Posted by Ken Dunnington on Monday, March 28, 2005 at 4:01PM :
In Reply to: Leaky Jerry Cans posted by Henry Jacobs on Monday, March 28, 2005 at 0:04AM :
Try one of the NATO types. They are the design of the German cans from WWII, where the term "Jerry can" comes from. I've owned and used both and in almost every regard, the German design is superior to the American ones, atleast the ones I had.
With th American style can, the cap was hard to get to fully seal. It required a tool to tighten and loosen if it was tight enough to not leak. Then, if tight enough to not leak, it would slowly "implode" over a few weeks of the 40 degree temp swing we have normally here. The fuel would heat up and expand, pushing out some air. Then, when it cooled down over night it would not suck air back in, but the can would suck in on the sides a little bit. This process repeated over and over eventually had the two sides of the can almost touching each other. This happened with multiple cans. Luckily, they got stolen off my truck, hehe. I was more upset that the thieves cut through the straps holding them down than by the loss of the cans.
The NATO type seal with no tools, don't "implode", have a built in short pour spout, and the seam is welded. The flexible pour tube pops right on/off, again without a tool to tighten/loosen, and doesn't leak. Factor in that I paid $8 each for the NATO cans *used* but in like-new condition vs more than $15 for a new American style. The only functional down side to the NATO style is the much smaller pour/fill opening means it takes longer to pour.
Ken