10 Year LPG Tank / Cylinder Testing/Inspection/Replacement

[Basildog]

Okay so when I get back from Spain in March I will take up the floor in my van, remove the insulation, disconnect the filler pipe disconnect the copper pipe to the regulator, unbolt the Autogas 2000 Caratank from its lugs and so on. There has to be an easier way unless your tank is only safe up to 10 years.

That’s exactly what the codes of practice state that you need to do at 10 years.
Tank should be removed.
Filler hoses replaced and regulator replaced.
Yearly inspections have always been recommended too as that too is good practice, you can do this yourself easily enough.

 

[Basildog]

I find some of the comments made here quite amusing.
So 11 years ago Autogas sold me a cheap product just for my benefit and to save me money.
Love the one about 10 year old tanks being beyond saving.
Business must be bad at the moment.

 

[Mikeco]

That’s exactly what the codes of practice state that you need to do at 10 years.
Tank should be removed.
Filler hoses replaced and regulator replaced.
Yearly inspections have always been recommended too as that too is good practice, you can do this yourself easily enough.

That’s exactly what the codes of practice state that you need to do at 10 years.
Tank should be removed.
Filler hoses replaced and regulator replaced.
Yearly inspections have always been recommended too as that too is good practice, you can do this yourself easily enough.

Just had a good look on the Autogas2000 website and I cannot see any mention of the underslung tanks only lasting 10 years. Perhaps you could point me in the right direction or do you tell people after they have ordered and paid over £600 for a kit.

 

[Mikeco]

View attachment 711936 View attachment 711938 View attachment 711939

Yes but they are not pictures of my tank and those could be 30 years old.

 

[jongood]

Yes but they are not pictures of my tank and those could be 30 years old.

mine also seems in pretty good condition but tbf it is something I would want to err on the side of caution with. Basildog
where would I look to see how old it is please? underslung 120litre.

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[Basildog]

mine also seems in pretty good condition but tbf it is something I would want to err on the side of caution with. Basildog
where would I look to see how old it is please? underslung 120litre.

Date is normally stamped into the valve plate inside the valve box cover .
Here’s exactly what it says regarding a 10 year inspection:
At periods not exceeding 10 years from the date of installation the following shall be carried out:
Tanks shall be removed from the vehicle ,stripped,subjected to a thorough examination (including a pressure test), and recertified by a competent person, if found to be satisfactory, it shall be stamped with test date of 10 year test undertaken and repainted.
The valves and regulator shall be renewed.
The hoses shall be renewed.
After re-assembly and re-installation, the installation shall be tested and recertified by a competent person.
When a tank is moved from one vehicle to another it is recommended that the opportunity is taken to carry out a thorough examination and recertification.

 

[Pausim]

When I bought my first 14kg Alugas cylinder I knew it had a 10 year life. It didn’t stop me buying a second one a few years later. At present prices they are each costing me just over £3 per month (£370/10years/12months). I can think of lots of things I spend more on that are less use. I made my choice and I will have to live with the running costs.

An 11kg Gaslow would be about £1.75 per month.

I suspect there are a few people who bought new camper vans with standard fit underslung tanks that might understandably feel a bit aggrieved. I doubt that all the enthusiastic sales persons remembered to mention the 10 year life of the tank whilst extolling the many virtues of the sale.

 

[Basildog]

Yes but they are not pictures of my tank and those could be 30 years old.

I posted this thread because many on this forum have specifically asked for this information, I have spent some considerable time looking at the different manufacturers recommendations and the industry standards, codes of practice etc.
What you choose to do with this information is entirely up to you .
Hopefully I have provided pretty accurate useful information for those that are interested.
Those tanks are all around 10 years old , we remove many tanks that are much younger if they haven’t been stone chip protected from new .
The oldest is actually 2009 .
The worst one is 2011 .

 

[Mikeco]

I posted this thread because many on this forum have specifically asked for this information, I have spent some considerable time looking at the different manufacturers recommendations and the industry standards, codes of practice etc.
What you choose to do with this information is entirely up to you .
Hopefully I have provided pretty accurate useful information for those that are interested.
Those tanks are all around 10 years old , we remove many tanks that are much younger if they haven’t been stone chip protected from new .
The oldest is actually 2009 .
The worst one is 2011 .

I trust that you will practice what you preach and make it clear on your website that people are buying something that will only last 10 years.
When I bought mine 11 years ago the first that I knew of the 10 year test was in the fitting instructions with no mention of it having to be removed.
Now that you have said that it’s not possible to test the tank after 10 years can I have my money back please.

 

[Sue and Rick]

Here’s the blurb from Gaslow re: recertification:

How does the re-certification or Replacement cylinder Scheme work?​

Option1

Gaslow can offer you a like for like cylinder re-certification scheme, where you return to us your Gaslow cylinder for re-testing and we will supply you with a replacement identical to your returned cylinder which has been tested for a further 15 years. The cost of this service is £99.00 inc vat per cylinder.

In addition to this we are pleased to offer 20% discount on any other Gaslow products purchased on the same invoice as the cylinder replacement, from Gaslow at out Loughborough premises.
We would advise that you take a photo of your cylinder/s and note the cylinder serial number and date stamp. Email the images and information to us at Gaslow with your contact details to confirm your cylinder/s meet the refurbishment criteria.
Please always contact us before travelling to ensure that your cylinders have met the exchange criteria and we have the correct cylinder in stock for you.

Please note that in order to use the Re-certification scheme your cylinder must comply with certain conditions. See bottom of page for details.

Option 2

Gaslow can also assist with a cylinder replacement scheme, all that is required is the you return your cylinder to us at Gaslow International. In return we will offer you brand new, non-refurbished cylinder at a discounted rate of whichever size or type replacement you choose with 20% off the Gaslow retail price. In addition to this we are pleased to offer 20% discount on any other Gaslow products purchased on the same invoice as the cylinder replacement, from Gaslow at our Loughborough premises.
We would advise that you take a photo of your cylinder/s and note the cylinder serial number and date stamp. Email the images and information into us at Gaslow with your contact details to confirm your cylinder/s meet the refurbishment criteria.
Please always contact us before travelling to ensure we have the correct cylinder in stock for you.

Please note that in order to use the Cylinder replacement scheme your cylinder must comply with certain conditions. See bottom of page for details

According to that then Gaslow cylinders have a 15 year life
Edit Pre 2012 have 15 year life.

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[Oldrat]

Okay so when I get back from Spain in March I will take up the floor in my van, remove the insulation, disconnect the filler pipe disconnect the copper pipe to the regulator, unbolt the Autogas 2000 Caratank from its lugs and so on. There has to be an easier way unless your tank is only safe up to 10 years.

We as a company here at Autogas 2000 Leisure Ltd have always maintained that not only should an underslung tank be serviced / inspected annually but also tested / replaced / valves replaced @ 10 years.

 

[Mikeco]

We as a company here at Autogas 2000 Leisure Ltd have always maintained that not only should an underslung tank be serviced / inspected annually but also tested / replaced / valves replaced @ 10 years.

Yes but after it’s been bought and you have said that it’s not possible to test an underslung tank.

 

[Oldrat]

I trust that you will practice what you preach and make it clear on your website that people are buying something that will only last 10 years.
When I bought mine 11 years ago the first that I knew of the 10 year test was in the fitting instructions with no mention of it having to be removed.
Now that you have said that it’s not possible to test the tank after 10 years can I have my money back please.

I think that you’ve made your point.

 

[Jays2]

When we bought a motor home in New Zealand, it had small gas bottles fitted, around 4.5 litres.
you could get them refilled at the petrol station.
But before they would refil them they checked the date when they were tested.
If the date was out of time you had to take them to a business that would carry out a pressure check and then stamp them with another (5 years?)
These bottles were just normal Cylinders that the garage would refill for you.
It did slightly upset me when we had them both tested, one was full as it still had a small amount of time left on its test procedure, but the test required high air pressure, so lost the gas to atmosphere.

 

[Mikeco]

I think that you’ve made your point.




View attachment 711959

Just one more then I will leave it to Trading Standards, below is a copy of what you supplied 11 years ago and note that it says Date of Inspection.
It does not say Date of removal and spend £600
Finished now.

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[Kannon Fodda]

I don't think anyone has said it is not possible to test an underslung tank.

What is said is the cost of the testing process makes it uneconomic. To test the cylinder needs to be removed, and fittings removed. It then needs to go to a testing facility and currently I don't think there is one in the UK (lots of small facilities test for scuba, a similar process, but different industry). Perhaps different to those who have gas bottle type refillable cylinders, but equally those are often seen and directly handled by those doing the filling so they are more aware of condition. The point being that the regs have been in place for many years, just often ignored or unaware, especially when the tank is hidden from view of most people.

Notable that the images posted above for underslungs appear to have been missing the stone chip protective paint.

 

[Stoosal]

I trust that you will practice what you preach and make it clear on your website that people are buying something that will only last 10 years.
When I bought mine 11 years ago the first that I knew of the 10 year test was in the fitting instructions with no mention of it having to be removed.
Now that you have said that it’s not possible to test the tank after 10 years can I have my money back please.

It’s possible to have the tank tested, the issue is finding a company willing to do it and the associated costs involved which make the viability of doing so negligible.
The testing of cylinders is pretty much a closed shop for all but the main suppliers who don’t want to have a market for privately owned cylinders being recertified. Companies who do offer such services tend to be for specific uses eg diving cylinders, rather than every type of cylinder use.
There will be a multitude of mechanical examples where inspection is required for individual parts and associated use. That does not mean that disassembly or removal may be required for that to be done or that the company that sold it will provide a service of such inspection.

 

[busbuddy]

Just be thankful that you dont live in germany, the lack of a gas certificate on your van used to be declared as 'major fault' at the mot
Germany has been hot on gas checks for a long time but....and it's a massive BUT.....I imported my used van from germany, helped others import theirs, worked on loads of other fresh imports and all had up to date gas certificates....with all of those also having long out of date hoses and some fitted with underslung factory fitted tanks that were unusable scrap
If the germans cant get it right after all these years then we dont have a chance over here

 

[gus-lopez]

When I bought my last coach built it had an onboard tank. It was 25 years old at that time with what appeared to be the original regulator.
I replaced the regulator, pipework, 4 way manifold & individual pipework.The powder coating on the tank was as new , probably due to the fact that the Italians, like the spanish, like them installed on the chassis side rails & behind the skirting.Ideal for a side impact & large detonation It is still in use today at 34 years old.

 

[Lenny HB]

According to that then Gaslow cylinders have a 15 year life
Edit Pre 2012 have 15 year life.

They have not updated their website it used to be 15 years for their older cylinders.

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[Googlebot]

Well, I am replacing the lot.

It might cost a fortune, but it isn’t even the fact I might have a problem with it sitting there.

Vehicles crash and I would rather have the peace of mind that my tanks and hoses are top notch.

Basildog and Lenny HB thanks for the help.

I do find it mildly amusing that people get so irate that standards change and they might have to spend some money they deem unnecessary. Old fuses worked, they stopped the cable melting but would kill you stone dead is one such example.

 

[CazPaul]

I’m going down the gus-lopez route hopefully.

Us Concorde owners have to watch the pennies

 

[Mikeco]

I’m going down the gus-lopez route hopefully.

So am I, with due care and inspection though.

 

[trophychap]

I am sure my Gaslow paperwork states 15 years for the cylinders. 15 years for Stainless hoses and 5 years normal rubber hoses.

I believe that the insides of the tanks rarely rust as there is generally a small amount of tar in the gas that generally prevents the cylinders rusting. My belief is that an internal examination is usually some one shining a torch inside the cylinder to look for rust.

Pressure testing is carried out if signs of rust are present internally, probably not required if there is no sign of rust.

 

[DuxDeluxe]

Most of the LPG and LNG ships that I have sailed on have uncoated tanks and on the rare occasions that they are gas free you can still see all the chalk marks from the shipbuilder. Lack of oxygen means no rust

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[The Wino]

Interesting photos of the corroded under vehicle tanks but I'm still not convinced on the in gas locker refillables. How many of them see much corrosion?

 

[Googlebot]

If anyone is absolutely convinced beyond 10 years is fine, I have a complete set of x2 11kg Gas it cylinders with hoses that will be for sale shortly.

For the avoidance of doubt, that was supposed to be a funny joke and they will be going for recycling.

 

[Lenny HB]

Interesting photos of the corroded under vehicle tanks but I'm still not convinced on the in gas locker refillables. How many of them see much corrosion?

In our first van we has Stako bottles the powder coating had flaked of the bottom ring and they were starting to rust at 6 years.
Current bottles we have had 9 years (dated 2023) but they are aluminium and the two vans they have been in, the gas locker is inside the garage so they are in very good condition. I will still change them this year.

 

[Basildog]

In our first van we has Stako bottles the powder coating had flaked of the bottom ring and they were starting to rust at 6 years.
Current bottles we have had 9 years (dated 2023) but they are aluminium and the two vans they have been in, the gas locker is inside the garage so they are in very good condition. I will still change them this year.

Put a steel cylinder in an Aluminium Carthago locker and see what it looks like in a year
Alugas cylinders don’t do much better

 

[Lenny HB]

Put a steel cylinder in an Aluminium Carthago locker and see what it looks like in a year
Alugas cylinders don’t do much better

Both of the Hymer lockers in the last two vans are timber even thought the van is double skinned aluminium walls. The Carthago we are getting apart from the door the locker is all timber.

I take you are referring to extnal lockers on some vans.

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