Sleeping in a car that has LPG installed?

[Jaaack]

Evening guys.

I'm looking at purchasing a car that has LPG installed, it will be used mostly as a daily with the occasional overnight airshow/car show etc, so I'll be sleeping in it for a few nights at a time. Now I know an LPG tank in itself is nothing to worry about as they're typically quite over-engineered and have failsafes.

But would you sleep in the back of a car, inches away from it? Obviously it's pretty much a sealed environment with very little air circulation so any sort of leak would linger and accumulate to dangerous levels I would've thought? I've heard all sorts of tragic stories of people sleeping in running cars and never waking up due to CO levels, just wondering if leaking LPG could have a similar effect?

The car in question is a 20 year old Honda estate, the seller reckons the LPG system was installed around 2014. It is registered on the national LPG register but I don't know anything else about it.

I'm pretty set on buying the car, just wondering wether to retain the LPG kit or remove it. It's a very rare car and I've been waiting for one to come up for a while so I don't want to pass it up

[hutchst]

Doesn't the fact that you're even asking yourself the question give you the answer?

[finishing touch]

It wouldn't worry me, any more than a petrol tank, but then I'm a welder so used to inflammable gases.


I run a coal effect fire at home and we cook with gas as well. Four 47kg cylinders next to the central heating oil tank all installed by myself.
What's to go wrong? ( if done sensibly )


I believe that flexible propane pipe is date marked so if your prospective purchase has any I would change them.
If any screw type hose clips are evident then I would change these for the crimp on type, lemon or O clips.
Possibly new regulator as these will have rubber seals & diaphragm.

Just a general service really. Common sense.



Paul G

[Truckosaurus]

Motorhomes have holes in the floor of their gas cupboards as the gas is heavier than air so if there is a leak then the gas falls out of the van rather than building up inside. You could make sure you have similar ventilation on your setup.

I'm sure you'd notice a leak anyway.

[anonymous-user]

Gas absolutely stinks, you can’t fail to notice a leak in an enclosed area.

The reason CO is so dangerous is it’s odourless and tasteless and one of the first effects of poisoning is sleepiness and reduced cognitive function, so once you’ve been affected getting safe is a real problem. Also it lingers in the bloodstream so even when you’re out of the affected area you can still not be getting enough oxygen.

LPG is explosive but doesn’t have the properties that make CO so dangerous - i.e. the affinity for red blood cells - and it reaks to high heaven. Theoretically if the leak was so bad that it displaced most of the oxygen then you’d be in trouble - but we’re talking “head in the oven” levels here.

If you wake up and smell gas, don’t light a cigarette

Edited by anonymous-user on Thursday 17th May 06:56

[scarble]

Get an lpg leak detection alarm?

[frisbee]

Truckosaurus said:

Motorhomes have holes in the floor of their gas cupboards as the gas is heavier than air so if there is a leak then the gas falls out of the van rather than building up inside. You could make sure you have similar ventilation on your setup.

I'm sure you'd notice a leak anyway.

If its a 20 year old car its probably got a few holes in the floor already!

[OldGermanHeaps]

The multivalve on the tank and tank filler should be inside a sealed secondary enclosure that is vented through the floor, so if any part leaks or the overpressure valve vents the gas will end up outside the car, not inside.
That is of course provided it has been fitted properly.

[paintman]

Have it inspected.
If it was properly installed then the tank should have a sealed cover over the valve assembly and a hose from that to vent to the outside of the car.
If it was a DIY installation - as many are - then who knows?
If in doubt don't buy it.

[Frimley111R]

Unless it leaks (and you'd know that immediately, what is there to worry about? A gas tank is massively stronger than a thin metal petrol tank. I'd sleep next to an LPG rather than a petrol tank any day

[EddieSteadyGo]

I know it isn't your question, but why would you want to sleep in a car for a few nights with no washing or toilet facilities when you can get a room in a B+B or a cheap hotel for a not many pounds per night?

[Jaaack]

finishing touch said:

I believe that flexible propane pipe is date marked so if your prospective purchase has any I would change them.
If any screw type hose clips are evident then I would change these for the crimp on type, lemon or O clips.
Possibly new regulator as these will have rubber seals & diaphragm.

Just a general service really. Common sense.

Paul G

Thanks, I'll get that looked at and arrange an independent inspection before I sleep in it then! It's not an ancient install, the seller reckons 2013/14 but will definitely be needing attention by now if it's not been serviced since install.

charltjr said:

Gas absolutely stinks, you can’t fail to notice a leak in an enclosed area.

The reason CO is so dangerous is it’s odourless and tasteless and one of the first effects of poisoning is sleepiness and reduced cognitive function, so once you’ve been affected getting safe is a real problem. Also it lingers in the bloodstream so even when you’re out of the affected area you can still not be getting enough oxygen.

LPG is explosive but doesn’t have the properties that make CO so dangerous - i.e. the affinity for red blood cells - and it reaks to high heaven. Theoretically if the leak was so bad that it displaced most of the oxygen then you’d be in trouble - but we’re talking “head in the oven” levels here.

If you wake up and smell gas, don’t light a cigarette

Edited by charltjr on Thursday 17th May 06:56

Glad to hear it isn't as dangerous/subtle to the body as CO in the way that CO creeps up on you and you can't recognise what's happening, although it's still a bit of a concern, as I'm a very heavy sleeper and I don't know if the smell would wake me. Then again, I'd be getting into the car after it's been parked all day so if it was leaking it'd hopefully be pretty obvious when I open the door and it stinks!

paintman said:

Have it inspected.
If it was properly installed then the tank should have a sealed cover over the valve assembly and a hose from that to vent to the outside of the car.
If it was a DIY installation - as many are - then who knows?
If in doubt don't buy it.

I'll get the seller to send me some photos of the tank setup, and I'll definitely be getting it inspected before I sleep in it! It's registered on the national LPG register so I'm assuming that means it's been looked at by an expert when it was installed.

EddieSteadyGo said:

I know it isn't your question, but why would you want to sleep in a car for a few nights with no washing or toilet facilities when you can get a room in a B+B or a cheap hotel for a not many pounds per night?

Why not? It's easier than tenting and there are showers/toilets on site. Also, it'd mean driving to a B&B and staying there on my own while my mates are sat round a BBQ with copious amounts of cider!


On the whole then, do we think it's any more dangerous than sleeping in a car without the system fitted, PROVIDING that it's installed to code and I get it inspected by someone who knows what they're looking at before I sleep in it?

Edited by Jaaack on Thursday 17th May 12:47