Old Petrol Cans - Empty for 4 Years, Safe?

Housey · 3 Oct 2015 at 21:21

I have a couple of these.

Both had Super Unleaded in them about 3 years back, but have been sealed and empty ever since, sitting in my garage. Will it be OK to refill them with fresh pump Super Unleaded or will their internals have degraded causing muck to enter the fuel I put in them.

Thoughts?

fadetoblack · 3 Oct 2015 at 21:25

Yes be fine and there called jerry cans

shauncr91 · 3 Oct 2015 at 21:26

So long as they've been sealed they should be fine.

Housey · 3 Oct 2015 at 21:28

fadetoblack said:
Yes be fine and there called jerry cans

No Germans in my house!!!

Housey · 3 Oct 2015 at 21:29

Excellent. I want some VPower, drove to my local one (8 miles away) to find the pumps 'broken' this evening, which of course made me happy.

andicole0 · 3 Oct 2015 at 21:35

Just remember you can only store 2 x 10l metal cans of petrol at home. 2 x 5l plastic cans.
Andi.

Housey · 3 Oct 2015 at 21:39

andicole0 said:
Just remember you can only store 2 x 10l metal cans of petrol at home. 2 x 5l plastic cans.
Andi.

I'll remember that....honest. :cool:

andicole0 · 3 Oct 2015 at 21:41

Housey said:
I'll remember that....honest.

Funny that no one has been round to check my gaff recently.
Andi

pcoltrane · 3 Oct 2015 at 23:32

The paint often flakes off, but they'll be fine.

I'd recommend using a decent filter like a Mr Funnel anyway when transferring fuel from any container.

Housey · 3 Oct 2015 at 23:33

Yea I did think that made sense, will get one.

Tefal · 4 Oct 2015 at 00:18

ash them out first with some petrol/kerosene

Fuzz · 4 Oct 2015 at 00:44

andicole0 said:
Just remember you can only store 2 x 10l metal cans of petrol at home. 2 x 5l plastic cans.
Andi.

Lol, like anyone ever takes any notice of that!
I have 4 x 20L Jerry cans in the back of my 4x4

Admitedly it's a diesel one now but it used to be a very thirsty V6 and I don't fancy running out while in the middle of nowhere while sunk to the axles in a peatbog

snapdragon69 · 4 Oct 2015 at 08:48

I'd look inside with a torch to make sure there are no bits or rust inside.

redline · 4 Oct 2015 at 09:02

Maybe slightly OT as the OP has not said he wishes to store this fuel... but, is it not the case that petrol goes off quite quickly when stored?... even for short periods, like a couple of months or so?

teenwolf · 4 Oct 2015 at 09:10

Arson ?

Housey · 4 Oct 2015 at 10:07

redline said:
Maybe slightly OT as the OP has not said he wishes to store this fuel... but, is it not the case that petrol goes off quite quickly when stored?... even for short periods, like a couple of months or so?

It's for my race car. I can't simply drive it to the pumps and petrol prices at the track are taking the pee usually.

Will · 4 Oct 2015 at 10:49

Did you get the MX5 engine rebuilt at Blink Motorsport in the end Housey? Happy with the work?

kaiowas · 4 Oct 2015 at 13:30

Give the rubber seals on the caps a quick visual check to make sure they're not perished

[TW]Fox · 4 Oct 2015 at 13:31

Housey said:
It's for my race car. I can't simply drive it to the pumps

Can't you fill it up on the trailer on your way to the track?

Clarkey · 4 Oct 2015 at 13:50

[TW]Fox;28641306 said:
Can't you fill it up on the trailer on your way to the track?

You think it's only going to use 1 tank in a day? lol