Running out of gas on the road is a very common occurrence among regular drivers. This is why everyone must be prepared for this situation. The solution is simple and straightforward – a person needs to go to the nearest gas station with a gas can and return to the car with gasoline stored in it. As gasoline is highly flammable, driving with extra amounts of it is not an option, which is why bringing it by foot is the best solution.
Nevertheless, safety precautions should be incorporated even when carrying it, and most certainly when filling up a vehicle. This is why we’ve singled out the most important factors that will guarantee safety when transporting or filling gasoline.
Choosing the right gas can
First and foremost, the gas container should be a proper one, built for the sole purpose of transporting gasoline. There are many gas cans for sale on the market, with plastic ones being the most famous choice among drivers. To ensure that the gasoline is transported properly, an appropriate gas container is mandatory. These plastic gas cans are equipped with sufficient safety features like proper sealing that prevent leakage. A gas can nozzle is incorporated into such gas containers to help deposit the gas into the vehicle’s fuel tank with minimal spillage.
If gasoline is transported in a random container, there will always be a risk of spillage. Gasoline is highly flammable, and the last thing a person needs is for it to be spilled around the fuel tank of a vehicle.
Filling up the can
Once there is access to an airtight gas container, the next step is learning how to fill it. The safest way is to place the empty container on the ground and insert the fuel pump nozzle into it. Another thing to keep in mind when filling up a gas can is to be mindful of the gas can cap. The most important part of a gas can is the lid, which should be present at all times because if it weren’t for it, the entire transit process would be even more perilous. And spilling a lot of gasoline will be the result, which is never a good thing.
Never fill the gas can up to the brim
This is the most crucial thing to remember when filling up the gas can. It should always be filled up to 90 or 95 percent, when it reaches that amount stopping is most advised. As the gas can is filled, the nozzle or the fuel pump can block vision and it becomes difficult to see how much has been filled. One way to go around this obstacle is to stop filling it to about 50 percent of the capacity and take it slowly from there on afterward.
For better visibility, removing the gas can nozzle from the gas container will prove useful. This will help determine when the gas can is 95 percent full.
Closing the gas can cap tightly
The safest way to prevent gas container spills is to replace the lid of the gas container at the ground level. People frequently pour the gas bottle on the ground, then pick it up before replacing the cap. Picking up the gas canister in this manner will almost certainly cause it to shake and spill. It’s also a good idea to double-check that the cap is properly secured. If the gas container’s lid is not properly screwed on, gas spillage can occur, which may go unnoticed until you reach your vehicle, which has run out of fuel.
Transporting the gas safely
The only thing left is for the gasoline to be transported safely to the vehicle with no fuel. However, if the vehicle is too far to be reached by foot, the simplest approach to ensure safe transportation is to place the fuel can upright in the truck bed or in the trunk of your vehicle. It also should, but doesn’t necessarily have to, be secured with a rope to keep it from falling over. Additionally double-checking that the lid is properly closed is always advisable.
Final thoughts
Although gasoline is problematic due to its extreme flammability, it is possible to properly fill and transport a gas can. It merely needs a little extra caution to keep it away from sparks and heat in order to deliver the gasoline to a vehicle in need or to gas-powered machines. And finally, keep in mind that the color-coding on gas containers indicates the sort of gas they may hold. Red is the color you look for since it denotes gasoline, whereas yellow denotes diesel fuel and blue denotes kerosene.