balloon shaped gas tank.

[floatingwoody2006]

I have one of those square plastic gas cans, and i go out the other day, and the thing is almost completely round! The fumes expanding i am sure. Now i have read these are "safe" and preferred by some to the metal types, but after putting my smoke out, and venting it for 5 minutes, i have a hard time believing it could be safe. I now leave the cap slightly vented, but we got hard rains here recently, and now i fear i have ruined a 3/4 full tank of gas. Any opinions on this? i thought it would explode.. seriously. this thing looked ready to go.

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: balloon shaped gas tank.

I have always left the vent open except when transporting it in the car for a refill on occasion. Never had a problem with water...

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: balloon shaped gas tank.

I run metal tanks myself, although they require more care and eventually a good cleaning and a liner (sometimes). Friends of mine who run the plastic tanks store them outside the house/shop in plastic or metal drum that they keep covered. They don't seem to balloon up too bad in the boat as long as you keep it out of the full sun...my fishin bud keeps his pfd on the tank when he's not wearing it and puts me and my smokes out of harm's way in the bow seat. You can find good used metal tanks, large and small, at garage sales and on the auction sites for not too much bux.

 

[AJ168]

Re: balloon shaped gas tank.

I leave my vent open by about a quarter turn. Enough to vent it but still tight enough not to allow in water.

 

[jtexas]

Re: balloon shaped gas tank.

It's the gasoline itself that expands...6 gallons of gas at 60º becomes 6.15 gallons at 100º - which is why you should always buy gas in the coolest part of the day...get the same amount of energy for less money.

I've never had a problem with the vent open, even boating in pouring down rain with the tank out on deck. I store it vented but under cover. Never have smelled fumes when removing boat cover either.

Gas will weep out the vent or even the filler cap before it blows...don't ask me how I know...

 

[Chris1956]

Re: balloon shaped gas tank.

I have never seen a standard marine portable 6 gal tank "balloon". I thought the plastic was too thich and strong. My cheep 6 gallon Blitz cans look pregnant when they are full and sit in the hot sun. These thin-walled containers have also stretched to 7+ gallons from 6-1/2 gallons when new. They are also almost clear, from sunbleaching. I have also never seen a standard marine tank bleach out until clear.