Plastic vs Metal Jerry Can

Ajt108 · 04 May 2015, 09:57

Hi All,

I am in need of buying some jerry cans to extend range for a summer trip round the inner hebrides on the rib. I was wondering what you think pros and cons are re plastic or metal jerry cans? Are the metal ones safer? But do the metal ones slowly corrode so need to filter the fuel? What do you use and why?

Many thanks!

Angus

lakelandterrier · 04 May 2015, 10:07

Personally I'd go for plastic....but you may have problems finding filling stations willing to allow you to fill anything more than a 5l plastic can. I've been refused to fill a proper 25l mercury external tank before now.

There have been some threads on here in the past.....can't quickly find them though.

Pikey Dave · 04 May 2015, 10:14

If you can find these, they are the dogs danglies
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Jerry-Plasti.../dp/B00BSW31X2

.....sh1t happens.......

Mollers · 04 May 2015, 10:24

Pros and cons. Metal will knock your GRP about if allowed to move at all. Plastic can wear through if allowed to move on non-slip floor. I use industrial 25Ltr plastic cans, they're a lot tougher than the red purpose made plastic petrol cans.

Bedajim had a 25Ltr red jobbie wear through on a Scillies trip. He left an expensive slick right around the Lizard, then his radar fell off!

Ajt108 · 04 May 2015, 12:32

thanks all

lakelandterrier - thanks, i will try dig through some older threads and see! a good point re size and fuel stations! hmm

mollers - where have you got your industrial type cans from? - they sound good.

Pikey dave - they look good, will try and find!

cheers guys

Fenlander · 04 May 2015, 13:59

Those USA military type cans Pikey Dave linked to are excellent, a US base near us held regular dispersal sales years ago so there were quite a lot of those cans about this area. I had 3 for tractor diesel... really robust.

Re filling/keeping cans as a private person...

The regs changed late last year and it is now legal without licence to store up to 30l at home. This can be in one 30l demountable tank or in a combination of cans. Plastic is OK now up to 10l and the max for any one metal container is 20l.

The accepted ruling for the petrol station's own association guidelines is that you would be allowed to fill two "suitable" containers. Because the older regs limited plastic cans to 5l of petrol then you were often only allowed the 2x5l... or only 1 if they were grumpy.

Strictly speaking though you should be allowed to fill two suitable containers up to the the max of storage regs... i.e. 2x10l petrol or 1x20 plus 1x10.

The max you can lawfully carry in a car is 30l in no more than 2 containers so that kind of reinforces what petrol stations should let you do.

I don't seem to have issues buying petrol for our Sibbing as long as I use the village garage or buy from a station in a boating area where people frequently do the same... I get a 20l and a 10l outboard tank filled at the same time.

Poly · 04 May 2015, 14:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fenlander

The max you can lawfully carry in a car is 30l in no more than 2 containers so that kind of reinforces what petrol stations should let you do.

Can you point me in the right direction for that regulation/legislation?

Fenlander · 04 May 2015, 14:11

Yep it's here...

http://www.hse.gov.uk/fireandexplosi...tions-2014.pdf

It looks like a document for commercial outfits but in that Autumn 2014 update they streamlined all the regs into one place... there is a section from page 5 onwards that deals with home/club storage.

I looked into it as we've not too long moved into a "normal" cul-de-sac type house where our garage and the fuel stored in it is just 2m from next door's house.

For the previous 20yrs we had lived out in the countryside well away from folks so, forgetting the legalities, it wasn't quit so crucial.

Fenlander · 04 May 2015, 14:18

This is the document relating to fuel stations own guidance...

https://www.energyinst.org/documents/1317

Page 70 onwards deals with containers where they comment...

A limit of two containers is generally accepted as providing a reasonable
level of safety on the forecourt and also allows for compliance with the
majority of storage conditions applicable to petrol supplied to the general
public for their private/domestic use. This does not mean that greater
numbers of containers cannot be legally filled but it will be for you to decide
on the appropriate numbers based on a risk assessment and a review of
your hazardous area classification; as is required of you by the Dangerous
Substances & Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 (DSEAR).

Pikey Dave · 04 May 2015, 14:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fenlander

Those USA military type cans Pikey Dave linked to are excellent

True, but they are like rocking horse.....to get hold of

Frost sell the diesel version, the only difference being the colour of the tab on the neck, petrol is red, diesel is yellow.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fenlander

The regs changed late last year and it is now legal without licence to store up to 30l at home. .

30l !!! is that all? Oops

might need to shift some jerry cans

Poly · 04 May 2015, 14:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fenlander

Yep it's here...

http://www.hse.gov.uk/fireandexplosi...tions-2014.pdf

It looks like a document for commercial outfits but in that Autumn 2014 update they streamlined all the regs into one place... there is a section from page 5 onwards that deals with home/club storage.

Thanks - there appears to be a very subtle distinction though.

The 30L limit is for STORAGE in a vehicle not CARRIAGE.

The RYA (document updated in light of the 2014 regs) seem to suggest you can carry upto 240 L in a vehicle: http://www.rya.org.uk/SiteCollection...D%20DIESEL.pdf (and 333L for work purposes with a few extra steps).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

30l !!! is that all? Oops might need to shift some jerry cans

have read of the links - you don't actually need a license you need to notify them (no license required till > 275L).

Fenlander · 04 May 2015, 14:55

Ahh good to see your take on it Poly. Yes I'd noted the 30-275lit range for notification but no license... but assumed they would inspect or interfere in some way so almost as bad as licensing.

Interesting re the storage vs carriage in a motor vehicle... I'd not noticed anything in the Gov doc re carriage so assumed storage=carriage.

The only time we need to go over the 30l in the car when Sibbing is on the 2 week Scottish hols when the fuel station is often a fair trip (25mls round trip this year) so we usually would have the 20l Mercury tank, 2x 10l Tohatsu tanks plus a standard green 5l can in reserve.

Of course on day one that takes us over the storage limits at the holiday cottage... hmm it's a balance of law and convenience... like motorway speed limits really!

paddlers · 04 May 2015, 14:55

I always get 5 X 20 litre of the green plastic type filled with petrol when we're away with the boat and put them in the boot of the car upright. Never been an issue and as it's a 30 mile round trip to the petrol station I wouldn't want less.
I just make sure I keep them in the shade at the campsite as they do expand a lot in direct sunlight.

Poly · 04 May 2015, 15:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fenlander

so we usually would have the 20l Mercury tank, 2x 10l Tohatsu tanks plus a standard green 5l can in reserve.

Of course on day one that takes us over the storage limits at the holiday cottage...

Well if you are worried as soon as you connect the 20L demountable tank to the engine it is magically not counted in the total! Much more likely to be killed in the car on the way there than consumed in a fireball at the cottage though.

Trimix · 04 May 2015, 16:16

Buy plastic ones.

Ive had some metal Jerry cans and they are not as good as the plastic versions. Metal ones are heavier, noiser, poorly made in comparison and cost more.

I now have two 20ltr cans for longer distances / safety.

Several times Ive turned up at garages and proceeded to fill all manner of cans - 5 x 5ltrs, 2 x 20ltrs and 2 x 20ltrs metal - never had any issues.

I also spent years racing motor cycles and regulary would fill up loads of cans at garages all round the country. No one ever told me I couldnt.

Id not worry about that - its not like garages are few and far between, they would have to come out before you filled them and I doubt they would bother.

Wibs · 04 May 2015, 16:24

It seems to be hit and miss around the country......and I don't think it has anything to do with Plastic or Metal.

I've only had problems with 'supermarket' fuel stations and can never be arsed to argue the 'regulations' or 'law' with the cashier.

I just find it easier to drive 5mins up the road to the next fuel station.

Metal are heavy and noisey but I find strapping them to the rib safer due the rigidity.

I've got both types and vary the usage.

paddlers · 04 May 2015, 16:52

In reality it's probably like the insanity that says you can't buy more than a certain number of aspirin at the supermarket! What's to stop you visiting several garages or the same one several times and filling up two cans on each visit ?

As I say I've never had an issue with 5 X 20 litre cans. I just make sure they're the 'approved' type.

Wibs · 04 May 2015, 17:07

What's to stop you BUYING 5ltrs at a time and decanting it into a larger container on the pavement out of the view of the cashier.?

That to me creates a greater risk than letting me fill 25ltrs in one go into one approved container.??

T'is the world we live in.

hadd · 04 May 2015, 17:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ajt108

thanks all

lakelandterrier - thanks, i will try dig through some older threads and see! a good point re size and fuel stations! hmm

mollers - where have you got your industrial type cans from? - they sound good.

Pikey dave - they look good, will try and find!

cheers guys

You can buy them from "Frost" i carry x4 on the boat great fuel cans also buy the fast flow flexi nozzel that go's with them

Jerry Plastic Fuel Can (20L - Diesel) | Frost Auto Restoration Techniques They have the petrol ones as well.

lakelandterrier · 04 May 2015, 18:24

I agree it is a narrow "apply a simple rule blindly, and assume our staff do not have capacity to make a valued judgement mentality" that most of the supermarkets and main brand pfs use....quoting "local authority" licensing rules.

They will not distinguish between a "fuel can" and an approved tank. I have the pump shut off after putting only 5l into a 25l external tank before now, at a supermarket pfs right on the coast.

I find the smaller independents are more understanding, and usually buy fuel from the one that sold me the 20 litre red plastic jerrycans.

I see the under the new regs:
What size containers can I use?
"The new Regulations state that petrol can be stored in the following
containers:
 plastic containers up to 10 litres (previous regulations restricted this to
5 litres)
 metal containers up to 20 litres (previous regulations restricted this to
10 litres

So there's a 10l plastic can available for petrol?
And
Up until now a 20l metal jerrycan was not a "suitable container" - surely not

I'm confused.

Might be worth pointing out what the regs actually say when next filling up at a supermarket pfs and see their reaction!