Fuel Cans / Containers

lakelandterrier · 07 April 2011, 12:39

Being tight, and not wanting to pay fuel pontoon prices to fill up now I have an internal fuel tanks, and not wanting to go through the hassle / time of trailering the boat through narrow lanes to the nearest petrol station to fill up either, I've come up with topping the tank up every time with 1-2 jerrycans of new fuel.

Am I right in thinking that with "traditional" metal jerry-cans there is risk of rust / debris getting into the main fuel tank over time?

Is there a 20-25 litre plastic "jerry-can" / container for petrol that will do the same job? I've considered using an old plastic 30l external tank, but they don't pour very well.

Are there any other options?

LT

Jon.esp · 07 April 2011, 13:01

A service station shouldn’t let you fill up a plastic 25l jerry can. I think there have been threads on this before.

Jon

PeterM · 07 April 2011, 13:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jon.esp

A service station shouldn’t let you fill up a plastic 25l jerry can. I think there have been threads on this before.

Jon

But they are 'demountable tanks' not Jerry cans......in theory .......

But yes they are much stricter nowadays ...I used to take them out of the boot to fill ( for safety ) but after some discussion found leaving them in avoided any problems.....

I used to keep the under deck tank topped up this way - sit it on a seat and use syphon jiggle thingy... just be carefull as it will keep flowing out even if the main tank is full - giving you a petrol covered deck

Leapy · 07 April 2011, 13:12

I use two of THESE on the basis that every cheap-jack fuel can I've bought has leaked/smelt/broke...

They're not cheap (circa £30 a throw last time I looked) but they're solid, reliable and leak free, and the spout and valve mechanism makes pouring quickly or slowly both easy and safe

Leapy · 07 April 2011, 13:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeterM

I used to take them out of the boot to fill ( for safety ) but after some discussion found leaving them in avoided any problems.....

The supermarket garages round our way have now started asking - via the PA - to see your petrol can before they'll turn the pump on. No 'proper' fuel can, no fuel

Poly · 07 April 2011, 13:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leapy

The supermarket garages round our way have now started asking - via the PA - to see your petrol can before they'll turn the pump on. No 'proper' fuel can, no fuel

You need an ASDA with no attendant (all self service!), or if you fill the car first then the pump will already be 'on'. All much easier than trying to educate the operator that this is a portable tank not a can!

Quote:

Originally Posted by lakelandterrier

I've considered using an old plastic 30l external tank, but they don't pour very well.

Can you either siphon it in, or rig up a connector where you use can plumb in the portable tank and use it first (so main tanks are only consumed on longer trips?).

Rust is an issue with metal cans, but crud is an issue with all fuel cans - I find fine sandy grit seems to get its way into mine (I've not worked out if this comes in when checking the fuel level before leaving the beach or with the fuel).

Leapy · 07 April 2011, 13:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polwart

or if you fill the car first then the pump will already be 'on'.

Hmmm...but then I end up with diesel in the outboard

lakelandterrier · 07 April 2011, 14:14

If I understand the regs, the max size plastic "fuel can" I can fill with petrol is 5l, but I can fill several - I believe it's legal to carry upto 30l of petrol in cans in a car.

Metal containers can be more, but not over 30l (standard jerry can 20l)

Properly constructed "fuel tanks" can be upto 30l capacity (although amny petrol station don't understand the difference betweeen a "can" and a "tank".

Options would seem be:
1) 2 x metal jerry cans and risk some rust over time (although I will use a filter funnel to fill the tank)
2) several 5 litre plastic cans (bit of a faff & take up lots of boot space)
3) Use 30l external tank from the old boat & some kind of pump to effect the transfer

If I to do a long run, or know I'll be using her a lot over a short period ,then I'll fill up at the petrol station / barge, but with the family I'll be doing lots of 2-4 hour trips with lots ofidling / low speed, so my thought was to keep the tank 2/3 full when filling at a pump, then top up for the shorter days, thus keeping relatively fresh fuel in the mix.

With the internal tank I want to avoid getting crud in it. Is the risk of rust from a new jerry-can that great?

m chappelow · 07 April 2011, 15:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leapy

The supermarket garages round our way have now started asking - via the PA - to see your petrol can before they'll turn the pump on. No 'proper' fuel can, no fuel

Think as long as it is an approved tank or container its ok ,

though from memory most local councils will only allow something like 20 ltres to be stored at premises either domestic or commercial without a petrolium spirit licence .

Simon B · 07 April 2011, 16:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leapy

I use two of THESE on the basis that every cheap-jack fuel can I've bought has leaked/smelt/broke...

They're not cheap (circa £30 a throw last time I looked) but they're solid, reliable and leak free, and the spout and valve mechanism makes pouring quickly or slowly both easy and safe

Are these 5 litre cans?

Leapy · 07 April 2011, 16:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simon B

Are these 5 litre cans?

Yep, 5 litre

SPR · 07 April 2011, 21:00

The RYA Published this:

http://www.rya.org.uk/sitecollection...F%20PETROL.pdf

removed 2010's info!

Poly · 07 April 2011, 21:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by SPR

The RYA Published this:

http://www.rya.org.uk/sitecollection...F%20PETROL.pdf

basicly you can carry in car legally:

2 off 5 litre Plastic Tanks
2 off 10 litre Steel Tanks

or a Portable 25 litre Petrol Tank

If you have van or trailer totally different, but its up to each company who sell you the fuel to decide if they will serve you less.

Regards

Scott

Scott not sure how you read those limits into that RYA document. For personal use you can transport up to 240 L (in appropriate containers up to 60L).

SPR · 07 April 2011, 21:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polwart

Scott not sure how you read those limits into that RYA document. For personal use you can transport up to 240 L (in appropriate containers up to 60L).

Opps - I should really read the NEW version before posting...it was updated 4th March 2011 ....

Whoo Hooo my Jerry Cans are legal again!

Scott

Nos4r2 · 08 April 2011, 00:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by SPR

....

Whoo Hooo my Jerry Cans are legal again!

Scott

Well, 'til you meet a petrol station numpty who thinks they know the law better than you...

Poly · 08 April 2011, 07:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

Well, 'til you meet a petrol station numpty who thinks they know the law better than you...

Actually he probably does know HIS petroleum license better than "you". Because although you are allowed to carry 240L in your car you aren't allowed to buy that much in "cans" at most petrol stations!

9D280 · 08 April 2011, 08:03

It's funny. I was stopped trying to fill a hulk 30L a couple of years ago.

They took a different view after I returned half an hour later with the Rib on the trailer to finish the job & blocked half their pumps for 15 mins waiting for an entire side of one set of pumps to free up & let me in, then wait for a "clear exit for the trailer" to become available

ribber · 08 April 2011, 09:45

Have used the 20L metal jerry cans before and yes they are a rust nightmare both inside and outside the can after one season. Also not user friendly on the boat, chip every thing they crash into!
I use two 10L 'black' plastic cans that are designed for diesel, completely arse about tit I know, but gets over many problems.

I must admit to having quite a scare when I took the metal 20L jerry can down to the boat and did not use it, left it in the car by mistake, weather being hot and toasty, windows all shut and locked. Came back 4hrs later, the can became like an expanding bomb. The lever locking catch was so tight unable to release - but was able to gently release pressure by putting in the shade. Guess that's why petrol is dangerous to transport in anything over 5 L

lakelandterrier · 08 April 2011, 10:21

Thanks for your reply Ribber, I was wondering about using a couple of 10/20 litre "diesel" cans, but I thought there would be difficulty in filling these at a petrol station.

Are there any significant safety risks from using plastic containers of more than 5l this way? - hypothetically speaking of course as I wouldn't dream of breaching any regulation.

The local independent petrol station I use doesn't seem to worry about what I fill, but could I get the nearest Sainsbury / Morrison to accept a 30l certified fuel tank was not a "petrol can...No.

Then again spending £30+ on cans is the equivalant a lot of fuel at even 10p/ litre more on the water than at a garage, or whatever the difference is. I doubt I'll use anything like 300l in a season.

lakelandterrier · 08 April 2011, 10:36

Belay that last post......I've just checked the unleaded petrol price on the local fuel barge....£1.89/litre. No wonder I seldom see anyone using it!

At 56p / litre difference cans will pay back after all!