Petrol doesn't seem to go off when stored in a steel jerrycan for a couple of years. I use a 10l jerrycan which is much more convenient than the large ones. John
Disposing of old diesel and petrol stored in plastic cans.
Mar 22, 2026
Last reply: 3 months ago
23 Replies
How does storage in cans handle the increased pressure at high temperatures? If a storage can is vented, it can lose the more volatile components and so allow the petrol to degrade. If not vented, this won't happen, but the pressure on a hot day could get quite high?
nib
Yes, there is a release of some volatiles when the can is opened on a hot day. However, this doesn't happen very often as I would not be choosing to mow the lawn on such a hot day. In contrast, with a plastic can the volatiles are constantly diffusing through the walls of the container.
John
The can flexes a little
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