Getting gas out of gas cans

[sharps45]

We do a lot of boat camping, so we take spare gas in 5 gallon plastic gas cans. The problem is they're that worthless, self venting type that take forever to empty (all I can find anymore). I've seen the flo and go type pumps, but they tend to get bad reviews (cheap construction, short life). Does anyone know of another solution, or do I have to invent something?
thanks

 

[spktho]

Re: Getting gas out of gas cans

get the tall 5 gallon plastic gas cans from a motorcycle shop or pwc shop. They can be fitted with a tube for a spout.

http://www.rockymountainatv.com/search.do?catalogNumber=&keyword=vp+gas+jug

 

[Y-Guy]

Re: Getting gas out of gas cans

I have 8 of the 5-gallon jugs, there are several different brands. I have the Scribner Plastics - Spacesaver Utility Jugs, these will run you between $30-40 depending where you buy them. However, some states, namely California have banned them. So check the laws where you live first. Do shop around online, you can often find sales. When I bought my last 6 I was able to get them for under $20 a piece.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Getting gas out of gas cans

Does anyone know of another solution,

Ayuh,.... Use a Funnel....

 

[nlain]

Re: Getting gas out of gas cans

I use the little pumps you buy at Walmart to put kerosene into the kerosene heater tanks, I put a piece of heater hose on the end to make it long enough to reach inside the fill tube on the boat to avoid spilling, works great.

 

[Utahboatnut]

Re: Getting gas out of gas cans

Yeah the self venting type are a joke they do take forever. Look around at garage sales etc to try and find some of the older style jugs with the screw off vent cap. I do alot of beach camping as well at Lake Powell you can be 50+ miles from gas so carrying it is a must. I use the taller 6 gal red plastic ones I bought them at wallmart a few years back the last 2 they had. Then I found 2 more at a garage sale that were the same type. I took them to the carwash and sprayed them out real good with the high pressure gun, let them dry put some heet in them shook it around and have been using them for a few years now without any probs. I do have a few of the dump cans like pictured above but they are for dirtbikes and snowmobiles.

 

[The_Kid]

Re: Getting gas out of gas cans

I added a vent to my self venting gas cans. I used some metal tire valve stems from the local auto parts store an installed them where the vents were on the old style vented cans.

 

[rbh]

Re: Getting gas out of gas cans

try garage sales for the rear vented ones or army surplus for the heavy plastic 5 gallon ones, but you will have to also buy the metal flex pipe.
horse c**k
rob

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Getting gas out of gas cans

Can you use the shake-shake siphon hoses with those new style gas cans? If so, they work pretty good and last forever. They come with 1/2 hose, so they allow pretty good flow.

 

[wgoodhoofd]

Re: Getting gas out of gas cans

I had typed a nice message about the siphon hose we use, but my connection died and it was lost.

At any rate, those siphon hoses Chris is talking about work well. We can empty a 20L can in about 3 minutes. They are a little finicky to get started, but once they roll, you don't have to do much until the can is empty.

 

[sharps45]

Re: Getting gas out of gas cans

Being a Utah guy and Powell fan, the cans from Rocky Mtn sound good but just a bit pricey. The funnel idea really wouldn't work with my boat. I'll have to check out the kerosene pumps. I'm intrigued by the valve stem thing- I'll give that one a shot. Googled the shake shake hose http://www.preparedness.com/wopuseshsiho.html
and this one definitely gets a shot!
Thanks for all the great ideas!

 

[dodgeramsst2003]

Re: Getting gas out of gas cans

Be careful with the kerosene transfer pumps as you'll see on most of the labels, they are not rated for gasoline. A spark around kerosene isn't really that big of a deal, but around gas it can be a very bad thing. I have a couple of those pumps, and depending on the style (I have both a siphon type and a battery powered version) they can be a good thing or a bad thing. I have used them to transfer gas against the recomendations of the label, but YMMV.

 

[nlain]

Re: Getting gas out of gas cans

The kerosene pump I refer to is the plastic siphon type, has a squeeze bulb with a vent on it so you can stop the siphon, the first one I had I used for nearly 20 years before it got a crack in the squeeze bulb and I had to replace it. They are probably safer than trying to pour out of the can, less chance of spilling also, you can hear the gurgle in the fill hose on the boat and stop it then.

 

[fixb52s]

Re: Getting gas out of gas cans

Check out that lumber store that starts with "L". I picked up a Flow and Go 6 gallon can with the gas station style hand pump for under $25. The can has to be higher than what you are pumping into, but it works well, and less mess. Seemed to fuel my lawn tractor pretty quick.​

 

[WIMUSKY]

Re: Getting gas out of gas cans

For your basic self venting plastic can(by self venting, I assume you remove a small plastic vent cap. If not, that's what you need to get), a diesel(yellow can) works much better than the red ones. They have a larger hose/spout that drains the plastic can much quicker. This style too, the spout goes in the can when not in use so you can snip the end to have even a larger opening. No need for a cap on the spout this way.

 

[jollymon]

Re: Getting gas out of gas cans

Go with the shaker hose. You can get them from Harbor Freight. I use it all the time. I can empty a 6 gallon can in about 2-3 minutes. The trick to using them, is when the can is almost empty hold the can so one of the corners is the lowest point and keep the hose in that corner. It get just about every drop of gas that way.

 

[KPKID]

Re: Getting gas out of gas cans

Take a look at SUPER SIPHON>

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Getting gas out of gas cans

I use a large funnel at least for the first half of the worthless self venting cans. Second half does OK at the right angle.
Yard sales for old ones. You can clean out with carb cleaner if it's funky. I keep a real old metal can (my grandfather's) into which I pour the carb cleaner and other hazmats then take it to the facility when it gets some volume in it.
The funnel method can be messy and it's easy to overflow. Nothing like a full funnel sitting on a full tank, to see how quick you can move! I know they make funnels with stoppers though.

 

[ButchC]

Re: Getting gas out of gas cans

Being a Utah guy and Powell fan, the cans from Rocky Mtn sound good but just a bit pricey. The funnel idea really wouldn't work with my boat. I'll have to check out the kerosene pumps. I'm intrigued by the valve stem thing- I'll give that one a shot. Googled the shake shake hose http://www.preparedness.com/wopuseshsiho.html
and this one definitely gets a shot!
Thanks for all the great ideas!

I use the 'Wonder Pump' and it's great. You can save a few bucks here:
http://www.overtons.com/modperl/pro...desc=Wonder_Pump&merchID=1008&str=wonder pump

 

[Jeep Man]

Re: Getting gas out of gas cans

Had the same problem. Always had leaks and spills when filling the boat. Recently I purchased a Super Siphon. I'm quite impressed with it. Cheap, clean and transfers 5 canadian gallons in 3 minutes.