Plastic diesel gerry cans

[Ben]

Although there's a range of coloured plastic gerry cans for each fuel type, can the red "petrol" ones be used for diesel?

They all seem to be made of the polyethylene and marked for "flammable liquid 3". Superficially, the only difference seems to be colour coding as a visual indicator of type of fuel.

They warn about putting water in them, but I'm guessing that might be do with the danger of a mixup/ingesting fuel, and that they probably aren't using food grade polyethylene.

[p38arover]

We used a red one in the Tdi Disco in Derby. The red one was $24 from Woolies in Broome - the yellow one was $40 from the 4WD shop.

I think the colour is only to avoid mixups.

[Ben]

Thanks Ron.

The red ones are significantly cheaper. Bunnings sell the red 20L for ~$21 and the yellow for ~$52 (with 20L metal cans for $54).

I bought a red 10L, and thought I'd better check with the brain trust before I made a goopy mess in the back.

[Blknight.aus]

once upon a time it used to be a case of the black ones were for diesel and were stamped as such. Im not a plastics expert but I believe that the diesel can eat something out of some plastics and that would make the jerrys brittle, The black plastic was supposedly proofed against that happening.

[weeds]

I guess yellow wouild indicate to emergency services that there is a good chance there would be diesel stored, the same with red ones...not a biggie but I'm guessing that's why they are coloured

In saying that I have steel jerries which does not help them at all

[leeds]

How about marking your jerry cans with the actual contents?

Have jerry cans, with diesel petrol and petrol/oil mix for 2 stroke machines. I need to mark them to prevent mixing fuels up.

Think metal containers are better then plastic ones as they tend to be more robust. Here can buy second hand ones for a fiver or about 12 AUS$

Regards


Brendan

[Bigbjorn]

I carry black plastic lube. oil 20 litre drums for fuel & no problem yet. These are significantly cheaper than any sold in the shops as they can usually be found in industrial bins outside workshops. With zip ties, the rule is to use the black ones in situations exposed to sun and the elements and the white onesonly in sheltered locations. The white ones disintegrate fairly quickly in sunlight. The black drums are still OK after lots of sunlight and carrying distillate for thousandsof Kilometres.

[waynep]

AFAIK as long as the fuel container is rated to Australian/New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 2906 ( with a label saying so ) it can be used for either petrol or diesel. Colour isn't specified.
however some of the yellow plastic cans have the word "DIESEL" moulded into the plastic on the side so it would be pretty silly to store anything else in them.

[p38arover]

I carry black plastic lube. oil 20 litre drums for fuel & no problem yet.

I buy Penrite oil in 20 litre drums and it now comes in black plastic containers.

Dunno how many steel and plastic Penrite drums I've thrown out.

The biggest problem is their shape. Jerries stack more easliy in the car.

Ron

[Bigbjorn]

Emirat oils now come in square section plastic 20l drums. I was using AC/Delco round drums.

[CraigE]

As said as long as the container meets Australian Standards all is Ok and colour is not a real issue. There is a colour coding system but it is only voluntary.
Red - Petrol
Yellow or Black - Diesel
Green - Two Stroke Mix

[mittadisco]

As said as long as the container meets Australian Standards all is Ok and colour is not a real issue. There is a colour coding system but it is only voluntary.
Red - Petrol
Yellow or Black - Diesel
Green - Two Stroke Mix


Yes colour coding is important and for that reason it would not be a good idea to start mixing and matching. Otherwise one day someone will do the wrong thing and end up with diesel in their petrol engine or vice versa.
Stick with black=diesel.

[p38arover]

Well, if someone nicks my red container of diesel and sticks it in his petrol car, I won't be too upset about any damage sustained! ;)

Ron

[Ben]

I wrote DIESEL on the container, hopefully it should be obvious :)