How to fix crushed Gas can
- Thread starter twinjayhawks
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rmully
Gold Member
fill them with hot water.
OP
twinjayhawks
Silver Member
rmully said:
Is that smart to have water in a gas tank?
JJZ 109
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Any way to blow a little compressed air into them?
greasemonkeyok
Veteran Member
"Smart" was not a part of your request for an "easy way to rehabilitate a crushed plastic gas can."
Drain and set out in the sun for a day and all the moisture will be gone.
Drain and set out in the sun for a day and all the moisture will be gone.
pat32rf
Veteran Member
The problem results from a warm can being sealed, then cooled. The cold air contracts and sucks the sides in....
No problem with the water, just let them dry before adding fresh diesel. (or whatever you keep in blue tanks)
Leave empty cans with the top a little loose so air can get in and out with temp changes...
No problem with the water, just let them dry before adding fresh diesel. (or whatever you keep in blue tanks)
Leave empty cans with the top a little loose so air can get in and out with temp changes...
the6shooter
Gold Member
I would go with the hot water idea, I think it would need a little hotter than tap water out of the water tap though.
david
david
Gary Fowler
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Fill with hot water then apply a little air pressure to expand. This could be done by just blowing into the spout (dont forget to open the pour valve) if you dont have an air compressor. With extremely hot water in the tank, it wont take but a very little pressure to expand it. If using your compressor, go gently with the air or you could explode the tank as the plastic will be pretty soft.
arrow
Super Member
The amount of residual water left in the gas tank after emptying is considerably less than what is already in the fuel. You would not even have to wait for the insides to be completely dry. It may be a good idea to know why it happens so you can eliminate the reason for any future purchases.
firemanpat2910
Platinum Member
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.
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.
arrow
Super Member
I like your 2nd suggestion the best.
OP
twinjayhawks
Silver Member
arrow said:
Okay, I give... Why does it happen?
NormL
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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
Platinum Member
I came for the info. I stayed for the entertainment.
CurlyDave
Elite Member
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
Super Member
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
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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.
beppington
Elite Member
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.
It's just expansion & contraction due to temperature change ... & no vent.
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.
