Refueling Plastic Contaimers

[MoonlightVFR]

I searched subject this site . Learned a lot about installing fuel vents in 5 Gal plastic Gas Cans.

I know the refueling will be outside the hanger. I will have a buddy near by, What type of fire extinguisher ? (Home Depot) and a large blanket to extinguish a flaming victim.


I have a 3 gal plastic can with a vent for lawnmowers. Why can't I just purchase 6 of these at a Farm supply store.


I will have to drive 50 miles round trip from St Clair Missouri to Washington MO to purchase AVGAS. I am at the age I usually pay some on to do ladder work. But I think this is an exacting procedure that I should not trust to a non aviation person.

Cannot approach this matter like refueling a lawn mower.

What am I missing?

[Bruce Fenstermacher]

I don't know the answer to plastic versus metal cans and grounding. I know metal conducts electricity, plastic doesn't.

Can one ground a plastic can? The rate at which fuel is pumped through a hose can cause static build up but can one duplicate a static charge at the rate fuel can be poured from the can? Are you at risk filling the cans with the pumped gas through a hose and not when emptying them in the plane? Or are you susceptible to static in either case?

Billions of gallons of gas have been pumped into plastic cans and poured out. I'm sure there is danger but how much danger. I don't know anyone who has had a static problem. I'm sure someone has.

Where is Myth Busters when you need something answered?

For the record I have used plastic cans exclusively to fuel every powered thing I own including my airplanes.

[jlwild]

I am out of town, so can't check, but believe Scott Barland wrote a great article addressing your questions in a issue of the 170 News. Perhaps some one can provide a link?

[jrenwick]

I am out of town, so can't check, but believe Scott Barland wrote a great article addressing your questions in a issue of the 170 News. Perhaps some one can provide a link?

Found it, here: http://members.eaavintage.org/wp-conten ... b-2002.pdf

[Metal Master]

I do not know about plastic gas cans and static. I use them all the time here at home. I do not generally pour gas into the tanks from metal or plastic cans into the wing tanks. I set them on the wing using a pad and siphon the gas out of the cans. I do that with cars, jeeps, airplanes and lawn mowers. Of course there are no wings on the cars, jeeps or lawn mowers but the jeeps have been known to fly, I actually did an outside loop with one but that is another story.
I was requested by our insurance company to inspect a Cessna T210 that had had fuel being drained out of the wing tank drains into a plastic bucket that was not grounded. Two mechanics were performing the operation. It was clear cold day. The airplane was in a hangar. Static built up on the plastic 5 gallon bucket and an arc set the fuel on fire. Both mechanics ran as the fuel was on fire in the bucket and quickly spread to the underside of the wing where fuel was now spreading across the bottom of the bottom of the wing. The fire department arrived and put the fire out before the airplane or hangar was consumed in fire. The entire bottom of the wing from the root to about mid span was involved in the fire. The skins were heavily wrinkled from the fire. The shop stripped the paint and re-painted it without replacing the skins and tried to return the aircraft to service without doing any inspection of the wings or replacing the skins. The skins were still very visibly wrinkled. The insurance company wanted to know if I would ferry the airplane to shop where the skins and airplane could be repaired. The answer was no. I do not know how it turned out.
At our shop we ended up getting some plastic buckets that had grounding straps’ permanently attached to the side of the bucket. We actually purchased them that way, I do not remember where we found them.

[Bruce Fenstermacher]

I have no doubt the possibility exists the fuel in your jug may get charged and upon getting close enough to a ground a spark could jump between the liquid fuel and the ground.

But from what I have been reading of cases studied of gas station fires, static was not built up by the actual refueling operation in any way. Static instead was built up on the person while fueling was taking place, who then touched a ground near the open container or gas port igniting the fumes. Usually the person got back in their car while fueling which caused the static charge from the car interior.

So perhaps more important than grounding the can of fuel plastic or not, one should ground themselves to the car or airframe by touching bare metal on it before opening the can or fuel cell allowing vapor to escape. The act of using a grounding cable in most cases, if you think about it, will have grounded you, and that is just as or maybe more important than grounding the can. At least that is how I'm seeing it.

[bagarre]

Where is Myth Busters when you need something answered?

For the record I have used plastic cans exclusively to fuel every powered thing I own including my airplanes.

On a slightly different note.
Mythbusters debunked the the story of a garage dust vacuum system made out of plastic or PVC exploding from the static discharge and dust particles.
However
Two days ago, I was vacuuming up fine dust from a flooring project. When finished, I grabbed the dust separator got a mild shock and the thing sounded like a shotgun went off and blew the top of of the bucket.

[Randy]

Fellas,

I purchased a product called Tuff Jugs (5 gal) online from the Oil Hub. They are vented through the cap and come with a "speed" nozzle normally used in motor sports racing for quick fill ups.

I ground the airplane, touch the jug cap/ nozzle with the fuel tank inlet and insert the nozzle / jug vertically. The weight of the gas compresses the nozzle and starts the flow. It takes about a minute to empty the jug, and it it is easy to balance while it is emptying.

If you order from Oil Hub, ensure they send the internal vent tubes...they are notorious for leaving them out...and their customer service....well it isn't .

They are a bit pricey ($35) but will easily pay for themselves.

Randy

[Onewinglo]

I bought a pair of VP Racing 5 gallon fuel jugs with 14" VP Deluxe fill hoses. I think I paid $65 for the pair delivered. Not cheap but much better quality and easier to use than the common plastic can. I recommend buying a fill hose with each can, because the hose is a bit troublesome to move between cans…

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[canav8]

Plastic cans will create static discharge. When fueling them make sure they are fueled on the ground and not in the back of your truck. My brother suffered 3rd degree burns from this phenom. Dont risk it. I will say though it occurs more in the winter months. Here is an easy way to tell if conditions are right. If you walk into someplace that has carpet and you get zapped, it is highly likely conditions are right to discharge off a plastic container. Dont use this example as gospal just make sure you fuel the can on the ground. Doug

[GAHorn]

DON'T WEAR SYNTHETIC CLOTHING when handling fuel.
Not only will synthetics create static.... they melt and create worse burns and also fuel the fire!