De-gassing
Alfie came with 2x 120 litre “torpedo” LPG tanks installed as well as a “gas-ring” style vaporiser on the engine, a very basic LPG setup that had been installed by the previous owner at some expense.
However, as we'd not be doing mega mileage in this vehicle and we wanted more interior space they had to go. The savings on fuel were not going to be big (assuming we could find LPG on longer trips) and carrying LPG (especially that much of it) gets you banned from certain tunnels and ferries and the like anyway, which would have been no good for us.
In fact a quick google and some maths on the specs of the average “120L” LPG tanks suggests they were actually taking up more like 175 litres of actual useful interior space each (450mm x 450mm x 870mm footprint) and weighing about 40Kg each.
Oh yeah - when LPG is used, the tanks get cold and covered with condensation, leading to damp & corrosion.
That and we didn't fancy lighting a camping stove in the back of the vehicle while sat on a quarter of a ton of liquified petroleum gas. Paranoid, yes, but faults and accidents do happen with gas.
Anyway, on with the removal!
LPG Tanks before:
Capped off:
My opinions on the noble craft of autogas installation have not been swayed by things like this bespoke tank strap tensioner:
…and the proliferation of un-trimmed cable ties, this one melting on the exhaust being a particularly excellent example of the safety-conscious LPG expert:
While I removed tank #1, Helen removed the carpentry on the other side, you can see just how much tank there was:
Because the tanks were “indoors”, it would seem when in use they attracted quite a lot of condensation, which collected on the floor and led to the rusty patina around the wheelboxes - hopefully it'll brush up and be OK, otherwise it's not the end of the world to make a couple of new boxes. Under one of the tanks was a trapdoor…
Hello!
An Eberspacher B3L, yes a petrol-fired one! Currently not working (fuse blown & control knob fell off) but certainly looks like it could be revived.
Aaaah, that's better - fetch me a cat to swing!
