When the approval of the LPG tank ends

Necessary service activities in cars with LPG installation and formalities related to the operation of a car powered by LPG. Everything you need to keep in mind for a smooth and trouble-free ride.

Installing a gas system is still the best way to save on the price you have to pay for every kilometer you drive. In cars that are heavily used, the investment in installing a gas system can pay off quickly, and alternative ways to reduce costs, such as buying a diesel vehicle, turn out to be much more expensive. Driving drivers know a lot about it, because the share of vehicles with LPG installations remains at the level of a dozen or so percent, and the interest in assembly has not diminished for years. Anyone considering switching to gasoline driving must remember that this means benefits and increased requirements for regular service and formalities. Let’s take a closer look at what you should pay attention to when using a car with an LPG system, both in terms of technical issues and the necessary documents.

Necessary service activities in cars with LPG installation

Servicing a car with an LPG installation

Driving a car with a gas system is the same as driving a vehicle that runs exclusively on gas. The engine achieves almost the same torque in the same rev ranges, which makes the acceleration and driving experience similar. The only discrepancies concern visits to gas stations – LPG is refueled differently, although thanks to the growing number of self-service dispensers, these differences are slowly blurring – but also the required care for the technical condition of the vehicle. Although no car can withstand negligence in servicing, in the case of cars with LPG installation, delays and prolonged visits to the workshop will result in a greater increase in the risk of failure than in the case of a car powered only by gasoline.

Every driver using a car with a gas installation must remember that it is particularly important to regularly change the engine oil and oil filter. Under no circumstances should the periods of 10-15 thousand kilometers be extended between individual visits to the site. It is important to respect the replacement date, because the LPG-burning engine is slightly less lubricated, because friction reducing agents are added to gasoline. Working with LPG also means a slightly worse cooling of individual elements, e.g. valve seats, which means that the oil often comes into contact with hotter surfaces than in the petrol unit.

It is equally important to replace the air filter and check the quality of the coolant and the operation of the water pump, because the entire cooling system has slightly more tasks to perform – in installations with a reducer, it must take care of equalizing heat losses and protect it from excessive cooling. The control of the electrical system must not be forgotten, as individual components are exposed to greater loads – this is especially true for coils, which must deliver more electricity than when using gasoline. As part of servicing, adjustment of valve lashings should not be omitted, unless it is done automatically in the car. Regular inspections of the LPG system itself are essential, including timely replacement of the liquid phase filter and the vapor phase filter. You will also need to check your settings from time to time.

Formalities related to the operation of a car powered by LPG

Enter the LPG installation in the registration certificate

Using a car with an LPG installation requires appropriate formalities. The fact of installing the gas installation should be recorded in the vehicle registration certificate. In the case of cars purchased as new, the entry will be included in the certificate automatically, because the car undergoes approval tests as adapted to this type of power supply. However, if it is put on by the dealer or the user himself after purchase, it will be necessary to present a copy of the gas system approval statement received in the workshop and the certificate of the installed tank together with an invoice on which the VIN number and the vehicle registration number were provided. This obligation must be fulfilled within 30 days of assembly.

Technical inspection of a car with LPG

In the case of LPG cars, the obligatory technical inspections will also look different. For new cars, the first test is performed three years after registration, and another one after two years. For cars older than five years, the test must be carried out annually. After installing the LPG system, the tests are automatically required once a year. In the case of testing a vehicle with an LPG installation, the cost will also be higher – instead of PLN 98, you have to pay PLN 162.

Approval of the LPG tank

The condition for passing the technical examination is a valid approval for the gas tank. It is issued for 10 years, and after this period it is necessary to either install a new tank or undergo an additional legalization test that has been used so far. The maximum service life of the tank can be 20 years, so the test option is chosen quite often. The entire procedure can be performed at a point authorized by the Transport Technical Supervision (TDT) to prepare the tank for testing.

The tank is disassembled there and the inspection activities are performed by a TDT inspector. When verifying the condition of the tank, it is important, among others its tightness, as well as the external condition – no corrosion, dents or other types of damage. You will also need a clear nameplate. After a successful test result is obtained, the vehicle owner receives a test report and an administrative decision authorizing the further use of the tank.