Does (should) a new hydro stamp count as VIP?

[Six2Life]

When I had my PST HP100 hydro'd I picked it up from the hydrotester empty with the valve finger-tight. There was a bit of flash rust in there (was actually there before hydro) but otherwise the tank was clean. I don't think you have to be a rocket scientist to check if your tank is clean inside and rinse it out if it is not. When I brought the tank for a vip and fill the shop employee popped the valve off, looked inside and stated " it's got a bit of flash rust but that's fine", spun the valve back on and stickered it. If that was the way the vip was done with the customer (me) standing right there, I'm pretty sure the vip's they do when getting the tanks back they send out for hydro aren't any more thorough.

Is this inspection any less comprehensive than the one the shop requires to slap on a vip sticker?

I suspect that the answer to this question from the OP is "No". That being the case, I can't think of any reason why a tank that is less that 12 months past it's last hydro should need another vip. I see some comments about another vip being necessary to check for cleanliness but AFAIK checking a tank for cleanliness doesn't require a PSI or similarly certified inspector. Is having a dirty tank even grounds for failing a vip? I thought the whole reason for a vip is to inspect the tank for defects that would compromise it's structural integrity and the hydrotester just did that.

 

[Peter_C]

One of my friends ran up against this exact issue. One of the LDS's wouldn't fill his tank because it didn't have a VIP sticker. Say what, it is fresh out of hydro, nope it need an inspection sticker. Oh so the sticker changes everything? Right...One call to the hydro place and they apologized and gave him a sticker and a free fill. That is good customer service.

Ridiculous as it is, you have to play by the rules the LDS makes up. Of course you could always do your own visuals, and buy a sticker to put on your tank. Although you need to know what to look for.

 

[Thalassamania]

Visual, hydro, fill, that's that ticket.

A hydro less than a year old should be considered evidence of a current visual, but few tank monkeys know that, and why would the LDS management want to teach them that?

 

[redacted]

Ridiculous as it is, you have to play by the rules the LDS makes up. Of course you could always do your own visuals, and buy a sticker to put on your tank. Although you need to know what to look for.

And then you need to find a shop that will accept it.

 

[Shftrdog]

We include the VIP and Airfill with every Hydro. As for wether or not a tank needs to be VIPed after a hydro the awenser is yes. Even after a tank passes a Hydro it can still fail a VIP. The reason is they over expand the tank which can cause a crack. 99.9% of the time it wont but there is a chance and their fore needs to be VIPed after the Hydro. I iclude it all, we do a VIP before and if it fails you get the money back on the Hydro less teh VIP, if it passes then it goes to Hydro, and then gets VIPed again after Hydro, then Air fill. All of this for $30 if it is newer than 10 years. If it is older it is $45 because we also do a Visual Eddy Test on it to test the threads on a computer. A VIP by its self is $15. This is even the same for our own shop tanks. That being said all shops are different.

 

[Shftrdog]

Sorry about the bad LDS out there, we try our best to give the best customer service. I hope you find a great LDS.

 

[Peter_C]

And then you need to find a shop that will accept it.

Have you found a shop that doesn't accept it? I haven't. I do perform the VIP's as should be done though. Their safety and mine are important.

As for whether or not a tank needs to be VIPed after a hydro the awenser is yes. Even after a tank passes a Hydro it can still fail a VIP. The reason is they over expand the tank which can cause a crack. 99.9% of the time it wont but there is a chance and their fore needs to be VIPed after the Hydro.

Then you would consider the VIP part of the hydro right? So again why is a sticker needed if the tank gets VIP'ed once the hydro is completed as part of the process? The date stamping "says" it was VIP'ed.

 

[redacted]

Yes, depending on the sticker used and the presence of a PSI inspector cert # and name.

Have you found a shop that doesn't accept it? I haven't. I do perform the VIP's as should be done though. Their safety and mine are important.

 

[davetowz]

The Hydro test is a dot mandated test. See cfr 49. CFR 49 also tells you that filling beyond rated pressure is a no no. The vip is a different program, but I would think most shops would toss in the vip with the hydro cost. I know we do. We also do an eddy current on all al tanks.

 

[redacted]

The Hydro test is a dot mandated test. See cfr 49. CFR 49 also tells you that filling beyond rated pressure is a no no. The vip is a different program, but I would think most shops would toss in the vip with the hydro cost. I know we do. We also do an eddy current on all al tanks.

What are the price differences for each component of the service you provide? For example, I can take my tanks to the local hydro facility and get the hydro, including their visual inspection, done for $15. The LDS charges $20 for a VIS w/fill and $40 for the hydro and VIS with fill. I see no good reason to perform an eddy test unless the tank is the 6351 alloy. Well, only one reason - the shop wants the profits. AFAIK, modern aluminum tanks and steel tanks have little problem with neck cracks and a by-eye inspection performed by a competent inspector is adequate. That is, if it is good enough for steel tanks, why is it not good enough for modern aluminum tanks (6061)?