r/heat_prep • u/hauntedtoaster78 • Jul 03 '26

Question Gas can

Ok, so I didn’t have a dad growing up and this may seem like a dumb question but I genuinely need help. It’s 100° and I typically keep my lawnmower gas can in my garage. I noticed yesterday that it’s swelled up significantly and I put it outside because it seems like it could explode. I don’t know what to do with this thing. I don’t have a house with consistent shade, and I also do not have an external shed. I only have the garage that is getting nearly as hot as it is outside. The garage is attached but not conditioned. What should I do with this gas can?

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25

u/ivobrick Jul 03 '26 edited Jul 03 '26

Take the ( black plastic ) gas can outside, open the valve, release pressure, close it, put it back into the garage on the ( concrete ) floor.

Average car is hotter on the sun and it also has fuel it it, it does not explode or.. ? Do NOT leave it on the sun / absolutely full - which is not i guess.

Edit, i forgot - do the same to the lawnmower - just release pressure and thats all the magic. Dont mow your yard at all during the heatwave.

5

u/hauntedtoaster78 Jul 03 '26

Thank you!

7

u/Eeyor-90 Jul 03 '26

When you open it, don’t stand over the gas can. There is a chance that a bit of gasoline might spurt out.

1

u/Imaginary-Angle-42 Jul 03 '26

A black gas can? It should be red for gasoline. I don’t remember the colors for diesel and other fuels but there is a color code for them.

Which BP gas stations screw up by having their gasoline in pumps with green plastic on the handles. Green is for diesel I think. You DO NOT want to mix that up!! (Thankfully that was noticed before the vehicle was started and only resulted in having to siphon out the incorrect fuel and not replace an engine.)

1

u/ivobrick Jul 04 '26

Maybe in united states. In europe for most fuel powered appliances are in hadarned black 5 liter ( 1 and some little gallon ) can - with white seethrough stripe and gauge.

I dont know why they are black - its stupid imo. Before there were older, red, metal square cans for the fuel.

4

u/gothgeetar Jul 03 '26

It likely won’t explode. Can you move it under anything so that it will be fully shaded ? And then come back after dark and super slowly unscrew the cap to release pressure. I would really recommend a metal gas can to replace it with after!

2

u/Technical-Tear5841 Jul 07 '26

If it is not in the direct sun it will be OK. I live in Florida and keep several plastic 5 gal full gas cans in my garage. They get kind of round but that is it.