Petrol Can

[MichaelT]

Not MH related but I have just bought a petrol lawnmower so need a petrol can to store the fuel in, I remember last summer in the heat people complaining that the plastic containers they had were expanding and leaking due to the heat so thought I would buy a metal one instead. So can anyone recommend a good metal fuel can with a spout either 5 or 10 litres please.

 

[pappajohn]

Plenty of 10ltr gerry cans on Amazon.

Some garages will only allow recognised fuel containers and max 10ltrs

All my fuel, 4st and 2st, is stored in 5ltr plastic 'forecourt' containers... Never had one leak yet.

 

[gus-lopez]

B&Q 20l jerry cans + a clip on spout.

 

[suavecarve]

As per the amazon is the way i went.

Also had a leak with one of the plastic ones in France in the garage. An absolute mare of a stink with shed loads of smelly products put down to make the vehicle even possible to enter.

Would not entertain getting a plastic one.

 

[Jev88]

B&Q have 10 and 20 litre jerry cans

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[69473]

Purchased a metal jerry can last year, make sure it has a locking pin built into cap.
Metal cans tend to have a clamp type lid and should have a locking pin.
Quite important as fuel cans in transit often fall over!

 

[68c]

Not MH related but I have just bought a petrol lawnmower so need a petrol can to store the fuel in, I remember last summer in the heat people complaining that the plastic containers they had were expanding and leaking due to the heat so thought I would buy a metal one instead. So can anyone recommend a good metal fuel can with a spout either 5 or 10 litres please.

They will only swell and leak if left in direct sunlight all day. Not really a good idea even with a metal can as anyone who has driven in a desert will tell you, fuel sprays everywhere when you open the can.

 

[MichaelT]

They will only swell and leak if left in direct sunlight all day. Not really a good idea even with a metal can as anyone who has driven in a desert will tell you, fuel sprays everywhere when you open the can.

Wasn't planning on doing so but several people said they had them in sheds and garages last summer and due to the heat they expanded and leaked.

 

[Despicable]

Used to have a 5 litre plastic can in my cars from the late '60s until the late '80s; although never had one leak, on a few occasions the thing looked like a balloon. Fuel expands with heat, so don't fill up to the brim, leave an inch or so of air. Also, don't just go for the cheapest, try to find a reputable make.

 

[Nasher]

I've also used plastic 'cans' for years - only had one leak and that was because the 'rubber' seal had fallen out of the cap - worth checking when you replace the cap....

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[Speve]

These are very good.

Rhino 5L Red ExploSafe Fuel Container SFC1R - 240 | at Zoro

Rhino - 5L Red ExploSafe Fuel Container SFC1R - 240 x 345 x 155mm available at Zoro.co.uk - UK's Leading Supplier of DIY Tools and Supplies'

www.zoro.co.uk

 

[Despicable]

Not MH related but I have just bought a petrol lawnmower so need a petrol can to store the fuel in, I remember last summer in the heat people complaining that the plastic containers they had were expanding and leaking due to the heat so thought I would buy a metal one instead. So can anyone recommend a good metal fuel can with a spout either 5 or 10 litres please.

On reflection, MichaelT, as it's just for your lawnmower, and not to be placed inside a metal box (ie car or moho); just keep it in your garage or in the shade in your shed. If the inside of your shed exceeds the temperature of the boot of a car, I suggest it's on fire.

 

[Podney]

Plastic is fine,just don’t fill to the brim,simples.

 

[Sundowners]

With my plastic cans I always knee it against a post or something to squash it a bit-- that allows a fair bit of expansion before it gets under pressure
With the steel Jerry cans --- in Australia we used to tip them back to get a bit more in----(petrol)--- then lay them down on the roof rack of our Land Rover --in the summer--- often 110f we nor any body we know of had any issues----------
So the Jerry cans we cart petrol in are used all year around-------- I confess I do wrap an old blanket around them in the car----- to keep the sun off but mainly to stop them rattling around with all the crap in the back!!!!!
My preference is a steel jerry can with a spout----if you can get spare seals at the same time get one (at least) but they do last a few years!!!!

 

[bigwood]

I used the Jerry can type from Machine Mart in the Landrovers. They come in 5,10 & 20 ltrs. There are also clip on spouts to go with them. They are well made and I can’t remember them leaking when they fell over en route.

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[gus-lopez]

They will only swell and leak if left in direct sunlight all day.

Not true .I have 5l, 10l plastic & 20l metal jerry cans in my shed here .I have had a 20l plastic one split on the centre seam. i also have my old refrigeration equipment in the same shed/workshop It includes a " tell tale" temperature recorder which from May/June until end of september sits permanently against the 45ºc stop. & that is with the door being opened every morning & shut at night.
You pump up wheel barrow or bike tyres to 50 or 60 psi & leave in the sun here in the summer they explode.

If the inside of your shed exceeds the temperature of the boot of a car, I suggest it's on fire.

The inside of my mpv parked here in the sun ,tested with a probe on the drivers seat, sits at 73ºc. & no I wouldn't even think of having a petrol container inside.

 

[CamperJack]

I fill my diesel heater from a Halfords plastic can. Do I need to worry about expansion problems with diesel too?

I don't store it full. I use it to fill the heater's tank and only store whatever is left. It's currently empty actually.

I've never had any plastic cans I use for my petrol lawn mower or hedge cutters leak or expand. But again the cans are filled, used to fill the machine tanks and the only petrol stored in them is what doesn't fit into the machines tank. Usually stored no more than 50% full.

 

[Sundowners]

I fill my diesel heater from a Halfords plastic can. Do I need to worry about expansion problems with diesel too?

I don't store it full. I use it to fill the heater's tank and only store whatever is left. It's currently empty actually.

I've never had any plastic cans I use for my petrol lawn mower or hedge cutters leak or expand. But again the cans are filled, used to fill the machine tanks and the only petrol stored in them is what doesn't fit into the machines tank. Usually stored no more than 50% full.

Just squash it a bit before
you tighten the lid

 

[suavecarve]

To clarify my petrol accident in France.

It was a plastic petrol cannister. It was near Bordeaux. It was stiflingly hot. It was in the garage.

But none of that had any bearing on the fact that while I was waiting to return by plane to join the wife she opened the can to release the pressure and forgot to put the lid back on before driving to meet me on the motorbike causing it to spill everywhere, so my first job upon arrival was to clean the garage, and I wasnt in the best of moods as I just finished a 12 hour night shift, straight to Gatwick, plane, land Bordeaux, drive motorbike hour, clean garage.

I have had better days

 

[Grummyb]

I'm just going to chuck the save the planet argument in the ring and say go for recyclable steel and not fill the ocean single use plastic
Just my opinion other opinions are avaliable

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[ManTheVan]

Plastic is fine. They are built to withstand quite a wide range of pressures. As a guide, the vast majority of boat outboard tanks are plastic and they can sometimes sit in the sun or in hot environments for hours. None of ours has ever leaked. As previous posts have said, never fill the petrol csn to the brim. There is a maximum fill line to allow for thermal expansion and contraction; just abide by that and you’ll have no issues.

 

[tonyidle]

I'm just going to chuck the save the planet argument in the ring and say go for recyclable steel and not fill the ocean single use plastic
Just my opinion other opinions are avaliable

Nice thought but they're not single use. I've had four for more than 20 years (I keep a couple in the garage for parts washing petrol & a couple in the shed for the mower / strimmer / hedge cutter). Never had any problems with them although over the years heat exposure has caused minor ballooning.

 

[Scotch mist]

for 45 years use of fuel cans plastic & steel , they can all leak BUT it has always been from seals - splitting / perishing or hardening of the seals
pas said buy quality & it should be ok

 

[The Wino]

I've got a few plastic ones never had a leak. If it's just for the lawnmower get a smallish plastic one if you get a big metal can I recon the fuel will be past it's best by the time you get to the end.