# I hate these new "green" gas cans. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 5, 2012, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-these-new-green-gas-cans/627299 "2012-07-05T12:06:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2019, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-these-new-green-gas-cans/627299/41 "2019-06-14T12:29:15Z")
I’m not often happy that Missouri lags on environmental and safety issues, but I’m pretty sure I bought a gas can within the last 6 years and it is just a red plastic container with a spout. I may need to look at what is for sale the next time I’m in a hardware store. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2019, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-these-new-green-gas-cans/627299/42 "2019-06-14T17:29:44Z")
> [@Una\_Persson](#): > > yes it does spill gasoline all over us. It actually releases far more VOCs via spilt gas than it could possibly prevent by its closing action. They’re a supreme piece of shit. > [@Ravenman](#): > > I have never been able to pour gas out of one without some kind of spill. Exactly. Every “no-spill” can I’ve used has spilled far more fuel than I’ve ever spilled with the old style. But my old cans were metal and have rusted, and only “no-spill” (not the brand, but the theoretical type) are all I can find to replace them. I’ll have to try one of the ones suggested in this or the other gas can thread. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2019, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-these-new-green-gas-cans/627299/43 "2019-06-14T17:45:03Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > Mine has a thumb lock and a valve, so I have to upend the can over my tank with one hand, unlock it with the other hand, and depress the valve with the third hand I have growing out of my chest. In a welcome update, the thumb lock on my gas can has permanently jammed in the unlock position, so I can now dispense gas with only two hands. ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2019, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-these-new-green-gas-cans/627299/44 "2019-06-14T22:52:53Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > With the money I’ve spent on cheap-piece-o-shit gas cans over the past year, I could have bought [this](http://www.amazon.com/Eagle-U2-51-S-Galvanized-Capacity-Diameter/dp/B000BQO15I). Am placing an order for one today. > [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > Dang, that thing ain’t cheap. Let us know how it works for you. I realize this is a zombie thread, but holy hanna, somebody sucks at mathing. One for $64 or two for $259? I’ll buy four individual cans for $256 and return them as a 4-pack for $517… ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2019, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-these-new-green-gas-cans/627299/45 "2019-06-14T23:15:00Z")
Why not just drive your mower to the nearest gas station and fill up there? — Uke, the guy with no lawn ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2019, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-these-new-green-gas-cans/627299/46 "2019-06-15T17:27:25Z")
So, [these](https://www.huntsmarine.com.au/products/scepter-jerry-can?variant=12184738136139) are no longer usable / acquirable\*? \*Ack - “acquirable” is probably not a word, but couldn’t think of the right one. ---
**Author:** ![Personal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Personal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Personal)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2019, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-these-new-green-gas-cans/627299/47 "2019-06-15T18:19:36Z")
> [@Projammer](#): > > I realize this is a zombie thread, but holy hanna, somebody sucks at mathing. > > One for $64 or two for $259? I’ll buy four individual cans for $256 and return them as a 4-pack for $517… Everything about that product seems fucked up. The reviews make for good reading. ---
**Author:** ![Flyer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/flyer/32/7298_2.png) [@Flyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flyer)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2019, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-these-new-green-gas-cans/627299/48 "2019-06-16T23:06:26Z")
Whatever happened to gas cans like this? [![](https://as1.ftcdn.net/jpg/00/30/37/04/500_F_30370404_PH0ONwe0JrHM4XDRvo7CJIsDZBZXWi9l.jpg) ](https://as1.ftcdn.net/jpg/00/30/37/04/500_F_30370404_PH0ONwe0JrHM4XDRvo7CJIsDZBZXWi9l.jpg) That’s what I grew up with. ---
**Author:** ![excavating\_for\_a\_mind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e8c25b/32.png) [@excavating\_for\_a\_mind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/excavating_for_a_mind)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2019, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-these-new-green-gas-cans/627299/49 "2019-06-17T02:15:24Z")
Honestly, I use a motor oil container (2.5 gallon size) that I painted red with a can of spray paint and a funnel to fill my riding mower. The oil container is certainly safe for gasoline (it was designed to hold oil), has an opening of about two inches, and will hold nearly three gallons. My mower will hold three gallons, so it works out. Over the years, more than half of the red paint has come off (I should probably repaint it), but nobody has ever questioned me when I try to fill it. Maybe I’m just lucky. I only use ethanol-free gas for the lawn equipment (supposedly ethanol is bad for the fuel lines), and most of the people who buy ethanol-free gas use it for lawn equipment, so that might be why I don’t get hassled. Minor rant. Why don’t the manufacturers of the riding mowers incorporate a reserve tank into the fuel system (I’m looking at you, Mr. John Deere)? It doesn’t have to be elaborate, or even have a huge capacity. Just four ounces of gas would be enough. Just a two-level pickup tube would be fine. My mower has a fuel gauge on it, but it is only good to tell you if you have a full tank, or a partially full tank. At about half-full, it shows empty. I’d much rather have a reserve than that silly gauge. I keep my fuel at the garage, and invariably I will run out of gas at the furthest point on my property from the garage. This shouldn’t be a 21st century problem. EOR. ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2019, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-these-new-green-gas-cans/627299/50 "2019-06-20T16:39:16Z")
> [@excavating\_for\_a\_mind](#): > > Minor rant. Why don’t the manufacturers of the riding mowers incorporate a reserve tank into the fuel system (I’m looking at you, Mr. John Deere)? It doesn’t have to be elaborate, or even have a huge capacity. Just four ounces of gas would be enough. Just a two-level pickup tube would be fine. My mower has a fuel gauge on it, but it is only good to tell you if you have a full tank, or a partially full tank. At about half-full, it shows empty. I’d much rather have a reserve than that silly gauge. I keep my fuel at the garage, and invariably I will run out of gas at the furthest point on my property from the garage. This shouldn’t be a 21st century problem. EOR. Your ideas are intriguing to me and I wish to subscribe to your newsletter. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-these-new-green-gas-cans/627299.md?page=2)