles so to get one issue sorted change the regulator as it should be simple enough and not expensive.
As far as the gas container is concerned it would help to know whether you have a fixed tank or a refillable cylinder as Mikeco mentioned.
First thing I'd have the tank tested by an an approved authority which you should be able to find on Google, then take whatever step is necessary.
One step at a time. I don't think you have any recourse with the dealer after two years.

 

[engelside]

Sorry for being unclear.

So, the van has a refiilable gas bottle to the front and a fixed, underslung tank.

First pic shows the underslung tank and second shows the bottle - in the left hand locker. Supply is switched in the locker that contains the removable bottle.

The pics are from a review of the mirage that is here

 

[cmcardle75]

The underslung tank would need to be re-certified periodically (every ten years from new from memory, but might possibly be every five?). The vendor seems to be suggesting that this has already been done (although this is not particularly clear from their response). The hab check person is indicating that they have not seen the re-certification documentation.

As for the bottle valve. They're a fiver. Just replace it.

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[SandraL]

Pressure vessels , which your underslung tank is, need inspection and or testing if used commercialy.. I think this is 10 yearly now.
I do not think this applies to privately owned items but may be wrong.
Perhaps Basildog could comment.

 

[Basildog]

Pressure vessels , which your underslung tank is, need inspection and or testing if used commercialy.. I think this is 10 yearly now.
I do not think this applies to privately owned items but may be wrong.
Perhaps Basildog could comment.

Sadly there are far too many confusing and differing standards/ Acops that people seem to love quoting.
In fact as far as I am aware the NCC actually told all their approved workshop/ fitters not to work on any underslung tanks .
The original NCC code of practice Cop 306 was withdrawn I believe.
The latest Liquid Gas Cop 32 does give plenty of good information on underslung tanks .
10 year lifespan on most components along with the requirements of testing the tank leads us to always advise that the lifespan should be considered as 10 years .
Quite scary the limited knowledge of gas tanks by your average dealer / leisure vehicle fitter .
Here’s the relevant information from Cop 32