Gas can mystery
A while back I noticed my brand-new Eagle "safety" metal can was developing some nasty scrapes and dents. I didn't understand that.. I had never dropped or smashed the can with a hammer. It looked t...
Forum Discussion
The less liquid gasoline in the can, the more air or vapor there is in the can, which means more expansion/contraction.
The coefficient of expansion of liquid gasoline is 0.00095 (per degree C).
The coefficient of expansion for ALL gases is 1/273.15 or 0.00366 (per degree C).
This means the vapor/air part of the can will expand (or contract) 3.85 times as much as the liquid part for the same temperature rise.
This means a gallon of liquid gasoline will expand to 1.014 gallons for a 15 degree C temperature rise (about 27 deg F). For a gallon volume of vapor/air, it will expand to 1.05 gallons for the same temperature rise.
To get a better idea, for a typical 2.5 gal gas can liquid gasoline will expand about 4.5 ounces for 15deg C, but if the can is only air/vapor it will expand by 16 ounces.
Keeping the gas can full of liquid gasoline will result in the least amount of bulging or implosion of the can.
Steve
The coefficient of expansion of liquid gasoline is 0.00095 (per degree C).
The coefficient of expansion for ALL gases is 1/273.15 or 0.00366 (per degree C).
This means the vapor/air part of the can will expand (or contract) 3.85 times as much as the liquid part for the same temperature rise.
This means a gallon of liquid gasoline will expand to 1.014 gallons for a 15 degree C temperature rise (about 27 deg F). For a gallon volume of vapor/air, it will expand to 1.05 gallons for the same temperature rise.
To get a better idea, for a typical 2.5 gal gas can liquid gasoline will expand about 4.5 ounces for 15deg C, but if the can is only air/vapor it will expand by 16 ounces.
Keeping the gas can full of liquid gasoline will result in the least amount of bulging or implosion of the can.
Steve
