Stripping that red paint from Jerry cans?

[julianf]

I've probably found the source of the fuel contamination on my landrover -

Flaking paint from the insides of ex mod Jerry cans.

What's odd is that I've had all these cans over a decade and all the fuel that ran through our 300tdi disco came out of them, but I've not used them in a couple of years and, in the "rest period" they've all started shedding. Either that, or they always did, but the rate was low enough not to be an issue with the (same engine) discovery.

Anyway, how can I get rid of it?

I've currently got a couple of cans with some high concentration caustic soda (which was boiling when I added it) and, whilst it's only been a few hours, there's not the change I'd hoped for.

I don't even know what that red paint is. Its obviously something pretty solvent resistant anyway, being a fuel can...

Any more ideas beyond the caustic soda?

Thank you

 

[Turbo]

I used to have that problem when I started using old MOD cans for petrol instead of diesel. My pouring spout had a filter & I was forever unblocking it but eventually most of the red paint was removed.
You could try a stronger solvent like cellulose thinners plus a good handful of nuts & shake the can.

 

[fizzy]

A Donkey's dick with a filter in it is the answer
Always happens with these cans.
Filling with water and sand and shaking like mad is supposed to work. I just used the above filter spout.

 

[Sergei Slovenija]

I've currently got a couple of cans with some high concentration caustic soda (which was boiling when I added it) and, whilst it's only been a few hours, there's not the change I'd hoped for.

I don't even know what that red paint is. Its obviously something pretty solvent resistant anyway, being a fuel can...

Any more ideas beyond the caustic soda?

Thank you

Caustic works well when boiled.

 

[cheb]

Would a length of chain inside and leaving them to spin in a cement mixer work? I've read of it being successful for derusting but have never tried it.

I solved it by getting rid of my steel jerry cans and buying a stainless one. Expensive but I only need one and it beats cleaning carbs for avoidable reasons.

 

[James1979]

Would a length of chain inside and leaving them to spin in a cement mixer work? I've read of it being successful for derusting but have never tried it.

I solved it by getting rid of my steel jerry cans and buying a stainless one. Expensive but I only need one and it beats cleaning carbs for avoidable reasons.

Ditto. I got plastic cans as I’m not as posh but I hate ex mod cans with a vengeance. When I go to a small engine that won’t start and spy a Jerry can in the shed then 9/10 that’s the issue.

There isn’t a way round it from what I’ve found. Buy new ones if you must then check the filter every time. Either a Tin Man’s Knob or a chainsaw funnel with a gauze in.

 

[Wildefalcon]

This work?

https://www.caswelleurope.co.uk/tank-seal-remover/

 

[8ob]

Would a length of chain inside and leaving them to spin in a cement mixer work? I've read of it being successful for derusting but have never tried it.

I solved it by getting rid of my steel jerry cans and buying a stainless one. Expensive but I only need one and it beats cleaning carbs for avoidable reasons.

Got rid of all of our old MOD jerry cans, when that paint starts flaking off inside it causes too many problems. New ones are only £20.

Bob

 

[Melvyn Best]

I gave mine away to someone I don’t particularly like

 

[addjunkie]

Got rid of all of our old MOD jerry cans, when that paint starts flaking off inside it causes too many problems. New ones are only £20.

Bob

I concur.

 

[cheb]

I went for a stainless one because I know of problems caused by modern petrol in plastic tanks on motorcycles. The can will see me out, if I'm spared and all that, and no fuel will affect if.

 

[merryman]

A regular job for me is cleaning out (as best you can) the fuel tanks on Quads, they always contain red paint flakes, which I assume is from Jerry cans. To be honest, I can never see the appeal of Jerry cans anyway, they refuse to stand upright on their own and are quite heavy. My boss always uses 5 gallon plastic oil drums for petrol. Myself, I use a Valor 2 gallon, sits in the car boot unsupported and is a good size for use on garden tools.

 

[Robotstar5]

Life of a Jerry can...

My dad acquired it in the 60's, painted it with some paint he had left over from doing the wheels on his Landy, it then did many thousands of miles full of diesel in the back of the Landy as diesel garages were few and far between in those days.
I inherited it in the 80's and it then traveled all over the country in the back of my various Land Rover rally recovery units.
It is now in semi retirement storing petrol for the generator at the stables.
Probably WW2 era manufacture so 80 years old now?

 

[pcwizme]

Life of a Jerry can...

View attachment 376421

My dad acquired it in the 60's, painted it with some paint he had left over from doing the wheels on his Landy, it then did many thousands of miles full of diesel in the back of the Landy as diesel garages were few and far between in those days.
I inherited it in the 80's and it then traveled all over the country in the back of my various Land Rover rally recovery units.
It is now in semi retirement storing petrol for the generator at the stables.
Probably WW2 era manufacture so 80 years old now?

That one wont have the red paint in it I don't think, as it was a water carrier not a fuel carrier

 

[wyn]

I used to use a metal can for my MX bike petrol. The paint disolved into very fine particles and would block the pilot jet.
I would only find out when it wouldn't go just as the race was about to start .
It would only clean out with an airline back at home then would be ok for another couple of months.
Went to a plastic can in the end.

 

[addjunkie]

A regular job for me is cleaning out (as best you can) the fuel tanks on Quads, they always contain red paint flakes, which I assume is from Jerry cans. To be honest, I can never see the appeal of Jerry cans anyway, they refuse to stand upright on their own and are quite heavy. My boss always uses 5 gallon plastic oil drums for petrol. Myself, I use a Valor 2 gallon, sits in the car boot unsupported and is a good size for use on garden tools.

A green tesco box holds 3 20ltr jerry cans quite nicely, saves them sliding about. Ideal for quad fuel coz there thirsty things

 

[julianf]

With the 300tdi discovery, i made long trips, with some frequency.

As my fuel here was considerably cheaper, i would often take 100ltrs (5cans) of fuel with me - a row of 5 cans in the boot, with ratchet straps.
Aside from a crash (in which case life wont be great in a 300tdi landrover anyway) they were not going anywhere.

Since the start of lockdown, we have had a car with a DPF, so no environmentally sound fuel for that, hence not needing the cans.

Im making some progress with the 300tdi defender, with regards to extra fuel capacity - an inline rear quarter tank, and ill fit a 90 tank under the seat also, but ill still need a few cans.


Anyway....

I just tipped some of last nights caustic from one can to another, and its now very much red coloured, so it must be doing "something".

Id like one can soon ish, but the rest - i dont care if it takes a fortnight to strip each one really, so long as it works. Which we dont know if it will or not yet!


I remembered i may (if its not evaporated though the bottle itself) still have some DCM. I may try that also.

 

[armalites]

I stopped using metal jerry cans for anything important a long time a go. Sure they are tough and durable but they always end up looking crappy and rusty and the insides always peel. I use a couple of decent quality plastic ones now.

The only metal ones I would consider these days are the stainless steel ones.

I use one of these for diesel

Scepter – 20 Litre squat Diesel can (Yellow) – Wavian Quality Fuel Cans & Accessories

www.jerrycans.co.uk

 

[fizzy]

I stopped using metal jerry cans for anything important a long time a go. Sure they are tough and durable but they always end up looking crappy and rusty and the insides always peel. I use a couple of decent quality plastic ones now.

The only metal ones I would consider these days are the stainless steel ones.

Same here.
I use 25L plastic containers. Probably won't take a load of abuse but they are in use very regularly and had them a good few years. Flipping heavy when full as you can squeeze almost 30L in them.

 

[AVI_8]

I’ve got quite a new one for filling the heater with Kero
Leaks like hell from the spout attachment point, rubber gasket looks ok, do they all do that, it’s done it from new.