Gas Cans

[Lynn Eades]

Ed, Chris, A quick google found "Olive drab .com". It seems I was a little bit wrong.
The last number is the year of Manufacture. The first two numbers, (20-5) are litres, and gallons, as stated.
A lot of us have learned something today.

[Ed Storey]

Scott, you are OK, here is an image of a M151A2 from RV81. The plastic fuel containers did not start showing up until about 1984/85ish.

[Scott Bentley]

Originally Posted by Ed Storey

Scott, you are OK, here is an image of a M151A2 from RV81. The plastic fuel containers did not start showing up until about 1984/85ish.

Thanks Ed. Sums that up.

[Frank v R]

Hi Rick, I have over 50 cans in my collection from POL to Scepter , a steel 5 gallon U.S. can with the 50's dates or 70's dates would be correct for your vehicle, I have not seem many in CF service with 60's dates, there are a large number of makers, also cans that were stamped out during WW 2 but never assembled until the 50's, these have the original maker with date then also the assembler (Russtakof) plus the date assembled, Scepter (plastic) cans use a different can carrier due to their larger size ,the carrier is squared, there are also books on the steel Jerry can that are well done, hope all this helps
regards Frank

[rob love]

There was also an earlier commercial type version of the gas can. I think they were made by reliable or maybe scepter. These came out in the early 80s, but did not have the ability to attach the horsecock, rather they had that little orange extension inside the filler cap. They did not last long until the proper mil-spec scepters came in. They would, however, be correct for a Cdn2 or Cdn3 jeep.

The changeover to plastic was of great benefit to the mechanics. The older metal cans were lined with some kind of beige lining or paint. When the full cans would get dropped from the top of the 5 tons to the ground, the cans would bulge a bit and the paint would come loose. The chips would plug the quick disconnects on the fuel lines of the M113A1s. Once we went to the plastic cans, along with the refuelling pods, the plugged quick disconnects became a thing of the past.

Of course, none of that prevented operators to filling their tanks with anything from antifreeze to hull sludge from the new cans. But that is another story.

[Frank v R]

I have one of the plastic 5 gallon cans with the small spout in my collection, can is light green not OD the spout is the same size as all the little red ones , Rob how about motor oil in the master cylinder or naphtha gas in the fuel tank ? as one of our regt. v-techs I was not happy,
regards Frank

[Ed Storey]

Those early commercial containers are even applicable to M151A2s.

[rob love]

Originally Posted by Frank v R

I have one of the plastic 5 gallon cans with the small spout in my collection, can is light green not OD the spout is the same size as all the little red ones , Rob how about motor oil in the master cylinder or naphtha gas in the fuel tank ? as one of our regt. v-techs I was not happy,
regards Frank

The cause of motor oil in the master cylinders was more often the 1 gallon cans that the stuff came in. Of course, you cannot get a 1 gallon can into a position to pour the brake fluid into the hidden away master cylinders of the m-series vehicles, so the operators would go get a pour can. Any traces of oil would cause the brake cups in the master cylinder, combination valve (5/4 ton) or the wheel cylinders/calipers to swell up. The more trace of oil the quicker the disaster.

Why a 1 gallon can of brake fluid? No idea....perhaps to prevent pilfering of the smaller size.

As to the naptha, I was guilty of that once myself. End of ex, and I needed to get enough fuel into the 5/4 ton to make it back to base for a fill up. I grabbed a gas can (or so I thought) out of the POL pit, poured it in, and headed off to base. When I got to the pumps, I shut off the truck, went in for the clipboard, and when I got back to the truck, it was still dieseling. Oh well, nothing another 120 liters of fuel couldn't fix.

[chris vickery]

Over on the G503 web forum there is a whole category dedicated to those with an interest in gas cans. A whole other hobby right there.

[Lynn Eades]

Lendlease, Do you have a name?

[motto]

Better tell him Ross.

Dave