Prevent plastic gas cans from creasing?

Elkins45

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I've had to toss or repair more than one plastic gas can over the years because the vapor contracted and caused the can to crumple. Storing it with the vent open would prevent this, but all the gas would evaporate. Are there any solutions to this problem? It's especially bad in the spring when we have warm days and cool nights.

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I've had to toss or repair more than one plastic gas can over the years because the vapor contracted and caused the can to crumple. Storing it with the vent open would prevent this, but all the gas would evaporate. Are there any solutions to this problem? It's especially bad in the spring when we have warm days and cool nights.

View attachment 334083
If this is happening due to the change in temp, you’re going to have to vent to atmosphere (open the container) and then seal it when the temp is at its coldest. That way, your vapor pressure in the container is the lowest it can be. If you’re able to do this, the vapor pressure will be at its lowest and your container won’t be messed up when the temp rises, as the vapor pressure will cause expansion and not container retraction. My guess is there’s some stupid built in check valve that opens at a certain pressure in the safety/complicated/nanny pouring mechanism, negating all the advice I’ve outlined above and will still lead to container creasing.

They’re not cheap, but Wavian nato Jerry cans are a game changer. I bought a few and plan to pass them down when I check out. HTH.
 
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Keep it full, or empty (with vent open)?
I try to keep mine full, and store in a cool place, with the vent closed. No problems. The empty ones I leave the vents open. Never had a problem with the 5 gallon ones though, probably thicker plastic. The one gallon containers for my push mowers give me the most trouble when they are outdoors, and the heat gets to them.
 
A couple of mine do this and also swell up in the summer. They are sealing good. Is the issue how your gas can looks?
 
Mine don't crinkle badly, the sides dent in but it's gentle and seems to be part of the design. They do expand like blowfish, though, such that they pivot on a ball-shaped point on the bottoms. And this is stored in a garage out of the sun.

I'm happy, honestly, because it keeps the vapors in, which I paid for, and which are the best part of the gas.
 
A couple of mine do this and also swell up in the summer. They are sealing good. Is the issue how your gas can looks?
No, the issue is that eventually they flex in the same spot enough that it cause the plastic to crack. The swelling doesn't hurt them, just the contraction.
 
I've had to toss or repair more than one plastic gas can over the years because the vapor contracted and caused the can to crumple. Storing it with the vent open would prevent this, but all the gas would evaporate. Are there any solutions to this problem? It's especially bad in the spring when we have warm days and cool nights.

View attachment 334083
I bought three 5 gallon plastic gas cans and they're much heavier duty than the cheaper cans. I do have older 2 gallon cans and they've never done this.
 
Keep it full, or empty (with vent open)?
Yes, that would work, but keeping it full would require me loading up a half-full can and driving it to town to top it off every time I fill my mower. That sorta defeats the purpose of storing gas at home. And keeping it empty means I don't have any gas LOL.

I think maybe my best solution is to keep the plastic can topped off from a metal can. I hate the Rube Goldberg funnels that come with the metal cans.
 
I have tried every flavor of gas cans to haul race fuel. These are the only ones that do not leak a single fume and are good enough to chuck out of a helicopter. You can get a fat diesel hose or one that fits in a car tank. All sorts of accessories and racks are available. I carry 8 in an aluminum truck box and smell nothing. You will never go back to any other can after owning these. I even trust them in the boat when I need more fuel than the built in tank can hold. They are that safe and strong.
https://www.grainger.com/product/SCEPTER-Gas-Can-5-gal-Capacity-829T23
 
This is why I still use the gas can that I got handed down from my dad 20 years ago. The same one I used when I was a kid mowing lawns. In 30 more years it'll still be rocking it.
Where do you actually find these? My aforementioned gas can, it has a vent like this but that part may not last forever. It's started to have bits of it chip off from thirty-something years of UV exposure.
 
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