LPG belly tank servicing.

[Em and Tim]

Hi all, we are going to be back in the UK in January, and want to get the gas system serviced, the key thing being the belly tank (60l cylinder mounted behind the rear axles), the shot off valve and the regulator really, but maybe it would be worth getting the truma heater fobe by the same people. I have a good friend who could do the service, but I'm not sure what needs doing to the belly tank, and he's a British gas engineer, so doesn't now anything about motorhomes (beyond fitting our bbq point before we set off back in March)

Does anyone have any recommendations for who can do this? Ideally around Sussex, Derbyshire, south Wales or South West/central belt Scotland, but as that list tells you, we'll be all over the country while we are back, so good people are what we are looking for.

Any advice/recommendations gratefully received.

 

[MisterB]

Lpg fuelled vehicles dont have their underslung tanks serviced, so why the need for yours to be done?

 

[canopus]

Autogas wil be able to tell you if anything is needed. However they're in North Yorkshire.

Autogas Leisure 2000 Limited - Refillable Gas Solutions for Motorhomes

Autogas 2000 Leisure Limited, Motorhome LPG refillable gas Solutions and refillable gas bottles.

www.autogasleisure.co.uk

 

[ericroy]

I believe that the tanks need to be inspected after 10 years and re-certified. Mine that I fitted underslung came with an initial ten year certificate. Not sure what this entails, but at the very least I would expect it to include a check for external corrosion or any physical impact damage.

Would be interested to hear from a professional who knows what is required!

However, unless the OPs tank is 10 years old, the tank itself probably does not need servicing...

 

[Nirvanauk]

Agree with the previous post Autogas 2000

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[Reallyretired]

My first port of call for anything motorhome related is Jobns Cross.

 

[Minxy]

Lpg fuelled vehicles dont have their underslung tanks serviced, so why the need for yours to be done?

I don't know if it needs doing or not but an LPG powered vehicle uses it in it's liquid state, rather than as a gas which may required a different safety regime.

 

[MisterB]

I don't know if it needs doing or not but an LPG powered vehicle uses it in it's liquid state, rather than as a gas which may required a different safety regime.

but both tanks hold gas as a liquid ……

I agree with previous posters to ask autogas (or there are other companies who can probably provide the information. no animals were hurt during the posting of this information) for their opinion on what a testing regime should consist of.

 

[Minxy]

but both tanks hold gas as a liquid ……

I agree with previous posters to ask autogas (or there are other companies who can probably provide the information. no animals were hurt during the posting of this information) for their opinion on what a testing regime should consist of.

I was thinking of the whole system, not just the tank as the OP said he wants the gas system servicing and he specifically mentioned the regulator which is part of the 'gassing' system, not the liquid bit.

 

[MisterB]

I was thinking of the whole system, not just the tank as the OP said he wants the gas system servicing and he specifically mentioned the regulator which is part of the 'gassing' system, not the liquid bit.

lol, I don't disagree with your comments !!! we are both just trying to be helpful !

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[Minxy]

lol, I don't disagree with your comments !!! we are both just trying to be helpful !

Agree, it's so difficult sometimes to get across exactly what is meant without writing a 1,000 word essay!

 

[Em and Tim]

Thanks all, I will update here once I have enquired. If only j knew how old the gas tanks was.... either way, I think we should get I done after the Flensburg incident back in May!









(The filling valve jammed open and the German fire brigade stripped down the entire system to drain it while closing roads and generally making a fuss over not a lot).

 

[Minxy]

(The filling valve jammed open and the German fire brigade stripped down the entire system to drain it while closing roads and generally making a fuss over not a lot).

... I wouldn't say that's 'not a lot'!

 

[Em and Tim]

... I wouldn't say that's 'not a lot'!

Fair call,though it took them hours of standing around while the gas blew out, where as I could have fixed it with a bolt/blanking cap of the right size thread (the thread that you screw in to fill the tank) and an O ring, if I could have got to a DIY store/iron mongers and found one.

It took us a good few weeks without gas to get the parts we needed sent out, before I could get it all back together and test it. I also added an 8mm ball valve between the 'non return' filling valve and the tank, so that if the same thing happens again, I can just turn it off, which seemed like a good idea at the time.

Either way, I'd like to get it serviced, and have at least one part in the system replaced!

 

[Basildog]

Just carry the Gaslow adapter with the non return valve and screw if in until you are somewhere safe
Gaslow Euro/Spanish Fill Adapter 01-4305

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[Em and Tim]

Just carry the Gaslow adapter with the non return valve and screw if in until you are somewhere safe
Gaslow Euro/Spanish Fill Adapter 01-4305

While the system was empty, I fitted an 8mm ball valve so if it ever happens again, I can just shut it off. I couldn't believe that was not a standard fitting.

 

[gus-lopez]

(The filling valve jammed open and the German fire brigade stripped down the entire system to drain it while closing roads and generally making a fuss over not a lot).

Anything like that in Germany ,oil,rad water, etc; dropped on the road is a reportable incident due to environmental laws,

 

[Em and Tim]

Anything like that in Germany ,oil,rad water, etc; dropped on the road is a reportable incident due to environmental laws,

Oddly they were happy for 50ltrs of lpg to be dispersed by the wind (it was a very windy day mind), not a hint of any paperwork ever seemed to be considered.

 

[busby]

Hi all, we are going to be back in the UK in January, and want to get the gas system serviced, the key thing being the belly tank (60l cylinder mounted behind the rear axles), the shot off valve and the regulator really, but maybe it would be worth getting the truma heater fobe by the same people. I have a good friend who could do the service, but I'm not sure what needs doing to the belly tank, and he's a British gas engineer, so doesn't now anything about motorhomes (beyond fitting our bbq point before we set off back in March)

Does anyone have any recommendations for who can do this? Ideally around Sussex, Derbyshire, south Wales or South West/central belt Scotland, but as that list tells you, we'll be all over the country while we are back, so good people are what we are looking for.

Any advice/recommendations gratefully received.

Should think tank only needs inspecting for corrosion..BUSBY.

 

[Em and Tim]

Should think tank only needs inspecting for corrosion..BUSBY.

Is that an internal or external inspection?

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[busby]

Is that an internal or external inspection?

External I would think,,bit of oil in gas so would imagine inside of tank would be fine..BUSBY.

 

[PeteH]

The position used to be, (Pre 1998, when I "retired" from my second profession!!, as a vessel examiner), that smaller LPG vessels used for Domestic purposes, where not required to be examined once they had left the factory, certified as to construction and duly stamped up. Large Bulk vessels in comercial use, should be inspected internally and externally every 10 years, we paid most attention to the welding with emphasis on the heat affected area`s. Attachments, nozzles etc;

Suppliers of portable cylinders (Calor etc), Do test often, mostly by using air pressure in a tank of water. (or did).

I have internally examined a vessel on my R-V. But that was only because the oportunity was presented when the filling valve jambed and had to be replaced, using a borrowed endoscope. The internal surface, 12 years old was virtually pristine!. I would suggest that a good look at the vessels welded joints externally, and the Brackets which serve as attachments to the vehicle would likely suffice.

 

[gus-lopez]

Oddly they were happy for 50ltrs of lpg to be dispersed by the wind (it was a very windy day mind), not a hint of any paperwork ever seemed to be considered.

Just evaporates whereas oil ,water,diesel, etc; seeps in to ground.

 

[autorouter]

(The filling valve jammed open and the German fire brigade stripped down the entire system to drain it while closing roads and generally making a fuss over not a lot).

Lucky. If there was no wind, the gas would accumulate, being heavier than air, in concentrations just right for the slightest spark to trigger a huge explosion. Especially dangerous if you're in a filling station next to the pumps.

 

[Em and Tim]

Response from autogas 2000:

A gas tank as you will understand is a pressure vessel so should be tested at ten year intervals or if there is any signs of heavy external corrosion to the tank vessel. Tank testing has to done by an approved body as this is something we cannot offer its better to outsource the works to people like South Staffs Industries who specialise in this work but the cost for tank inspection and re-valve maybe higher than a new tank for replacement.

Tank dates are stamped to the tank valve body plate so you should be able to read the data from here to find out the capacity of tank in WC and age of tank.

Send me a digtial picture of the tank and and valve face as well so I can see what the tank layout is so I can advise better.

A new tank 60 ltr is £214 plus vat complete with valves as a guide price.

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[tonyidle]

I don't understand the filler valve jamming open. There are two: one on the tank inlet and one on the pump connection. If the one on the filler valve jammed open the only lpg to escape would be that in the hose between the two valves. This would be enough to be worrying as it vapourised but would quickly dissipate. It is extremely unlikely that both valves failed. I can't understand why they would empty the tank.

 

[Em and Tim]

I don't understand the filler valve jamming open. There are two: one on the tank inlet and one on the pump connection. If the one on the filler valve jammed open the only lpg to escape would be that in the hose between the two valves. This would be enough to be worrying as it vapourised but would quickly dissipate. It is extremely unlikely that both valves failed. I can't understand why they would empty the tank.

In that case, my guess is that the valve at the tank must have failed previously, but i was not aware that there was a valve at the tank.

 

[Basildog]

Not as unusual as it might sound
There can be particles or debris from the autogas pumps when the hoses get old especially.
Also more likely to happen on twin cylinder systems when the filler hose isn’t on the tee to equally distribute the incoming lpg .

 

[Basildog]

I don't understand the filler valve jamming open. There are two: one on the tank inlet and one on the pump connection. If the one on the filler valve jammed open the only lpg to escape would be that in the hose between the two valves. This would be enough to be worrying as it vapourised but would quickly dissipate. It is extremely unlikely that both valves failed. I can't understand why they would empty the tank.

It definitely can and does happen

 

[PeteH]

Response from autogas 2000:

A gas tank as you will understand is a pressure vessel so should be tested at ten year intervals or if there is any signs of heavy external corrosion to the tank vessel. Tank testing has to done by an approved body as this is something we cannot offer its better to outsource the works to people like South Staffs Industries who specialise in this work but the cost for tank inspection and re-valve maybe higher than a new tank for replacement.

Tank dates are stamped to the tank valve body plate so you should be able to read the data from here to find out the capacity of tank in WC and age of tank.

Send me a digtial picture of the tank and and valve face as well so I can see what the tank layout is so I can advise better.

A new tank 60 ltr is £214 plus vat complete with valves as a guide price.

As per my post #22. I have had a look online, and can find no definitive mandatory period for the tanks fitted to R-V`s or Motorhomes. However the following is taken from the Government website :-

In the UK, there is no statutory regime for inspecting the safety of aftermarket LPG installations before use on the road or at the annual roadworthiness (MOT) test. However, vehicles must meet the requirements set out in the C&U regulations at all times that they are used on public roads. Whilst there is no statutory regime for inspecting the safety of aftermarket LPG installations, there is a voluntary code of practice published by UKLPG and some insurance companies may ask for some form of certification before granting cover.

It would appear therefore, that any examination is the responsibility of the Owner of the vehicle concerned.

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