Can you store petrol in a steel drum?

Fuel is a necessity for living safely and comfortably. If you’re making your home disaster-ready, fuel (specifically gasoline) is one of the most important supplies to have on hand. Plastic drums are a popular storage medium for all kinds of preparedness necessities. So, you might wonder: Can you store fuel in a plastic drum? The short answer is that no, you shouldn’t store gasoline or any other fuel in a plastic drum. In this article, we’ll examine why and we’ll talk about some alternatives that will allow you to store your gasoline supplies safely. 

Why Storing Fuel Is Challenging

Gasoline is, by far, the most popular liquid petrochemical fuel. Everything from automobiles to generators run on it, making it a versatile fuel that you never want to be caught without. Unfortunately, gasoline isn’t particularly easy to store for long periods. It readily expands in hot weather and contracts in cold weather, which makes it form vapors and build pressure inside containers. It can quickly create a fire and explosion hazard when vapors accumulate. The volatile compounds in the fuel also evaporate fairly easily, leading to so-called “stale gasoline” that doesn’t burn as well. Thus, when storing gasoline, you’ll need to be aware of key best practices. Number one: Don’t store it in a plastic drum. 

Storing Fuel in Plastic Drums (and Why It’s a Bad Idea)

So, why is storing gasoline in a plastic drum not recommended? It has to do with the way the gasoline interacts with the material of the drum itself. 

Find Metal Jerry Cans for Storing Small Quantities of Fuel

Most plastic drums are made from high-density polyethylene (HDPE). Containers such as gas cans are often made from HDPE, so it’s easy to get the impression that it’s a good material to store gasoline in. However, when stored for prolonged periods in HDPE, the gasoline will begin to permeate and break down the plastic. This can cause dangerous leaks and ruin your fuel. Here are some other major things to avoid when storing gasoline:

• Don’t store gasoline in any indoor space, including in your basement or garage. 
• Don’t fill a gasoline container indoors. 
• Don’t store gasoline in any kind of glass container. 
• Don’t store gasoline in any space that doesn’t have adequate ventilation. 
• Don’t store gasoline near a source of open flame. 
• Don’t use an electric pump when transferring gas from one container to another, as it can create sparks. 

How Should Fuel Be Stored?

We’ve looked at how gasoline shouldn’t be stored. Now, let’s examine a safer way to store it. 

The safest and most effective way to store gasoline is in a steel shipping drum. Gasoline does not affect steel in the way it affects plastics over long periods. So long as it’s cleaned occasionally and kept away from water leaks, steel is an extremely resilient and durable material that can keep your gasoline stored safely for years. Some preppers prefer to store their gas drums vertically, while others like to store them horizontally on a rack. If you store your drums vertically, keep a non-electric fluid drum pump nearby to pump gas out when you need some. If you use horizontal drum storage racks, attach spigot valves to them to allow gas to be dispensed easily. No matter how you store your fuel drums, they need to be equipped with drum vents. A drum vent helps equalize the pressure inside the drum and prevents unsafe build-ups of gasoline vapors. These simple devices attach to the upper vent of a drum and include built-in flame arrestors that prevent flare-ups.  Finally, if you’re planning on storing your gas for a year or more, make sure to add a fuel stabilizer. As previously mentioned, when gasoline starts to evaporate, it loses some of its key compounds and doesn’t burn as well. Extremely old fuel can even harm your engine, so buy some fuel stabilizers from an auto supply store and add the recommended amount to your gasoline.

Check Out Our Durable Steel Drums to Properly Store Gasoline 

Steel Shipping Drums for Fuel Storage

Air Sea Containers offers steel shipping drums that are ideal for storing gasoline. Our drums are made from ultra-durable carbon fiber steel and meet all relevant transportation of gasoline regulations, including IATA Dangerous Goods regulations and DOT hazmat laws. Air Sea Containers recommends our 55-gallon closed head steel drum for efficient gasoline storage. These rugged and high-quality drums include a screw cap and ¾-inch vent cap, and they’re coated with a rust inhibitor for truly long-lasting, reliable performance. We also have a variety of smaller sizes available, including 5-liter steel drums, as well as key steel drum accessories like bung wrenches and plastic funnels. 

Air Sea Containers 55-Gallon Closed Head Steel Drum

Need more ideas and tips for storing fuel or other disaster preparedness supplies? Air Sea Containers is a premier source for preparedness equipment, and our packaging experts will be glad to help you create solutions that will keep your home and family safe in an emergency. Just call us at (866) 596-9448 or contact us online.