Can you store gas in a plastic water bottle?
Petroleum and 2-cycle oil break down certain plastics like PET, turning the container to mush and eventually causing it to burst or leak. Storing fuel in non-approved bottles risks chemical degradation and sudden structural failure within days or weeks.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
- 1Getting a proper gas can or gas jugDid this help you?
- 2Using an HDPE container (recycling symbol 2)Did this help you?
- 3Using an old windshield washer fluid containerDid this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“The gas will eat through that plastic. Get a gas can.”source ↗
“No. That bottle will be mush in a month”source ↗
“Looks like PET, PET is broken down by petroleum like gas and 2 cycle oil. So you are mixing the broken down PET and eventually it will burst.”source ↗
“Surprised it’s not deformed after a few days.”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
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- 5Why is my expansion PEX leaking at the plastic rings?
- 2Should I keep dog food in the bag inside a storage container?
- 5Why does old CPVC plumbing get so brittle?
- 7Do I need to replace a leaking gas stove fuel line?