Gas cans that don't suck and don't cost $100

[MattA]

I bought a pair of gas cans at Home Depot 5 years ago when I first bought my house. I had a feeling the gas cans would suck since the replacement safety spouts were sold right next to the gas cans. Over the years the safety spouts have stuck a bunch of times which sometimes resulted in a spill if I couldn't unstick the spout. I once spilled several beers worth while filling through my snow cab Well the spout stuck again on Sunday while I was filling around my hydravac and I spilled about half a beers worth. Fortunately the gas can was about empty. It's time for a solution.

I google searched "gas cans that don't suck" and most of what I came up with is gas cans that cost $50-$100. I did find these affordable replacement spouts: https://ezpourspout.com/product-category/multi-spouts/

What are you guys using?

[Timj]

I have a bunch of the old school steel cans and a funnel. I also have a few of the older plastic cans with a vent. I have a couple of kits similar to what you posted for the new B.S. safety cans. They also have vents you can put in. I haven't tried them yet.

[Eugen]

Funny I recently do a search too and read a few threads on other sites as well. I have several gas cans and all of them have terrible spout assemblies.

I even bought those replacement spouts and no improvement, stupid me. Now I no longer use the spouts. I got several types of funnels, from the jumbo wide to the long and skinny and some in between.

While we're talking about gas transfer from one place to another, let me tell you about something else. I had a couple of boats that I did all kind of work on, including fuel tank removal and interior cleaning. So there I am with a hose sucking on it so the gas from the tank starts going and then quickly putting it in the gas can. I grew up in the Eastern communist block and saw grown men doing it all the time. Most of the time it worked fine. But the few times I ended up with a full mouth of gasoline made me really look for a different way of doing it. Clearly God loves me, because my children have 10 fingers and ten toes. Each, not all together!

Well, to make a long story longer, I once saw a clear tube with a funny metal thing at one end and a metal ball in in it. I guess it must've been desperation that got me to look into what it was, but to me it became the discovery of this century! Can you imagine?! You put the end with the ball in the fuel tank that you want emptied, and the other end in the gas can, and you shake the end with the ball up and down and all of a sudden the gas starts running like crazy to the can. Obviously the can must be lower then the source. I have not tasted gas since I found that out


I mentioned this because it's another way to fill the tank, and it works without fail.

I also saw somewhere but I don't remember where, manual pumps. I would not go electric on this, don't want any sparks near gas.

Watching the thread maybe someone has THE solution!

[Toolslinger]

I don't think there's a perfect solution sadly. (other than a time machine)

First and foremost, the cans need a vent. It could be as simple as a hole in the back of the can, but I prefer something I can close. Most of my conversion cans have a valve stem in them without the valve core.

After that I've tossed the stupid vent/valve/spout nightmare. I turned a few solid aluminum adapters with an o-ring, and use the nut from the original spout to hold it on the can. Add a length of stiff vinyl tube, and usually a tapered wood dowel plug for the end, and it's a functional can again.

The reality though is so far, I've been doing ok still finding old steel cans that were made to be functional. Half our cans are probably 40 or 50 years old, and apart from needing a couple new cork gaskets, they're fine.

The last cans that I bought new, that didn't suck, I had to smuggle in from Canada... I guess from what you're saying our ridiculous cans have now infected you... Sorry about that... Too bad, they are nice plastic jerry can style with vents, and good spouts... I wonder if good cans are available from our southern neighbor...

I wonder just how much time we waste as a society having to alter modern items to function in a realistic way. I have no issue with the idea behind the current cans, but the execution, and some of the requirements have led to either complete garbage, or having to spend way too much money on a can that just isn't going to stand the test of time like the old steel cans do.

[DavidBarkey]

What has worked for me is the flexible self-venting nossel that come on the small gas cans for like a chain saw. Switched out on to the 2 gallon can , nothing I have takes more than that to fill. This works very well plus alows my 13 old grandson to fill his bikes and the mower himself , but need refilling often . To keep from running to the gas station all the time I have 3 5 gallon cans for storage . Treat them with Seafoam and fill them up , kept in kool shed . When the little can needs filling I use a old milk crate to support the big can , switch nossel to big can . Sliding the little can mouth over the nossel , as I lower the small can to the floor tipping the big can as I go untill the small can is on the floor and wait for gas to stop pooring when the fuel level reaches the tip of the self-venting noosel and blooking the vent . Raise the cans back up and remove the noosel , no muss no fuss . I hope you can visulise what I am trying to say .
Dave

[Gordy]

Auctions and garage sales can be a good source of older style gas cans.

For many years ebay has had the yellow vents to replace broken ones, with instructions on drilling a 1/2" hole in newer cans to snap the vents into them. As well as old style spouts, BUT you need to check your cans brand and the description carefully as there are at least 3 different thread patterns for the nut that holds the spout on.

Years ago I bought a couple B&S branded cans with the mechanical spouts that other than pinching fingers worked good until the delicate internal valve assembly broke all OEM replacement spouts broke in the same place

Several years ago I found in Menards (probably available in other stores too) various old style spouts with several different spout mounting nuts and replacement vents.

My favorite is the nut with cap on it, and the spout slides in and out. So the spout is out of the way when not in use.


Gordy

[MattA]

I think I'm going to try one of these EZ=POUR Spouts. Haven't made up my mind on which one yet.

https://www.amazon.com/EZ-POUR-40051-Re ... 476&sr=8-3
https://www.amazon.com/EZ-Pour-Gas-Can ... 476&sr=8-4

[DavidBarkey]

I think I'm going to try one of these EZ=POUR Spouts. Haven't made up my mind on which one yet.

https://www.amazon.com/EZ-POUR-40051-Re ... 476&sr=8-3
https://www.amazon.com/EZ-Pour-Gas-Can ... 476&sr=8-4

MattA , I tryed those and was less than impressed with the short life span . Although it worked good , the accordian flex failed quick due to I beleave just low grade materials. As with all replacement spouts they don't all fit all cans , different manufacture have slightly different ture sizes whila all being simular there is not one standard size neck. That being said with the cans I have this is what I have been using for the last few years with great success.https://www.amazon.ca/Moeller-Scepter-D ... CQO2&psc=1

Dave

[Harry]

This is the model I currently use.

For my birthday last year my daughter gave me one of these battery operated gas transfer pumps. I see there are many on the market currently. It surprised how fast they pump gas and shuts off automatically. No more spilling fuel and no more arms getting tired holding the five gallon container up to fill tank.
Does anyone else use one of these to fill their tanks?

Keep the Peace
Harry

[Gordy]

Harry,
I had thought about them when they were out for a couple years, but too many bad reviews. Maybe they have gotten better by now I had a hand operated plunger type pump,but it leaked around the shaft seal, when I tightened it up enough to stop leaking I could barely move it


Gordy