Keeping spare petrol in the boot of my car?

alibongo42

Is it safe to keep spare petrol in the boot of my car on a permanent basis?

I keep it in a plastic petrol carrier (bought at a petrol station), and have never before considered it to be unsafe. I travel 30 miles each way to work along country roads, passing no petrol stations on the way. Carrying spare seems to me like a sensible precautionary measure.

When this came up in conversation with some friends, they were horrified, saying how unsafe this was.

Are they right?

Hapless_2

Well petrol can go "off" so it should be used within a week. I think that the petrol cans are meant for use as a container when you run out, not something that should be kept in the car full on a perm. basis.

masterkay

I wouldn't keep it in my car.

This may sound like stating the obvious but if it's 30 miles to work and back without any petrol stations in between just always make sure you are topped up enough to get there.

beefcarrot

I wouldn't risk it. If there was any kind of leak (unlikely but not impossible), there's a risk, plus what would happen if you were rear-ended? Just fill your tank regularly.

mrbadexample

Safe? Not in a plastic can it's not.
I used to do the same. With the varying temperatures over winter and summer, the can expands and contracts. Eventually, the plastic fatigues and splits. Petrol fills your boot. It stinks for a looooooong time. _pale_

Can't see any problem with a metal can, but to be honest, most cars will still do 30 miles from the point the petrol light comes on.

needaspirin

Hapless wrote: »

Well petrol can go "off" so it should be used within a week.

Well you learn something every day! 30 years in the oil, gas and petrochemical industry and that's a new one on me. :rotfl:

cajef

needaspirin wrote: »

that's a new one on me. :rotfl:

And me, to think I fill my petrol can up about once a year for my lawn mower, I never knew I was using petrol that had gone 'off'.:rolleyes:

danger_mouse_2

i may be wrong so ive got my flameproof suit on here...........

Is there a law regarding this, im sure i was told that it is no longer legal to carry a petrol can of the plastic variety in your car when full, its only supposed to be carried emptied incase you need to fill it up.

As i say, im not 100% on the accuracty but its is 100% what i was told, perhaps it related to mainland europe rather than uk....

vikingaero

There's no law against it in the UK other than the size and type of containers. 5 litre plastic or 10 litre metal I think are the maximums and they must both have markings.

Some countries do prohibit spare fuel being carried as do some ferry companies.

There's no real "off" date for petrol but I remember reading somewhere that they recommend that fuel is used within 6 months. I guess that this is more important for diesel fuel as you might buy diesel in summer and attempt to use it in the winter when more anti-waxing (?) additives are used in winter fuel.

Markyt

needaspirin wrote: »

Well you learn something every day! 30 years in the oil, gas and petrochemical industry and that's a new one on me. :rotfl:

Try an experiment. Put unleaded in the vehicle tank. Leave it for a few weeks. After a few weeks, note that a) there is less petrol in there b) there is a residue, like a varnish, inside the tank, and c) the carbs are all gummed up.

oddly, it never seemed to do it with leaded fuel.

scbk

Yeh petrol does go "off" if left for months/years
I gues it must be some kind of reaction with the plastic/metal/rubber/air etc


Anyway, I keep around 20l of diesel and 10l of petrol in the back of my van, they're in decent metal jerry cans though. Think my father keeps a plastic 5l can of diesel in his car too