external gas cans

external gas cans - safe?

Thread view:

Enable EMail Alerts

Start New Thread

Thread rating:

Joshua Nelson - 31 Jul 2003 16:20 GMT

Ok, this may be a dumb question, and I'm sure I will get flamed for
asking it, but still, it's a question that keeps coming to my mind and
I'm not 100% certain on.

I live in a very hot, sunny place. (Phoenix, AZ.) Lord only knows
what the temperature inside a sealed, parked vehicle can get to in the
summer. I bet it's near 200, if not over.

I have 2 full 5 gallon gas cans mounted on my rear bumper. I
frequently park the jeep in a concrete, unshaded lot all day. I have
been wondering if perhaps there is any risk of some spontaneous
combustion here, with those gas cans baking in the sun all afternoon?

I have never heard of such an accident, but still... maybe I should
empty out the cans until I need them for trail use?

Am I just being silly here, or is there a real risk?

Reply to this Message

Dave Milne - 31 Jul 2003 18:06 GMT

I think you are safe as long as you aren't leaking...

Petrol gives off vapours from -43c upwards, which can be ignited up to 65
feet away !
British Oxygen claim that petrol "will self ignite will self ignite at
temperatures between 228 - 501?C, depending on the grade".

But, if I were you, I wouldn't take the risk of a badly sealed gas can, and
would only carry what I needed when I needed it.

Dave Milne, Scotland
'99 TJ 4.0 Sahara

: Ok, this may be a dumb question, and I'm sure I will get flamed for
: asking it, but still, it's a question that keeps coming to my mind and
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
:
: Am I just being silly here, or is there a real risk?

Reply to this Message

TJim - 31 Jul 2003 18:22 GMT

I agree. Two loaded "jerry" cans on the back of a truck is a bomb if you
get in an accident. The only thing worse is two empty "jerry" cans (that
had gas in them). These cans are meant to be carried on the trail, not the
street.

> I think you are safe as long as you aren't leaking...
>
[quoted text clipped - 26 lines]
> :
> : Am I just being silly here, or is there a real risk?

Reply to this Message

Will Honea - 31 Jul 2003 19:13 GMT

> Ok, this may be a dumb question, and I'm sure I will get flamed for
> asking it, but still, it's a question that keeps coming to my mind and
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
>
> Am I just being silly here, or is there a real risk?

Consider: gasoline vapor explodes, liquid gasoline just burns so an
empty can == bomb. If it's a concern, why not just remove the cans
until you actually have a need for them? I grew up in West Texas and
never heard of spontaneous combustion from the sun but I've seen
several fires when a minor rear end collision ruptured a Jerry can and
the sparks/friction ignited the gas. I carry extra gas only when I
have a probability of needing it.

Besides, in that heat you probably need water more often than extra
gasoline.

Signature

Will Honea <whonea@codenet.net>

Reply to this Message