Faulty ProQuip fuel containers

Submitted: Friday, Jan 15, 2016 at 10:49
ThreadID: 131367 Views:4637 Replies:9 FollowUps:8
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Just a warning to members who may have purchased the 5Ltr proquip plastic fuel containers.

I purchased a couple of these containers just before Christmas, normally I store my fuel containers in the garden shed but as I have purchased more and more petrol powered tools have recently decided to store them in the garage. There was a nice spot under the ducted vacuum where they could live but decided not a good idea so put them on the other side of the garage.

A couple of days ago went out to the garage and smelt petrol, on investigating found both containers to be swollen and a pool of petrol around one. On investigating found the plastic cap had split on one of the containers. These containers have a pouring spout which is stored in the container, the plastic spout has a seal on it, you insert it into the container and then screw on the plastic cap to seal it. This arrangement allowed the pressure in the container to force fuel up the spout and then through the crack in the cap resulting in a puddle of fuel.

On contacing Proquip I was told that they had a faulty batch of caps last year and recalled the the containers, I did a search and the only recall info I could find was on their website.

If you have purchased one of these cans in the last 12 months or so I would visit their web site and see if your container is fitted with the defective cap.

Cheers

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Reply By: Ron N - Friday, Jan 15, 2016 at 11:18

Friday, Jan 15, 2016 at 11:18
HKB, it's not just the 5 litre containers, the 10 litre and 20 litre are affected as well - as it appears they all use the same cap.

The containers are not being recalled, only the caps - and if you present with a faulty cap, you will be supplied with a new one.

The faulty cap was produced in July 2014 and according to the recall, could have been sold between 28th July 2014 to 8th February 2015.

If you bought yours just before last Christmas, then they are part of the faulty batch that have missed being recalled.

Proquip Fuel Container Cap Recall

Cheers, Ron.
AnswerID: 594953

Reply By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Friday, Jan 15, 2016 at 12:21

Friday, Jan 15, 2016 at 12:21
Yep. Two types of caps were recalled. This link by proquip gives the details on both types and how to recognise them. I personally think the lid design is ridiculous, so have replaced the lids on my 20L platinum jerrys with the one piece caps. Who wants the spout to sit in diesel? And I have a couple of older 5L Proquip containers (made in USA) which I've thrown away because of caps cracking, so it wasn't just July '14 production.
http://www.proquip.com.au/ProductPages/JerryCans/CapRecallMay2015.html
AnswerID: 594960

Reply By: Michael ( Moss Vale NSW) - Friday, Jan 15, 2016 at 13:52

Friday, Jan 15, 2016 at 13:52
I really believe the only ones to buy are the old Rheem plastic jerries, now called Fuel Safe. $29 to $35 each at most places and they never miss a beat. My only criticism is that the second cap on the rear behind the handle should be slightly bigger so a high flow nozzle can used to fill them, leaving the front opening for attaching the spout and pouring. I have six and most have been purchased 1999. Regards, Michael
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Follow Up By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Saturday, Jan 16, 2016 at 23:47

Saturday, Jan 16, 2016 at 23:47
Gday Michael,
Yeah I agree - I have a bunch of Rheems still. Diesel jerries need to be able to take a high flow nozzle. I bought a couple recently and went for the Proquip Platinum, made for Supercheap because they have the larger cap and take the high flow nozzle. Just don't like the complex cap arrangement, so replaced them with the standard single piece cap.
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Reply By: Member - Andrew W14 - Friday, Jan 15, 2016 at 14:17

Friday, Jan 15, 2016 at 14:17
Slightly off topic but is it OK to use plastic petrol containers for storing on a roof rack (presuming of course they are secured properly?. Or do I have to use metal?
Andrew
AnswerID: 594967

Follow Up By: Dave(NSW) - Friday, Jan 15, 2016 at 14:58

Friday, Jan 15, 2016 at 14:58
It's alright to use the plastic ones as long as you make sure they cant rub through on anything
GU RULES!!

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Reply By: HKB Electronics - Friday, Jan 15, 2016 at 14:34

Friday, Jan 15, 2016 at 14:34
I had a willow 20 LTR on the roof laying down, it also leaked!

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Reply By: Bill D6 - Saturday, Jan 16, 2016 at 08:53

Saturday, Jan 16, 2016 at 08:53
Thanks for the tip. Just checked mine and found all three storing diesel were cracked. Empty drums were okay. The production date on the cracked drums is 11/14 so Pro Quip need to revise recall dates.



AnswerID: 594997

Follow Up By: Member - mechpete - Saturday, Jan 16, 2016 at 12:14

Saturday, Jan 16, 2016 at 12:14
that sort of failure ,I think maybe too long stored with lid done up too tight !
possibility mechpete
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Follow Up By: Ron N - Saturday, Jan 16, 2016 at 13:36

Saturday, Jan 16, 2016 at 13:36
The cap design is simply a poor design. You should be able to do caps up tight.
I have multiple Rheem black poly jerrycans that are all over 20 yrs old, that get used weekly, and I do the caps up tight - and they're solid caps with the ability to be done up tight.
You can get a lot of pressure in a jerrycan with high ambient temperatures.

There's a lot of rubbish on the market by way of fuel containers - and every year some designer finds a way to make them cheaper.

Cheers, Ron.
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Follow Up By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Saturday, Jan 16, 2016 at 23:51

Saturday, Jan 16, 2016 at 23:51
I agree with you Ron. Poor design. I have three 5L Proquips I use for Oil and Coleman stove fuel and 2 of the 3 have the same cracks as yours. No good enough for a petrol container. The later caps have the ribs come up higher to provide more strength but it looks to me that the problem is the contact surface is not flat, so just cracks on one side.
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FollowupID: 863641

Reply By: Sigmund - Saturday, Jan 16, 2016 at 10:01

Saturday, Jan 16, 2016 at 10:01
Thanks for the heads-up.

BTW I've had no trouble with the inside-mounted spouts on the diesel Platinum ProQuip tanks.
AnswerID: 595000

Reply By: TomH - Saturday, Jan 16, 2016 at 10:17

Saturday, Jan 16, 2016 at 10:17
Have had two of the red plastic ones for several years. Have also got 2 steel ones sitting around doing nothing that I cant seem to get rid of.

Not like Proquip. No holes no dents no rust LOL
AnswerID: 595001

Reply By: The Bantam - Saturday, Jan 16, 2016 at 12:18

Saturday, Jan 16, 2016 at 12:18
I know some will argue ........ but it never was, is not and never will be a good idea to carry a fuel container laying down.

Regardless of the type or construction of the lid it is reasonable to expect any lid to fail to seal, for a number of reasons.

If you look at the old traditional jerry can they could be transported either upright or on their back, and still have the lid uppermost.

cheers
AnswerID: 595011

Follow Up By: Bigfish - Sunday, Jan 17, 2016 at 08:24

Sunday, Jan 17, 2016 at 08:24
Murphys Law. You can bet that it will leak only after you have laid the container on its side and in a position hard to get to !!! Always stand upright.
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FollowupID: 863644

Follow Up By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Sunday, Jan 17, 2016 at 10:16

Sunday, Jan 17, 2016 at 10:16
I was on a Madigan Line trip in 2004 and one guy had steel jerries upright on his roofrack.
With all the lurching around, the seals leaked and diesel covered his tent that was sitting next to the jerries. Had to sleep inside his troopie for the rest of the trip.
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FollowupID: 863649

Follow Up By: The Bantam - Sunday, Jan 17, 2016 at 11:00

Sunday, Jan 17, 2016 at 11:00
imagine if he had em laid down ...... there would have been diesel bleep everwhere.

I'm realy not keen on the whole jerries on the roof idea.

cheers
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FollowupID: 863655

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