How to fix crushed Gas can

[arrow]

easiest 2 cures
1 put them in the back of my truck, every can back there swells up like a possum on the side of the road.
2 carefully remove the lid of your trash can, quicly insert all the unvented safety cans, carefully replace lid on trash can.

I like your 2nd suggestion the best.

 

[twinjayhawks]

It may be a good idea to know why it happens so you can eliminate the reason for any future purchases.

Okay, I give... Why does it happen?

 

[NormL]

Does anyone know an easy way to rehabilitate a crushed plastic gas can? I am not sure why this happens... and I don't really care. I have about 5 cans that look like this. I am looking to make them useful again.

Put a little gasoline in it and set out in the sun. Don't let it bloat too much or it will never stand up properly again. Then, as mentioned earlier do not close an empty warm can tightly, or even a partially filled one, for that matter. I know, an open can could spill. Gas cans need to be stored so they can't tip anyway.

 

[DAY]

I came for the info. I stayed for the entertainment.

 

[CurlyDave]

Okay, I give... Why does it happen?

Even when mostly empty, most cans have enough gasoline in them to be full of gasoline vapor. Seal it up on a hot day, or even a warm one, and the gasoline vapor condenses on the next cold exposure (say overnight) creating a partial vacuum. The can is not designed to hold a vacuum and collapses.

A few ounces of gasoline and warm sun will expand them as NormL suggests.

 

[George2615]

Okay, I give... Why does it happen?

It happens because tanks today do not have a vent hole. Temperatures outside the tank warm up or cool down quicker than the contents inside the tank which can cause the tank to either collapse or expand. Its simple physics related to atmospheric pressure, which was one of the more interesting classes in High school many years ago.

 

[DJ54]

easiest 2 cures
1 put them in the back of my truck, every can back there swells up like a possum on the side of the road.
2 carefully remove the lid of your trash can, quicly insert all the unvented safety cans, carefully replace lid on trash can.

As for your #1 cure... It sure works well on the new plastic "safety" cans. I filled a brand new one, on a 85 to 90 degree day, hauled it maybe 5 miles. Stopped to eat breakfast for like 25-30 minutes, then on to the gravel pit, two miles away. It literally puffed up so much, it rolled over, with it's now round bottom.

 

[crash325]

A shucks - I wanted to learn how to straighten out metal cans. Not 1 little bitty suggestions. :laughing:

Maybe a match on a long stick???? :thumbsup:

 

[beppington]

I ride around with a little 1-gal plastic can in the bed of my truck, & that sucker swells up to almost round in the sun ... & later that night when I park in my garage, it shrinks down so tight it sucks the sides in like OP's. Crushed.

It's just expansion & contraction due to temperature change ... & no vent.

 

[Gizmo2]

We have pushed in many snowmobile front cowls and belly pans. A heat gun and a little patience the dents come right out. I guess the plastic likes to be in it's original formed shape. Not sure this would work on a plastic gas can though.