"fuel only" jerry cans for water

[chacka]

G'day all,

Swung by Autobahn to pick up a 10L jerry can planing to use it for water instead of getting plastic ones all the time from the shops.

I notice all the cans stress 'fuel only'.

Is there a reason you wouldn't want to drink from a new one that's never had fuel in it? After a wash of course.

I guessed maybe it's just not made to food storage standards? Or they don't want some idiot filling it with fuel, then swapping to drinking water?

?

[adam]

I guess the same as you. I wouldn't have an issue with using it for water. I believe it has to do with being all safety conscious.

[AusTac]

probably so someone doesn't lob 20litres of water down into their tank lol

[Boss4b]

It will more then likely rust with water in it

[adam]

It's probably there to protect the criminals. Heaven forbid someone steels your jerry can and put's it in their car and wrecks their engine. If you put water in your jerry can, and someone steels it and it ruins their engine - and someone has an accident because of it, knowing our government they'll probably put the blame on you...

[AusTac]

It will more then likely rust with water in it

Get a plastic one, or go to aussie disposals or similar and get a clear 20 litre one i got it years ago other sizes probably available by now

[chacka]

It will more then likely rust with water in it

It would only be filled with water for 2, maybe 3 days at a time during trips. Not for storage.

Emptied and dried every time afterwards.

Still an issue?

[sandgroperbill]

Not all plastics are suitable for fuel storage, so the plastics chemical makeup may mean its not totally safe to use to store drinking water. Just get yourself water containers or buy a couple of cheap disposable black and gold 10l spring waters from the shops. Personally, my tap water doesn't taste great, so I just buy the big spring waters when I go camping

[Gwion]

The likes of Bunnings sell 20lt food grade cubes. No chance of a mix up and you can fit a tap to the bung.

[<<Genesis93>>]

It will more then likely rust with water in it

It would only be filled with water for 2, maybe 3 days at a time during trips. Not for storage.

Emptied and dried every time afterwards.

Still an issue?

If the steel is coated, should be okeycokey.... I doubt the inners would be uncoated mild steel.. but who knows

If they were mild steel uncoated and you get a bit of rust in it..... honestly, its only iron oxide... your body needs iron and I'd prefer to ingest common iron than complex molecules of polyfreakincrappolaanhydridemonounsaturated this and that....from a dirty factory in china

Plus, food grade plastics are not necessarily UV resistant and as generally durable as good ol'steel!

Use the erry can and stencil WATER over the fuel or petrol marking, that way you, your mates and/or your old man dont make the mistake

[WayneO]

Mostly the steel Jerry Cans can handle water for long periods of time, but if you have any part of the inside of the can that did not get covered in the coating during manufacturing, it will start to rust.

[WayneO]

You do get steel water Jerry Cans, but they have been properly treated and dipped so that they dont rust. And contrary to popular belief, they are not made of stainless steel.

[sbd3927]

From the flaky bits that come out of my old fuel cans, there is an epoxy paint on the inside. Since the traces of moisture get through that, then the same will happen with water, but they are quite old. Once it happens you'll get flaky bits of paint in your water.
I use the square 25litre drums. You can see how much water you have left at a glance too.
For NT or QLD I have at least 4. Also a small diaphragm pump which serves; as a shower with garden hose/nozzle, and as a desalinator using a small under sink reverse osmosis unit. Purifies about 15L water overnight from outback bores which can be too salty for extended consumption.

[p3seven]

There are industry and government standardised colours for jerry cans. Red for gasoline, yellow for diesel etc. Water l think is blue or white.

[Gwion]

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/20L-STEEL-JE ... Swq7JT7YRY

[on_one_wheel]

Personally I dont mess around when it comes to drinking water, propper food grade containers only that will never be confused with fuel drums.
I dont like the idea of feeding toxins to my family or myself if I can help it.

[Gregg]

If they were mild steel uncoated and you get a bit of rust in it..... honestly, its only iron oxide... your body needs iron

Drink a few glasses of wine for the antioxidants to offset the oxide, problem solved

[southeast varmiter]

Not all plastics are suitable for fuel storage, so the plastics chemical makeup may mean its not totally safe to use to store drinking water. Just get yourself water containers or buy a couple of cheap disposable black and gold 10l spring waters from the shops. Personally, my tap water doesn't taste great, so I just buy the big spring waters when I go camping

Yep, that plastic is treated for hydrocarbons. It will leach chems into your water - nasty.

[chrispy]

May also be the grade of HDPE the plastic is made of. Fuel ones my not be food grade PE

[Die Judicii]

I have in the past used one of these "yellow" plastic jerry cans for water with no ill effect.

I'm pretty certain that the grade of plastic used in the manufacture, is designed to prevent (if used for fuel) the plastic from going brittle, and then splitting.
It is also aimed at being safe from static electricity caused (supposedly) by the friction of the fuel hitting up against the sides of the jerry can when being filled from the fuel pump.

I would use one with no hesitation for water,,, and simply label it WATER with a black permanent texta.

I have also used those BLUE plastic 20 liter drums that engine oil is bought in for camping water.
Have done so for many years, and haven't grown any extra legs or fingers.

Just rinse, and then steam clean the inside thoroughly before using for water.

The white ones you can buy for water are not UV stabilized and will eventually shatter,,
but the blue ones are as tough as a feral cat, and I've never had one fail me yet.

[heeple]

Just had them spontaneously combust on the range for mysterious reasons