Fumes from a Scepter Can

[Overland Hadley]

Another thing about the smaller cans is that they are easier to heft up onto the roof and generally easier to handle since I am a smaller human.

The only thing I do not like about the small cans is the can weight to fuel carried ratio. Four 10L cans being heavier than two 20L cans.

 

[spressomon]

I hate to pull the 'not mine' card but honestly I've had no issues with leaking with mine, and against even my own advice I store them inside the rig or trailer on occasion

I, right after getting the Scepters with my then new Adventure Trailer Horizon, had leakage problems. But Martyn clued me in to paying attention to the max fill line and since then they performed flawlessly: No fumes and no seep when the temps were high and the Scepters were in the sun. They don't like to be overfilled.

 

[spressomon]

Bummer to hear that. I almost wonder if there were some different runs of Scepter MFC's that had problems? A bad batch of plastic or some mold issues?? So many have had trouble free experiences but there are enough that have had issues that its obviously a real problem. I seem to remember an ExPo member that sent them back to Scepter and got two new identical MFC's back and never had another leak problem?? Anyone remember that?

I had sent the H20 Scepters back for leaking...but they have a different cap along with a vent compared to the fuel Scepters.

 

[CJCA]

I have tried putting lithium grease on the gasket in hopes that it would create a better seal, but that has not worked either. Any thoughts?

I don't think grease is helping things and may be contributing to the problem. It acts as a lubricant on the gasket, especially if applied to both sides. As the cap is tightened, the grease allow the gasket to move and deform more than it normally would. I would think the gasket would perform best clean and dry. You might check the cap and can mouth mating surfaces for gouges or deformities too.

I, right after getting the Scepters with my then new Adventure Trailer Horizon, had leakage problems. But Martyn clued me in to paying attention to the max fill line and since then they performed flawlessly: No fumes and no seep when the temps were high and the Scepters were in the sun. They don't like to be overfilled.

When filling my Scepters I always watch the pump gauge and stop at 5.0 gallons exactly, so it's underfilled a little over one liter of the listed 20 liter capacity. I snug the tops down with a strap wrench a bit. I have never had a Scepter leak. Out of habit I'm always giving the cans the sniff test and I've never detected the slightest odor of gas.

 

[go4aryd]

He uses Wedco/NATO cans.

Tom also runs diesel. I would not hesitate to place properly sealed diesel inside my rig. Gasoline is a very different story for me.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

I know we've covered this to some degree but for those that had or have leaking caps with gasoline did you verify you have the correct gasket in the cap? Shouldn't be an issue if you bought your cans as new petrol cans but if you bought surplus or possible with olive drab staps a simple gasket change could fix some leaking?

I was rinsing out my Scepter's yesterday in preperation to store them and in the process found there were some slight changes particularl to the cap mating surface. Some seem to have higher ridges, others have a round vent hole instead of a thin rectangular line. Judgine on the dates the older cans have the round holes and higher ridges and the new cans have a more flattened ridge and the rectanglular sloted vent holes. Not sure if these differences can be translated into leaking issues or not though...

 

[Cabrito]

I got mine new from "Quadratech"? and they did have the red straps.

Maybe I just could not get them tight enough, but I also had trouble opening them when I cranked them down tight. The gaskets were in fine shape.
I never saw any leaking or seepage, but for sure I smelled the fumes. Nothing real extreme but with my wedco's I don't smell any fumes at all.

 

[Overland Hadley]

Tom also runs diesel. I would not hesitate to place properly sealed diesel inside my rig. Gasoline is a very different story for me.

Very true.

 

[Mc Taco]

Okay. Fumes leaking out of can into an enclosed space is giving me a headache just thinking about it. Not a problem for me as I drive a Tacoma Double Cab.

What about dust etc. finding its way into the can. Are the fumes much smaller particles then the dust particles? Not a concern?

 

[Overland Hadley]

What about dust etc. finding its way into the can. Are the fumes much smaller particles then the dust particles? Not a concern?

I think the fumes are leaking out from pressure building up inside the can. Thus the positive pressure inside the can would keep dust out.

 

[off-roader]

...to paying attention to the max fill line and since then they performed flawlessly: No fumes and no seep when the temps were high and the Scepters were in the sun. They don't like to be overfilled.

That's interesting because I would have thought that the gaseous vapors would have definitely expanded more than the fuel fluids.

Of course, overfilling so that there's no gas vapor left might be bad too but then again I'm no Physics expert so perhaps someone else can explain why not filling past the max fill line is so critical?

 

[Overland Hadley]

Of course, overfilling so that there's no gas vapor left might be bad too but then again I'm no Physics expert so perhaps someone else can explain why not filling past the max fill line is so critical?

I am in no way a physics expert, and I am sure one will chime in soon.

But I would guess that the max fill line is figured with enough space so the normal pressure created by that much liquid has enough space to expand. Fill it to full and you have more expanding liquid/vapor and less room for it to expand creating higher pressure. At least that is what makes sense as I type.

 

[Mc Taco]

I think the fumes are leaking out from pressure building up inside the can. Thus the positive pressure inside the can would keep dust out.

I totally agree, but as the can cools and the pressure lessens, is the positive pressure now not there so that air flow is heading into the can? Not trying to be a pill, just asking smart people a question.

 

[Overland Hadley]

I totally agree, but as the can cools and the pressure lessens, is the positive pressure now not there so that air flow is heading into the can? Not trying to be a pill, just asking smart people a question.

Yes that could happen. Or if you filled the can at 10,000 feet and drove down to sea level there would be negative pressure in the can. In day to day use positive pressure would be much more likely, but negative pressure could certainly happen.

So if we look back at your original question, then I really do not know the answer.

What about dust etc. finding its way into the can. Are the fumes much smaller particles then the dust particles? Not a concern?

 

[go4aryd]

My experience with the Scepters (and all plastic cans) is that mine don't leak a drop - but they outgas through the plastic. Plastic cans material allow some vapor particles to permeate through the can - and I can smell it if in a confined space.

BTW - on my last trip one of my Specter fuels cans had a problem. The inner cap seal broke right off. If you look under the cap, there is a thin cone shaped seal that protrudes into the container cody when installed. Darnest thing I have seen in a long time - very strange. I had just filled the can and was stewing over what to do now (already filled the rig), so I just screwed the lid on anyway, good and snug like always. Much to my suprise there were no leaks, zero, nada, zip. Incredible.