I think it was about ten or so years ago that, of all places, Century International (the home of the drunken gunplumbing monkeys) was selling used military NATO gas cans. I bought a bunch of them and they turned out to be quite good. However, they were used. That means some had dings or small dents, and they may have seen some pretty harsh use. But, they never failed….until:
Apparently that particular area had taken a bit of damage at some point in its life and after a decade of constant contraction/expansion episodes as the seasonal temperatures fluctuated…it just split. The seepage of fuel over time is what ate he paint away.
The good news is, of course, that this was far from my only can of gasoline and the loss of it doesn’t really make any difference. The bad news, naturally, is that not only do i need to replace this can but it probably is time to replace all those surplus cans I bought since, clearly, their pedigree is uncertain and may include some things that might become issues further down the line. Really, at the time I purchased those cans they were a good value and of far better quality than any plastic can that was available. But, nowadays, I have the room to pick up some brand new ones to guarantee (as much as you can guarantee anything, I guess) that I have some fuel on hand for when I need it.
So several hundred bucks go out the door, and a half dozen high-end NATO cans come in the door. Seems legit.
Commander:
I would fully understand carefully examining the other cans in that batch, but replacing them all because one failed?
Seems wasteful…
Maybe contents of one can can be poured into another, then air pressure tested while immersing tank into water to find bubble leaks. Do this methodically over the stashed cans, trashing any with found leaks..
Brand new cans for me, cheaper surplus cans and Chinese knockoffs for “emergency use” and fuel bartering.
I have experienced rusting on a level not expected in my wayven gas cans shared here and in many offroad sites. Even the two mounted on my rear swing out bumper on truck. Seems quality issues reside on more than just cheap gas cans.
CZ, I think that you are throwing out the baby with the bath water.
I mentioned this a few weeks ago. I have 8 NATO cans I purchased used from an Army surplus store in 1999. Each has a reddish/dark orangish coating on the inside. None has failed. They have been kept outside, but not exposed to rain.
I expect that the dent in that can of yours cracked that inside coating and exposed the steel liner.
The photo you included shows that the rust was on the bottom of the can. This is significant. I suspect, but don’t know for sure, that the can was sitting on something (dirt, wet wooden deck, etc.) that caused the bottom of the can to be moist and, therefore, subject to rust.
I’ve mentioned this before, but Sportsman’s Guide has used NATO cans for sale. The three I bought around February, while obviously not having sparkling exteriors, arrived with pristine interiors. https://www.sportsmansguide.com/product/index/nato-military-surplus-20l-steel-jerry-can-used?a=2217325&_br_psugg_q=nato%20jerry%20can They showed signs of use on the exteriors, but had, at most, slight surface rust in a few places. A couple of minutes of sanding and a shot of Rustoleum primer and they were good to go. (I couldn’t care less about the exterior appearance.)
Note that I had to replace the rubber seals of two of the old cans earlier this year due to small leaks. I found these on eBay: https://www.ebay.com/itm/224444057596?epid=1372973367&hash=item3441e887fc:g:PTYAAOSwGplcTN5O
With an annual Sportsman’s Guide Buyer’s Club membership, the shipping for me was free. Another military surplus company offers the same cans for a few dollars more per can, yet the shipping to my address would have cost $55.00.
While I certainly understand that buying new cans reduces just about every risk possible, those wishing to store more fuel may find the risk of using used cans woth the savings.
As in so many aspects of preparedness, we often find compromise to be acceptable, and sometimes even required.
Those cans are cheap enough to make me suspect of their condition. Which also reminds me that I haven’t checked SG’s return policy in quite a while…
They also have NATO water cans for cheap.
Steelheart
Commander you might want to check out Coleman’s surplus they have surplus NATO cans not sure the condition. I just ordered one to see the condition.
They definitely look rough. https://colemans.com/nato-military-jerry-can
Hope this helps shipping is a beast though.
I bought 8 from Coleman’s, kinda scratched up but no major dents. Arrived in a few days $33 each which also covered shipping. Worth it.
Ron,
I didn’t identify the othere surplus company in my comment, but it was Coleman’s. I checked its site again. The cost of three cans is $89.95. The shipping expense is $59.09. While I am way out on the West Coast, I am trying to figure out how you got your cans for $33.00 including shipping. You must live very close.
Ordered 8, $40 each with shipping.
Recommend. Will buy again.
Appear to be French ex military but construction is exactlyu identical to the German ones I got from Century when CZ was ordering. Only difference is language stamping on can and lack of decal/placard holder. Interior, including breather tube design, are identical.
I bought some awhile back. Came in looking better than the website picture, and after inspecting the insides with a snake camera, found no issues at all. Wire brushed the exterior, painted them red, and filled them up. Have them sitting up on some pallets in the shed, planning to hit the bottoms with flexseal in the near future.
Nope. Fuel storage containers, as well as all of the on vehicle or other engine equipment delivery components, such as hoses, fittings, filters, etc. Are non compromise components. Better to spend the money now to uprgrade and “modernize” such an important piece of gear during these gravy days times while possible. Don’t want to become a shriner’s hospital burn victim spokeschild because you thought you could extend questionable gear or be a cheapskate miser with the shekels. Plenty of vidyas on the web of guys already nicknamed “fireball”. Call up deutsche optik in nevada and order another four pack.
Stay frosty
A (correctly) patched metal can is 10x safer than a non-milspec plast can, even a name brand like Scepter (and their civi models are about 1/3 as thick as the GI ones)
If you can identify where the leak is, it’s easy enough to fix – 2-part epoxy (Gorilla cement, JBWeld) will likely do. Or, if you purge the tank (fill with water and drain), wire brush the leaky area clean and sweat a glob of bar solder onto it with a propane torch.
Finally, cleaning the inside out (grease remover, a small length of chain) and tank seal.
Visual failure analysis appears to be a dent/stress failure. Good clean up and inspection warranted. Questionable cans cleaned/resealed and repurposed to nonvolatile storage(motor oil,antifreeze,lamp oil etc)
Oh, and don’t store them directly in contact with concrete. Get a piece of 2×8 to sit them on.
although not as slim – and they take up more space – the eagle gas cans offer the advantage of less surface area exposed to elements, and the rounded surfaces tend to be stronger. we have 6 of these and buying more.
https://www.eagle-mfg.com/safety-cans
Anyone have a source for racks to mount GI cans to vehicles?
CZ, I’m sorry to learn of this failure. Over a period of several years, I’ve replaced my gas cans with new military-issue ones made by a Canadian company called Sceptre. They are a little more pricey than surplus but I’ve yet to see one fail.
Scepter cans are plastic and inherently pourous(unsealed) and will allow the gas to lose it volitile fractions. Plastic only suitable for short term(days/weeks) storage,sealed metal cans for longer storage(with additive).
VT, you’re thinking about the civilian ones you get at the hardware store. The ones I use are military issue* from Princess Auto** and they are a hell of a lot tougher. My oldest ones are eleven years old with no degradation at all. And these gas cans are far from being porous. I’ve used Stable treated gas that’s been over four years old with no loss of function.
* https://scepter.com/products/military-products/
** https://www.princessauto.com/en/20-litre-green-military-style-fuel-can/product/PA0008451411
Sceptre makes a common, civilian line of cans (available at Princess Auto) and a military line which is roughly 3x thicker plastic…
(I used to live in Ottawa, familiar with them).
The civilian line cans from Sceptre were also available at Lowes, and Home Depot.
The mil-spec cans are better, but are still plastic cans. I have some, but I don’t use them for long term storage.
How do you get new military Issue Scepter cans? I thought they were banned for in the US Under Obamas no spill gas laws. If you know a legal way to get them please share. In the service i was convinced of these cans superiority after seeing our Fuelers deliver fuel by throwing full scepter cans out of a moving LMTV onto sharp rocks and solid concrete surfaces. The only can that broke was run over by the truck, the only time the cans leaked was when the seals were missing or not properly tightened down. These are plastic cans that spent nearly 20 years in the sun and were not replaced every 5 years as the military dictates. I have some I found at surplus stores but I would love to have a source of new cans rather than paying the premium for used ones on eBay.
Seth, I’m up here in the “great white north” where you can get these gas cans brand new and unissued at Princess Auro.
https://www.princessauto.com/en/20-litre-green-military-style-fuel-can/product/PA0008451411
Would you like to sell us some down in the US? If they’re what Seth described, I might like to buy some.
Would using Motorcycle Tank Sealers on the inside when you get them help?
I have just noticed that the one that failed is the one you did not do you usually work on, What you said happens if the base is not painted, happen. So it was not a failure, it was a long term test to see if your work was worth doing.
For any one new here, http://www.commanderzero.com/?p=8426
I think I’d just inspect the other cans to see if they had any issues and replace as needed. We have a bunch of Jerry cans purchased from IMA and other sources in our re-enacting group and none have failed like that. Many are knocked around, thrown into the back of trucks, taken to events, into field events, etc….
POR-15, specifically https://por15.com/collections/all/products/fuel-tank-sealer
Buy the gallon can, seal everything you own and have some left over.
Even damaged gas tanks. Prep, putty then tape over the holes, then use the sealer inside. If you have massive temp fluctuations you might pop them if the holes are large. But I’ve had perforated motorcycle tanks sealed using this, painted black and never had one pop or leak again (they’re either pop off or straight vented, but yeah, they do have some venting vs solid tanks. Might save the rest of your cans if there’s more than one ready to go)
I use a couple tanks outa cars, one holds 20 gal, the oter 30 with the fuel pump in it makes transfer easy.