Jerry Cans..... Plastic or Steel?

I have 6 of the original army cans, 4 of which I use for boat fuel when on hols. A few had flakes of rusty paint coming out so I cleaned them all up and gave them a coating of POR 15 tank sealer. One litre was more than enough to treat 6. This prodict puts an epoxy film over the entire surface. They claim to seal small rust holes as well. I previously used this product to coat out Defender sill tanks before installation. This isn't cheap at about $70 per litre - if you shop around. Here is a bit of a write-up on the product

PPC - Tank Sealer

Having said that, If I would have to buy new ones to-day I would no doubt go fot good quality plastic.

Erich

My vote will go for steel. Plastic ones tend to expand if you fill them cold and temperature rises sharply. If temp drops/outside pressure changes due to big changes in altitudes they implode. This leaves it possible for fumes to escape from the cap.

Drop them out of the back of a Land Rover they split. Too easy to lose the rubber seals on them so spills fuel when you pour.

Steel ones especially new ones have locking pins to keep cap locked. If worried about noise from them you can pad them/firmly fix them with ratchet straps etc

Regards

Brendan

steel for me....but then again i didn't pay for them, hand me downs

The disposal shops around here have been selling good quality ex Nato?? steel cans for while now - good seals and a proper internal liner coating. The cheap ones rust quickly and leak. A proper mounting bracket is especaially important with a steel can.

But having said that, plastic is probably the way to go for practical purposes, steel jerrys are a bit of a nostalgia item these days.

I'd also suggest getting a yellow one for diesel - its a standard colour and helps to prevent mix-ups.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by mark2

The disposal shops around here have been selling good quality ex Nato?? steel cans for while now - good seals and a proper internal liner coating.

---

Yep, apparently the military are phasing out their steel jerry cans and replacing them with a plastic variant - will be interesting to see what they'll be like.

And my defender runs on veggie oil - so what colour can should I be using???? :D

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Bushie

I've got half a dozen Rheem steel ones from the 50s. Still going strong although I'd say when they fail I'll end up with plastic (if I need them).

I abide by a colour scheme as well, they were painted red when I used them for petrol, now I use them for diesel they are painted red. :D
Martyn

---

x2, although I have black, red and also light blue ones and they get used strictly for diesel............and petrol. :p

I have entertained the idea of getting stainless ones. Although pricey providing they don't split or crack should last forever and would not have internal flaking issues.
Any comments about this.
Anyone know where to buy them? I saw some a while ago on the net but was an overseas company that did not respond to my emails. See below.

Dave.

10 l stainless steel jerry cans .:+:. Specials .:+:. ► internet shop gelg.pl

I like the solid plastic 10 litre black ones. Hell of a lot easier to handle and pack than the 20 litre ones. Especially on the roof. One thing to remember is use broad straps to tie them down as rope wears a hole in the plastic.

Deano

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by mike_ie

And my defender runs on veggie oil - so what colour can should I be using???? :D

---

Black with yellow strips???:angel:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Mr Whippy

I have entertained the idea of getting stainless ones. Although pricey providing they don't split or crack should last forever and would not have internal flaking issues.
Any comments about this.
Anyone know where to buy them? I saw some a while ago on the net but was an overseas company that did not respond to my emails. See below.

Dave.

10 l stainless steel jerry cans .:+:. Specials .:+:. ► internet shop gelg.pl

---

My concern with stainless steel (apart from the price) is that most grades of stainless steel are subject to work hardening and cracking if subjected to vibration or cyclic loading. This would be the situation with either road vibration with the jerrican partly full, or with expansion and contraction with daily temperature changes, especially when empty.

This can be a problem even with mild steel ones if they are the thin walled "cheap" ones (not often on the military ones) and mild steel is far less susceptible to this problem (I have one on the "is this of any use?" pile at the moment). If the thickness of the wall material is sufficient, it is not a problem, but there is a tendency to use thinner material when a product is stainless, as there is no need to allow for rust, plus the stuff is expensive!

John