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Thread: Covering Internal Gas Tank.

  1. #1
    DAMINK Guest

    Covering Internal Gas Tank.

    I have a 60 or 70 ltr gas tank in the back of my car where the 2 rear seats were. (d1)

    I am wanting to make up some small slide out draws and a bed in the back with the little room left, which brings me to my question.

    Legally am i allowed to cover the gas tank? What i mean is lets say i make some draws infront of the tank and then have a board that sits ontop of the tank which turns into a bed when back seats are folded down.

    Is it legal or even safe to do so? To be fair i have slept ontop of it before but just used bedding to cover it.

    Now this is not something i intend to ever do with my family. Just when i go out with the boys and dont want to bother setting up a swag. I recognize there are some risks but alone i am willing to take those.

    Thanks

  2. #2
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    I don`t see a issue as lpg tanks should be vented outside by law

    The only problem you are creating is a hassle if you have to look at tank valves wiring ect
    Go for it or msg Bee utey on here as he is the Gas Guru in SA
    By the way Lpg is for BBQ`s

  3. #3
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    The legal requirement is for you to have tool free access to the control box for emergencies or servicing. That means definitely nothing like a screwed together box without at least a simple hatch (no screws or bolts to open) or hand access hole. The truth is that the last version of LPG regs required covering of the gas tank against damage from a load carried in anything other than passenger sedans. Not too many LPG fitters read that one so many tanks in vans and wagons remain uncovered.

  4. #4
    DAMINK Guest
    Quote Originally Posted by bee utey View Post
    The legal requirement is for you to have tool free access to the control box for emergencies or servicing. That means definitely nothing like a screwed together box without at least a simple hatch (no screws or bolts to open) or hand access hole. The truth is that the last version of LPG regs required covering of the gas tank against damage from a load carried in anything other than passenger sedans. Not too many LPG fitters read that one so many tanks in vans and wagons remain uncovered.
    Appreciate your advice sir thankyou.
    My intention was/is to allow access through a hinged area which will be operable with your finger via a hole. And have enough area to open the cover plate and see the gas gauge (which is important as my in car gauge is...... Flippin crazy lol)

    Again thanks for the words of wisdom. I am no gas expert and was a little concerned if i covered it there may be an area to trap gas but by the sounds of it the gas tank is designed to vent outside if it does vent.
    For the record my gas was checked about 3 years ago so should be ok.


    Hmmm i just got to thinking..... are you able to turn your bottle so that the access panel is vertical or is there a reason they are at the angle they are?
    That could make access even easier if i was able too.

  5. #5
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    You'll know if the tank vents!!!!
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  6. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by DAMINK View Post
    Appreciate your advice sir thankyou.
    My intention was/is to allow access through a hinged area which will be operable with your finger via a hole. And have enough area to open the cover plate and see the gas gauge (which is important as my in car gauge is...... Flippin crazy lol)

    Again thanks for the words of wisdom. I am no gas expert and was a little concerned if i covered it there may be an area to trap gas but by the sounds of it the gas tank is designed to vent outside if it does vent.
    For the record my gas was checked about 3 years ago so should be ok.


    Hmmm i just got to thinking..... are you able to turn your bottle so that the access panel is vertical or is there a reason they are at the angle they are?
    That could make access even easier if i was able too.
    Making sure that your gas tank control box is properly sealed and vented only to the outside is essential. That means the box seal mustn't be damaged by frequent opening etc, the vent hose must be secure and any unused outlet plugged and sealed. If your dash gauge is erratic do yourself a favour and get a new sender unit. The electrical part should be held on with 1-2 tiny screws and not cause any leakage when swapped.

    Oh and rotating your LPG tank more than a degree or three from its design angle will cause the internal float valves to operate incorrectly. It's a bit like fitting your toilet cistern at a crazy angle and expecting it to not do weird stuff.

  7. #7
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    Where I live the law depends on how much you want to contribute to the inspectors tea fund, so not a part of the requirement.

    I have my tank completely covered with a carpeted wooden box that has about a 1 foot square removable section retained with Velcro in front of the valve enclosure, so no tools required. The plastic enclosure around the service valves is sealed and vented to the outside via a flexible piece of tubing.
    The top of the box has 2 compartments 4 or 5 inches deep with removable covers, again held in place with Velcro. Apart from taking up too much space it works well. I also store a snatch strap and tree protector in the space caused by a round tank being inside a square box.

  8. #8
    DAMINK Guest
    Quote Originally Posted by bee utey View Post
    Oh and rotating your LPG tank more than a degree or three from its design angle will cause the internal float valves to operate incorrectly.
    Ya know i never even considered that! And i have had the whole tank out before when i painted the whole floor!!!!! So i must have lucked it when putting it back in? Actually now i think about it, it has feet that screw it down so that keeps it at the correct level??
    Dunno actually but an important little nugget of info worth remembering.

  9. #9
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    Oh and rotating your LPG tank more than a degree or three from its design angle will cause the internal float valves to operate incorrectly. It's a bit like fitting your toilet cistern at a crazy angle and expecting it to not do weird stuff.
    The same applies to filling the tank. There is an LPG station here that I only used the one time. It is built so that the car has to be reversed up a short "ramp" so the rear mounted tank ends up at a steep angle. No way that the tank can be filled properly! I guess that depending on the layout of the valve it would either overfill, or underfill, but with mine it was well under filled.

    The other thing that I have done with mine is fit an inertia switch in the engine bay, wired back to the tank solenoid. Used the same type of switch as used on the D1 petrol pump circuit. Never needed it, but there has been endless fires here after an accident, in a lot of cases causing fatalities.

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