Fuming gas can, how to seal?

[Kurtatron]

I bought an oil gas tank to replace the annoying modern gas tanks that are not good for using gas intermittently. They swell and shrink if they’re not kept topped up. Since I’m using the gas for my off-road minibike, the gas tank will not be sitting around at full very often.

The old gas tank has no rust or anything, but isn’t sealing very well. I can smell gas fumes coming out of the cap.

If I bring it in my car to fill it up, the car will stink of fumes on a hot day.

How would you seal this?

 

[Nukeman7]

Those older Eagle metal gas cans originally came with a rubber/cork gasket to seal the cap. If it is shrunken or missing, you can make a replacement gasket with Fel-Pro cork impregnated rubber gasket material from AutoZone.

 

[D60]

I'm not a paranoid person, but I refuse to travel with a gas can in the passenger compartment.

So, sure, make a new lid gasket but find a way to strap this securely on a hitch carrier or something.

 

[SC Maintenance]

I'm not a paranoid person, but I refuse to travel with a gas can in the passenger compartment.

I just don't want to breath the fumes.

Gasoline turns to vapor and expands quite easily. It either has to vent or be under pressure. If I had to put something in my passenger compartment I would use my sealed Wavian NATO can.

Yet one more reason to own a pickup truck.

 

[JHZR2]

Obviously the gasket is leaking. So fix that. Not sure if those ever sealed perfectly.

I’ve found that the no spill ones seal up tight and don’t leak fumes. Probably have a better print in them, at least for a few many years.

If you’re not using much, also limit your inventory, that’s a big can. Get a 1.25 gallon no spill or similar.

 

[zzyzzx]

I would clean the outside of that gas can.

 

[Donald]

I have a safety gas can for my OPE. But even then it only goes in the back of my pickup.

Not good to have a gas can inside a car.

Remember the Pinto and Mustang (etc) with drop in gas tank? That could be you!

 

[Dave9]

IDK if mine is eagle brand, but I have used a can extremely similar for about 40 years and it does not leak fumes. It has what looks like a simple compressed cardboard seal in the cap.

I take it to the gas station in the passenger compartment and can't even imagine the hassle to do it any other way - except of course in the bed of a pickup truck, but I've never needed to give it a second thought. No issues going back and forth the couple of miles to the gas station. However I fill it first, to let any spillage (dripping pump nozzle) dry up while filling the vehicle tank, before it goes back into the vehicle. Depending on the vehicle, I use either bungie cords to secure it, or put it in the 2nd row floor so it can't move around much.

What do you have lying around that would make a good replacement seal? Lots of potential gasket materials are resistant to gasoline, but the adhesive to hold it in the cap is going to be a bit harder to choose. I'd lean towards some type of RTV sealant. If it weren't gasoline then I'd use hot glue, but hot glue isn't particularly gas resistant.

 

[meep]

Cardboard, or maybe cut up an old innertube?

 

[Dave9]

Mine is Eagle brand. Took the cap off and the seal looks perfect, is compressed cardboard with some kind of plastic film on top. I'm trying to remember... it's been so long, but that can maybe came with a flexible stainless spout too, in addition to the red painted steel cap which is what I always use... easier to grab a funnel than swap on the spout to pour from it. I don't think the spout had a way to seal the top either, so would have to be taken back off to put the cap on anyway.

 

[Donald]

Is the Eagle gas can even a safety gas can? A safety gas can will have kind of a funnel of wire mesh you can see when you take off the gas cap. If not a safety gas can it should not be stored in attached garage.