LPG Gas Tank

by geoffskelton Wed Aug 19, 2020 10:33 am

The LPG tank on my 2013 AS Lancashire is rusting and I have been advised to replace it at a cost of about £600.00. Anyone else had this problem and does it sound reasonable?

by Kemerton-bath Thu Aug 20, 2020 11:09 pm

I haven't had the same issue, but for another reason I've been on Gas-it's website today (who supplied the tank fitted to our van) and I noted that a new 25-litre tank costs around £250 with the associated valve gear already fitted and tested. In addition there's probably some form of fitting kit needed to attach the tank to the van.

Once you've added mark-up on materials by the installer, added a few hours of labour at a minimum of £50/hr, the price you've been quoted doesn't sound unreasonable. I'm sure someone else will be along with more direct experience.

Gas-It have an extensive knowledge base on their website which includes a section on dealing with end-of-life gas tanks. I think they operate some form of exchange scheme which may be more cost-effective for you if it applies, though it may only be for tanks older than 10 years. Worth a look and maybe getting another view from one of their appointed dealers.

Once the tank is 10 years old there seems to be an implied suggestion by Gas-it that the safest option is to replace it. I don't know when AS started fitting underslung tanks but I would guess around 2011, in which case not many have quite reached the 10-year point and therefore not much experience exists among owners on tank replacement. That could start to change next year.

Tim

by inspiredron Thu Aug 20, 2020 11:39 pm

Underslung tanks came in around 2014/5 as far as I remember. Solar panel was added in 2013 (only 30W), then gas tank and then upgrade of solar to 80W as standard

by Guest Fri Aug 21, 2020 12:22 am

Our 2012 Symbol has an underslung tank so it's coming up to 8 years old this October. I hope the gas tanks OK as £600 to replace it seems a lot. I wonder if that is for the complete system and not just for the tank.

by Paulmold Fri Aug 21, 2020 8:40 am

My Duo is 2010 with underslung tank. I started a thread about the ten year inspection last year or the year before , I'll see if I can find it.

by Gromit Fri Aug 21, 2020 8:45 am

Hi Geoff

You can't be too far from Thirsk, so I would strongly recommend a visit to Autogas2000. https://www.autogasleisure.co.uk/

They are actually at Carlton Miniott, and Chris Wise (the owner) is as straight and honest as they come. If he says it needs replacing, then you can be sure it does - but if it only needs a scrub and a coat of bitumen, he will not try to con you into spending more than is necessary.

Hope this helps.

Dave

by bikeralw Fri Aug 21, 2020 9:13 am

Would this 10 year gas tank replacement not negate the cost saving over using bottled gas.
I guess it depends on how much gas you use, for myself I use on average one and a half 6kg bottles a year, that's about £36. Times by 10 and it's only just over half the cost of a replacement underslung tank..
Al.

by Paulmold Fri Aug 21, 2020 9:24 am

Here's the previous thread I mentioned...

https://www.autosleeper-ownersforum.com/t27991-gas-tank-re-certfication-10-years-on

And this is the Factsheet created afterwards...

https://www.autosleeper-ownersforum.com/t28019-lpg-tank-certification

by Molly3 Sun Aug 23, 2020 4:34 pm

If you removed the underslung tank how would you safely carry gas bottles Iin a autosleepers .???

by rgermain Sun Aug 23, 2020 6:42 pm

Molly3 wrote:If you removed the underslung tank how would you safely carry gas bottles Iin a autosleepers .???

I don't think it would be easy. No space in our Duo and when we had the Topaz it had a dedicated bottle area with vents etc.

So I would think we are stuck with underslung tank.
-----------
Richard

by jwells Mon Sep 07, 2020 7:37 pm

I recently had to do some work on our Nuevo 2013 lpg tank, it had had a gas leak from new but AS and one other company failed to address the problem at each hab check!
I located the leak to be coming from the gland seal on the main tank outlet valve, and decided to replace the valve myself during the good weather early in "lockdown'. Gasit supplied the valve, l would not recommend doing the job as I did with the tank in situ. However, while doing the job it rapidly became very obvious that the very thin black coating of underseal applied by AS was useless! The tank had a great deal of corrosion, and it took me a great deal of time to remove it - not easy lying under the van. To add to the problem, being in between the two wheels and below the water pressure dump valve exhaust with no real protection it is asking for trouble! I really recommend that everybody takes a close look under their vans, none of this is covered by habitation checks. I have put this rather simply!!

by geoffskelton Tue Oct 13, 2020 11:57 am

Morning
Thanks to everyone who sent a reply. I only raised this issue as it seems to me that there must be a lot of AS vans being driven around where the underslung LPG tank is potentially dangerous. I have now had the tank replaced at AutoGas 2000 near Thirsk. I can highly recommend this company if anyone has similar problems. They showed me the old tank and the supporting straps that had virtually disintegrated. We were an accident waiting to happen up!

by jwells Tue Oct 13, 2020 12:14 pm

Please can you let me know exactly what you replaced it with, and what it cost!
Many thanks for this.
John

by frogman Mon Oct 26, 2020 7:53 pm

Paulmold wrote:Here's the previous thread I mentioned...

https://www.autosleeper-ownersforum.com/t27991-gas-tank-re-certfication-10-years-on

And this is the Factsheet created afterwards...

https://www.autosleeper-ownersforum.com/t28019-lpg-tank-certification

I just want to thankyou for the link you sent to me for a chassis cross member.It arrived early and wasn't so bad a job but I would still have been looking if not for your help.
Colin

by nwilkins Sun May 02, 2021 11:36 am

Probably a bit late on this thread , but as said on another thread the tank should be re - undercoated every 12 months. My van was first registered in 2014 but the pipes and bulkhead regulator are date stamped for change November 2021. I assume they were in stock for a while as was the van originally . Effectively tank and everything needs to be changed end of this year. It cheaper just to change the lot rather than fuss around pressure testing tank . It will also solve the unreliable gauge problem as this is largely due to the original fitter , my tank is turned slightly an hence the floating magnet will never be accurate.

by Paulmold Sun May 02, 2021 1:24 pm

Are you aware of replacement cost?. My cousin recently had his tank replaced , cost around £800 (not an AS , his is a Wildax but cost would be similar)

by Eltel Sun May 02, 2021 6:03 pm

What with LPG supply issues and possible replacement LPG tanks lifespan of ten years one wonders if it’s time to ditch my Autosleeper EK while prices are good.

Seems strange that fuel tanks on cars and vans don’t have such issues at ten years age.

So who’s to blame ?

by nwilkins Sun May 02, 2021 7:23 pm

Unfortunately yes I am aware of cost , tank with all fixings , new gauge , bulkhead regulator etc. Is £260 for some reason the kit is on £5 more expensive that the tank . Fitting cost and checking I was quoted 2 hours labour , with vat £150. 2.5 hours if they have to remake that 3 inch long small copper pipe. Not much you can do about it , will admit I never knew everything should be changed every 10 years when I bought the van, but to be fair a service cost over £400 earlier this year , oil change brake fluid change anti freeze change . Cannot say I want to do it, but just have to factor in to overall maintenance cost. Sell a van with 15k miles on it , just to change a gas tank would cost 1000s . It possibly would have made me think twice when I originally purchased but too late now

by Paulmold Sun May 02, 2021 7:51 pm

Agree, it soon wipes out the savings you make in buying lpg from a pump compared with exchanging bottles, but it isn't compulsory to have a new tank, I just get mine checked for rust/damage and all workings as part of habitation check and painted if necessary but so far tank still looks as good as new.

by Eltel Sun May 02, 2021 8:20 pm

I’m a little surprised it’s not included in the MOT

I will be getting my gas tank checked on it’s habitation check next week.

Terry

by al64 Sun May 02, 2021 9:41 pm

Was advised after my service, mot and hab check that the tank was getting rusty and should be replaced, Having this done soon at a cost of around £700.

by Paulmold Sun May 02, 2021 9:58 pm

al64 wrote:Was advised after my service, mot and hab check that the tank was getting rusty and should be replaced, Having this done soon at a cost of around £700.

Would be useful to others to know who you are getting to do the job.

by Molly3 Mon May 03, 2021 12:23 am

New company called Vangas ,Thirsk

by Paulmold Mon May 03, 2021 8:24 am

Molly3 wrote:New company called Vangas ,Thirsk

Autogas 2000 have been in Thirsk for many years, checking Vangas website the address is the same, so just a change of name. As Autogas 2000 they are well respected, which Gromit will confirm. Lpg gas pump there as well.

by nwilkins Mon May 03, 2021 9:18 am

I agree it is not compulsory to have a new tank, but it is to change all the pipes, regulators and valves at the 10 year date stamp . If the tank has any sign of rust it is highly recommended ( it will have unless you spray it clean it and undercoat it every year.) . To be fair the cost or replacing the piping including all the filler pipes and fittings is only about £100 less than changing the complete lot and that way you get new gauges all through, including the one on the dash.

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