Getting LPG tanks tested.

[DANNY8]

I recently bought a VB, and the gas tank is 20 years out of date. It was suppose to be tested in 1989 lol.

I went to a local here and he said it would be around $500 to get it sent away and tested, plus a bit extra for them to pull it out and put it back in. I read in another thread on here (over 2 years old, didn't wanna dig it up) that someone paid around $200.

So yeah, just wondering if anyone knows of some places in Adelaide that do this. I don't wanna put it off coz it needs to be done ASAP.

A mechanic mate was the one who suggested I look around for a place that does it themselves, so I can go to them directly. He said some places will have it done in a day.....which I need coz my car is LPG only.

Anyone know any places? I should just get off me bum and look in the yellow pages, but thought I'd ask first

[commsirac]

Sounds a bit steep, even if it has to be shifted interstate.

Did you purchase the car with a rwc, or did you get the rwc done for yourself? either way go back to the tester and put the deal on him/her......they are supposed to check for that.

30 year old tank, worth getting checked I suppose.
Do gas tanks ever fail the tests? and for what reasons(to someone who knows)

However, if its going to cost you that much you might as well get a new lpg system installed, with the crazy government rebate paying for the deal.
There wouldnt have been any accreditation plates back in 79/80 and you would be eligible for the government grant of $2000. I dont know what a basic impco mixer system with apa tank that can be fitted on a vb goes for now, but I paid only $1200 ten years ago. Even if a new system was say $2300, it would be cheaper than getting the tank tested and ultimately perform better....depending on what is there atm.

[DANNY8]

In SA we don't have RWC's, so it doesn't have one. The guy that said around $500 said they rarely fail the test, only when ya get a real bad one, but he said mine looks good.

I'll look around and report wat I find out.

[Pub247]

From what i understand being a boilermaker testing would be along the lines of x-raying the tank checking for faults and cracks appearing in the welds or tank itself a leak down test of some sort would probably be preformed aswell

[wildss]

have you considered just buying a new tank for roughly the same price?
thats what id do but if you can get the rebate and a brand new system i say go for it!

[Boonz]

in SA it seems to take a few months to get hold of gas tank... seems to be alot of installers having problems with sourcing tanks due to material shortages!

danny, at our work we do tank testing and its about $400, all it is is crack testing and inspecting the inside of the tank and fittings

[adam69]

Id be chasing a second hand tank thats in date,$500 is about double the price you should pay.Ive been told that they first weigh the tank(dont know why).I have a car at home that needs testing before i chase a RWC also.

[adam69]

I purchased a VP a little while ago and they guy had just spent approx $300 to get it done and thats with them doing every thing(R+R)

[jules]

Do gas tanks ever fail the tests? and for what reasons(to someone who knows)

structural integrity - cracks, as Pub mentioned, and faulty valves (although i suspect they can only test the ones attached to the tank when it's tested on the rig).

[DANNY8]

Thx for the help guys. I ended up taking the tank out myself and taking it to Lovato Auto Gas in Adelaide. It cost about $290 to get tested (pressure test, internal and external inspection) and to put the new multi-valve gear on the front. He also gave me a connection so it should of gone straight back in and hooked up no probs. That wasn't the case tho so I ended up just towing it to a LPG service place down the road and they extended one of the lines, and I also got them to wire up the gauge up front (got a new gauge with the valve gear), and they also realigned the tank (apparently it's gotta be at a certain angle or sumfin lol).

So overall it cost me about $550 anyways lol. I don't mind tho, atleast I now have a legal gas system in my car lol.