Announcements

**CornishDaddy** · #1 12 Jul 2007

Hi there,

Having recently suffered the embarressing situation of running out of fuel on a shake down trip, it started me thinking about keeping fuel in our gerrry cans long term.

Does anyone have any advice to give about the saftey aspects of this. Should it be done? What I am talking about here is keeping a 20L gerry can full, always for a 'Just in case' scenario. Our Jerry cans are stored in side lockers, on their side, 2 20L cans per locker.

Obviously the best thing to do is NEVER run out of fuel, but this would act as extra insurance. I'm also pretty certain that letting the fuel run out can't be a good thing to allow to happen often, and I could see having this insurance could allow us to get complacent on this front.

Thoughts?

**roamingyak** · #2 12 Jul 2007

I always keep about 15 litres in one of my jerries. I don't full it right up so that it gets sloshed around a lot when I drive as I think long term if left in one place it will develop crude on the top.

Also before hitting Africa etc I fill it up with new European deisel and never use it unless desperate. Then if I have any problems with fuel quality along the way I know I have 15 litres of good stuff to get somewhere. And you can always stick the fuel line straight into the jerry can if your fuel lines are really blocked.

So, it will be fine, but make sure you move the vehicle every week so the fuel is shaken about abit. And use the fuel inside teh jerries at least every 6 months and fill it up again.

**CornishDaddy** · #3 12 Jul 2007

Thanks for that. Just the answer I wanted

Now to test my gerry cans ....

**Bill Holland** · #4 12 Jul 2007

The advice you have been given so far is good. There are several things to consider, UK diesel can be sold in summer and winter variants, the winter stuff has an anti-gelling agent included, to stop the diesel from gelling in extreme cold weather, so an exposed gerry can on the outside of your vehicle is more likely to suffer from gelling if you are going to be in very cold conditions - you can get an anti-gelling adative.
The other end of the scale is very hot conditions, but with cold nights can cause condensation to form inside the metal can, which might lead to rusting over a very long period, this is why it is recomended to leave your tank full if you intend laying a vehilce up over winter. Air expands more than diesel, so keeping a can 3/4 full might lead to some pressure leakage as the air inside heats up. Imagine filling a can on a cold morning, then parking up with the can exposed to the full heat of the sun...
Use and replace the diesel every few months, when you can get a good quality fuel.
You should have no problems unless you are expecting to travel in extreme temperatures.
Bill

**andyb43** · #5 12 Jul 2007

Ollie,

We stored Deisel for months with no problems Petrol tends to go off but no worries about deisel, but buy spare rubber seals for the lids as they will leak as they age. Karen & I have a policy of when we get to 1/4 left we look for a Petrol station giving us about 125 miles left and 112 miles in the fuel can.

Mate I cant wait for the trip journal.

I have tried to attach the fuel chart we made this is laminated and glued to Karens sun visor but it wouldnt upload so I will e-mail it to you in word format mate.

**Dodger** · #6 12 Jul 2007

Keep the cans full to avoid condensation problems with temp extremes also keep them full to avoid pressure-expansion probs with the heat .
Use plastic in preference to steel to eliminate the rust problem .
If you are going up into the [cold] mountains ,have some anti gelling additive handy [ or kerosene] .There are also products that will de-gell clogged up lines [ known as Meltdown here in Canada] have some handy for winter if you think you will need it ,but it's for emergencies only and should not be added unless you are broken down .
Install a water trap or sediment bowl , CAT supply a very good large square shaped one that is worth it's weight in gold if you encounter shitty diesel .
Try and store the cans upright and then you won't be completely relying on the seal .
I have used diesel that had been stored in a 45 gallon drum for 5 years without any problems .

**Gipper** · #7 12 Jul 2007

Hi Ollie,
Im with the guys - about filling the jerry cans to the top....

- no condensation and no ullage space for the air to expand and push out fuel.

keep the 2 jerrys in the locker on the opposite side to the fuel filler with good euro diesel in them - and use the 2 cans on the filler side as and when they are needed - to extend your normal range and fill up when fuel is cheap.

if your not used to using metal cans, before you open them, point the filler down wind and let them settle for a few seconds before opening slowly - especially so for petrol - but also for diesel when it gets effing hot - or you can get sprayed - not a good day out.

as mentioned carry spare seals.

Im not a big fan of the metal spouts you clip onto jerry cans - slow and leaky IME

i use a tough plastic mineral water bottle with a section cut out the side near the bottom (leave the bottom 3/4 intact so the fuel doesnt leak out over your feet!) that fits into the Landys filler perfectly and passes fuel as fast as you can tip the can - much quicker and can be replaced easily.

cheers
Grif

**CornishDaddy** · #8 12 Jul 2007

WOw- who'd thought you could get such a detailed set of responses.

Thanks to you all. Another topic I'm now an expert in thanks to the HUBB!

Cheers

**andyb43** · #9 12 Jul 2007

Ollie,

Get a Mr Funnel. It will pay for its self in no time at all it was about £15

the dogs nads mate even filters out water. We got ours from the states when a friend poped over on holiday, sent him out to find one lol.

Mr. Funnel

Do a web search for the UK to find a distributor

We went for the F8 model any bigger and its a pain to store on the truck.
the F8 has a flow rate that you can use at a forcourt pump.

**Gipper** · #10 14 Jul 2007

Great Website Andy - some lovely prep on your Disco - everything ready for the off ?

one thing with the Mr Funnel - the Disco and Defender filler mouths are at different angles and different sizes - more upright on a Disco and smaller - so I think the angle will be too shallow for one to work on a Defender -the fuel will tend to slop out

I will have to keep my eyes out for one though as they look like a good bit of kit........

Cheers
Grif

**andyb43** · #11 14 Jul 2007

Cheers Grif,

a friend Alex designed and updates it for us.

We are off to the Iranian embasy to collect our visa stamps now we have the auth number on monday. leave London on the 7th August visit friends and family around the UK before heading for Dover.

We have got until 25 Dec 07 to get out of pakistan and hope to be in Iran around September as its cooling off for about 21 days.

Your totaly right Mate about the angle of the filler cap we have had to add a short length of hose to the funnel so that it sits upright and clips on via a lenght of wire to the roofrack to support it whilst filling to keep it horizontal.

We hope to put the next update just before we leave the UK mid August.

Sorry Ollie I hijacked the thread mate

**CornishDaddy** · #12 14 Jul 2007

No worries Andy - I've got all the info I need on storing fuel to last me a lifetime now anyhow

Hopefully we'll get to see you before you go, but I think that was another thread too!

Right off to update the blog - too hungover this morning.

Catch you later

Ollie

**Chris D (Newcastle NSW)** · #13 18 Jul 2007

Oliver,
Now that you have had the experience of an empty tank, you or Jenny will be ever vigilant of the fuel guage and I am sure you will be pulling into those filling stations well before the tank runs dry again.

I think one only needs to carry fuel when running big distance between the fuel stations, then it should be put back in the tank as soon as it will fit. My policy is not to carry extra fuel wherever possible.

Chris

Shipping the Bike

Regional Forums

Other Forums

Horizons Unlimited presents!

Links Page - wow, what a resource!

Bike Tech

Other Gear

Bike Forums

Stuff

Other Forums

Horizons Unlimited presents!

Links Page

Shipping the Bike

Crossing Borders

Staying Safe & Healthy

Getting There

Life on the Road

Horizons Unlimited presents!

Links Pages - A few samples...

Tell your Travel Story - Blog on HU!

Horizons Unlimited Communities

Horizons Unlimited Presents!

Links Page

Where are HU Meetings?

HU Travellers Meetings

Non-HU Events

Participate!

Photo Contest!

Why become an HU Member?

Horizons Unlimited presents!

New to HU? Start Here!

Your Hosts

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!

Announcements

Next HU Events

What others say about HU...

New to Horizons Unlimited?

Membership - help keep us going!

Shipping the Bike

Other Forums

Horizons Unlimited presents!

Bike Tech

Other Gear

Stuff

Other Forums

Horizons Unlimited presents!

Shipping the Bike

Crossing Borders

Staying Safe & Healthy

Getting There

Life on the Road

Horizons Unlimited presents!

Horizons Unlimited Presents!

HU Travellers Meetings

Non-HU Events

Participate!

Photo Contest!

Horizons Unlimited presents!

New to HU? Start Here!

Your Hosts

I haven't been everywhere... but it's on my list!

Announcements

Next HU Events

What others say about HU...

New to Horizons Unlimited?

Membership - help keep us going!

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!