Finally! I, like a lot of you, have been fed up with those new Blitz gas cans legislated into existence by some states supposedly to prevent
fuel spills and unnecessary venting. They just don't
work. It is virtually impossible to use a legally full container, assemble the spout, and dispense
fuel without spilling or getting your hands contaminated with fuel. They are worse than the old style with individual screw-off vents and spigots.
I bought two Smart-FILL plastic fuel "cans" made by Briggs & Stratton. To be sure they are not
cheap. I paid $24 ea. off of the
internet. They hold 2.5 gallons (9.5L) and have a handle on both the top and the end opposite the spigot location so that it is natural to hold when filling an
outboard motor tank, for example. A few minutes ago I did just that.
What is truly unique about this product is the nozzle assembly. It is not like anything I have seen before. It has a large radius cap easy on the hands with two separate screens located on a protuberance that extends inside the can to keep crud from being dispensed along with the fuel.
The nozzle is closed and remains closed when you "arm" the device by a simple thumb motion applied against a shelf to rotate the nozzle a few degrees clockwise. You tip the can over and insert the nozzle into the tank opening. NO, the fuel does NOT spill or drip out when you do this! Your fingers do not contact any fuel. You push gently with the can against the other tank to be filled and the fuel begins to dispense at a rate of 1.1 gal per min (no, I did not measure the rate yet it seems about right). When the tank is full with some air for
safety remaining (as it should) the nozzle shuts off with a click (the previous rotation that you applied to arm the nozzle has been returned to the original position). You remove the can, again, no drips or
leaks.
Sean, you will love this can!
There are three negatives: the cost (not
cheap yet the product is high quality); the flow rate is a safe level for filling an
outboard tank while bouncing around yet too slow for transferring to another device while being impatient; The nozzle extends 3 inches from the front face of the can and about 4 inches inline from the tank itself making stowage a carefully planned event yet there are no
parts to get
lost or come adrift.
Regards,
Rick