The Gun Counter

Spent Christmas with the inlaws. Went to a local surplus store with my brother in law looking for some pants for him, and walked out with three 20L euro-jerry cans for $25 each. Threw them in the back of the truck and drove off. When we got to my father in laws the truck bed smelt of gas. Seems that two of the cans had a little gas in them still, and they leaked. I can't find any holes, so I assume they leaked out of the air hole when they fell over in the back of the truck, or maybe the seal is bad? Are those reasonable assumptions? Anyone know if replacement rubber gaskets are available? Ok, a quick google shows they are available from a wide variety of sources, anyone know if any of them are any good, or ones to avoid? Is it normal for them to leak when turned over? I've never turned over any of the other jerry cans I have. Wife's a bit pissed that our luggage smelt a bit gassy on the way back home.

Thanks!

I've used these replacement gaskets with good results so far:

gaskets

could be micro leaks. I had that happen in my '66 Mustang gas tank. I got it spray lined with a gas proof poly product.

They make a tank sealer for motorcycles, you could try that.

I am guessing a guy who spends 25 bucks on jerry cans isn't in the mood to spend money on sealants and the such.

Yeah, jerry cans are one of those items where it's better, and usually cheaper in the long run, to buy new. "Euro style" cans should not leak at all when closed, with the cans in any attitude. The vent tube is completely internal to the can; the only time the vent tube comes into play is with a nozzle installed on the opening. I have carried the NATO style cans in the back of my Jeep many times, and have never gotten any leakage or odor of fuel from them.

Be aware that not all "Euro style" jerry cans will take the same nozzles or gaskets. The NATO cans are the standard, and gaskets are readily available, but there have been a lot of non-standard copies sold as surplus (I assume made by non-members of NATO), and getting gaskets or nozzles might be difficult. But if you can get some viton sheet rubber of the right thickness, it shouldn't be difficult to make your own.

When I got home I tipped over my other jerry cans and none of them leaked. I have a few new ones, and a few other euro cans, pretty sure they were German. I ordered some gaskets from DO, we'll see if that fixes the problem. I had some rubber on hand but it's a little too thin and a gasket made from it leaks. Too thick to double up though.

got the Deutch Optik gaskets in today and got them installed and they work great. Can hardly close or open the can now they are so tight, but I figure tight is better.