How to Open a Gas Can

Keeping a full gas can at home or in your vehicle is a great way to ensure that you have fuel in case of an emergency, but how do you open a gas can?

To open a gas can, release the safety mechanism that locks the cap in place and then unscrew the cap counterclockwise until it comes off. Most gas canisters have safety features such as locking pins, child-safe locks, and safety teeth that need to be released before the cap can be opened as well.

The process for opening a gas can will vary depending on its design, with most featuring a locking safety mechanism. 

How to Open a Gas Can

Whether you are about to embark on a road trip or simply want to keep some fuel around the house for the lawn care, a gas can is the ultimate to have easily accessible fuel within reach. 

It’s a good idea to keep a jerry can in your shed to ensure that you have gas, regardless of whether there is a fuel stop near you or not. With that said, many people often have a hard time opening gas cans. 

Each fuel canister has a slightly different design, and some are undeniably trickier to open than others. Modern gas can brands feature their own safety designs to ensure that fuel is contained and does not spill. 

However, this can sometimes make accessing certain gas cans harder than it should be. Let’s take a closer look at how to open different types of gas cans in more detail.

How to Open a Scepter Gas Can

Scepter gas cans are widely considered to be among the best fuel canisters on the market. They feature sophisticated designs with advanced safety features that prevent wastage and encourage safety.

However, opening a scepter gas can is often harder than it looks. You need to follow the instructions carefully to access the canister, given that it was designed to keep all fuel locked when unopened. Follow these steps to open a scepter gas can:

1. Press and hold the tab at the base of the cap
2. Continue to hold and begin unscrewing the cap 
3. Remove the cap from the canister once unscrewed 

How to Open a Spill Proof Gas Can

One of the biggest risks involved in using gas cans is potential spillage. Traditional gas can designs were notorious for always getting some drops (or more) onto surrounding surfaces, which is a major fire hazard.

Spill-proof gas cans are one of the latest designs for fuel canisters, and they work wonders at preventing even a single drop from escaping the can when you are filling up. Follow these steps to open a spill proof gas can:

1. Unpin the locking mechanism from the base of the cap (if applicable)
2. Press down and hold the child-lock safety teeth
3. Unscrew the cap until the nozzle completely comes undone 
4. Remove the cap from the canister

How to Open a Briggs & Stratton Gas Can

Briggs & Stratton makes some of the most advanced and sophisticated fuel canisters on the market. They specialize in designing gas cans with superior safety features that prevent waste and eliminate hazards. 

With that said, the safety design of Briggs & Stratton gas cans often makes them difficult to open for first-time users. Follow these steps to open a Briggs & Stratton gas can:

1. Remove the child-safe screw cap from the canister 
2. Press down on the locking teeth 
3. Unscrew the gas cap
4. Remove the dust cap
5. Remove the spout from the canister
6. Insert the spout through the cap and fasten it to the canister

How to Open a Wavian Jerry Can

Jerry cans are the most classic fuel canisters around, and many people still use them to this day for their simplicity. However, the traditional designs of jerrycans do not make them the safest solution for storing fuel. 

Companies like Wavian have capitalized on the practicality of the original jerry can design by adding advanced safety features. These are highly durable gas cans that are excellent for storage and are rugged in nature. Follow these steps to open a Wavian jerry can gas can:

1. Twist the safety pin and remove it
2. Lift the back of the cap
3. Remove the cap from the neck of the can

Safety Tips for Opening and Handling Gas Cans

It goes without saying that gasoline is combustible and flammable. This implies that you should be handling fuel with extreme caution, as gas fires are extremely dangerous and can easily result in property damage or injury. 

These days, gas cans are equipped with a ton of different safety features to reduce the chances of combustion. Most gas cans are designed to prevent spillages that can lead to fires, but that does not mean that they are guaranteed to be safe. 

You still need to observe standard safety protocols, which is why it’s best that you keep the following tips in mind when handling gas cans.

1. Cool, Dry, & Ventilated Storage

Keeping a gas can at home or in your car can be quite dangerous if the canister hasn’t been stored properly. 

It’s important to keep gas canisters in a cool, dry, and ventilated area on your property. Fumes from the fuel can potentially build up in a closed environment, and this can lead to combustion in some cases. 

2. Trunk or Roof Car Storage 

You should never store a gas canister inside your car. The fumes from the gas can may build up, creating a fire hazard inside the vehicle. Instead, consider storing the fuel canister on the roof or in the trunk of your car.

Whenever you place a fuel canister in your vehicle, double-check that it is secure. The can should not be moving around at all so that there is no risk of a leak. You can do this by using bungee cords to tighten the canister securely inside your car.

3. Seal Valve Cap Vent 

To encourage even flow when pouring fuel, most gas canisters are designed with a valve cap vent that needs to be unsealed. Once you open up the valve cap vent, fumes will continue to escape the canister until the vent has been sealed. 

Always remember to seal the valve cap vent after you use your gas canister. Simply press the cap to prevent any fumes from escaping.

4. No Open Flames

It should come as no surprise that fuel is flammable and combustible, which means that you should never have an open flame anywhere near your gas can. 

Whenever you are opening or handling a gas can, always inspect the surrounding area to ensure that there is no open flame in the vicinity. This is particularly important for smokers to keep in mind given that cigarettes have been the cause of many fires related to fuel combustion.

Key Takeaways to How to Open a Gas Can

To open a gas can, release the safety mechanism that locks the cap in place and then unscrew the cap counterclockwise until it’s undone. 

Most gas canisters have safety features such as locking pins, child-safe locks, and safety teeth that need to be released before the cap can be opened.

Whenever opening and handling gas cans, make sure to store them properly in a cool, dry, & ventilated place.