Proper marking of OD gasoline Jerry can

[cranetruck]

How were they labeled or marked to keep them from getting confused with diesel?
I have a red one for my genset, but want to paint it OD......

 

[BKubu]

I've seen them labeled in big black letters...MOGAS. Depending upon the era, the lettering could have been white...I am not certain about the earlier paint schemes.

 

[clinto]

I have seen tons of the steel ones with the top portion painted yellow to signify diesel................

 

[doghead]

Re: RE: Proper marking of OD gasoline Jerry can

I have seen tons of the steel ones with the top portion painted yellow to signify diesel................

Me too, and some with red painted tops, presumably to id gasoline.

What did they use to id water?

Here is a link with some info... http://www.olive-drab.com/od_mvg_jerry_can_markings.php


You will find many styles and types of markings painted onto Jerry Cans. THe most common will be a stencil in black, white, or yellow with an indication of the contents: "MOGAS", "DIESEL", "JP-5" and so forth. In many units, there was a practice of painting MOGAS can tops red and diesel can tops yellow.

 

[clinto]

RE: Re: RE: Proper marking of OD gasoline Jerry can

I have 2 steel water cans and in addition to the entirely different lid/clasp arrangement, they both have "W A T E R" painted on their ends with a stencil.

 

[tmbrwolf]

RE: Re: RE: Proper marking of OD gasoline Jerry can

We used to paint the top red for MOGAS and yellow for diesel, on the side opposite the opening we painted MOGAS or DIESEL in 2" letters in black paint, I've seen just the cap painted also, the can was still stenciled.

 

[ida34]

RE: Re: RE: Proper marking of OD gasoline Jerry can

The first year of the water jerry can they were the same can with the same top with a W embossed on the side. It only took one year for people to mess it up and the lid was changed. This was during WWII. I do not use the water can and chose to preserve it. I happened to find one of the rare water cans at a garage sale. I was interested in the W and researched it. All the other water cans I have seen have the flip top but this one has the normal threaded top of a fuel can. Of course, the newer water cans are plastic. Now back to the original question. We always had the gasoline cans marked "MOGAS" on the side.

 

[cranetruck]

RE: Re: RE: Proper marking of OD gasoline Jerry can

Thanks, much appreciated.

 

[emr]

RE: Re: RE: Proper marking of OD gasoline Jerry can

some tops were/ are painted all the way accross, red or yellow, and some around here have been painted just around the spout hole, following the weld, red or yellow, the stanciling ..diesel/gas/mogas for oldy's/has sometimes been down the back or accross the side just under the weld under the handle, never seen both stencils on one can, but ya can bet somebody did it some where...and the plastic ones around here have had the same things done to them ...

 

[cranetruck]

Based on the advise given, this is what I now have for the 10KW genset.
Also, the exhaust pipe was extended and exits to the side as can be seen in the second image.

 

[FrankUSMC]

On the gas can on my WWII Ford jeep I have painted on it "CHEAP WINE" in two inch letters.
One of the few, Frank USMC RET

 

[CARNAC]

Back in the old days when there was no difference between the 5 gal steel cans (WWII), water had a white 2" stripe painted going around the can and also up and down each side (so a cross pattern).

 

[mangus580]

Bjorn, you will want to keep that gas can covered when you arent running the genset. Those spigots let amazing amounts of water into the can. (ask me how I know)

 

[maddawg308]

Marked MOGAS or DIESEL depending on the contents. The latter is self-explanatory, the former is marked as such because when you ran out of gas, you put MO GAS in it.

Okay, that's the only joke I'm gonna tell. Don't all roll your eyes at once.

 

[Uglyranger]

Here is a site that deals with Jerry/Gerry cans:
http://www.g503.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=37

 

[cranetruck]

Bjorn, you will want to keep that gas can covered when you arent running the genset. Those spigots let amazing amounts of water into the can. (ask me how I know)

I do keep it covered with a tarp, but will hopefully find a proper canvas for the unit. It's work in progress, so there are still things to do...fortunately...got to stay busy...

In general, I would think that the jerry cans are considered waterproof, right ..wrong?

 

[roger-wilco-66]

I tipped my jerry-can yellow, designating it as Diesel as stated before, but I have also seen pictures of them with the specific lettering ("Diesel" or "MOGAS" or "JP-5"), either horizontally or vertically written.

Edit:
Theres a little article on the markings here:
http://www.olive-drab.com/od_mvg_jerry_can_markings.php



Mark

 

[mangus580]

In general, I would think that the jerry cans are considered waterproof, right ..wrong?

The can itself, maybe. With the generator spigot? I dont think so. I had one on my wood splitter for a long time. I had nothing but trouble with water in the gas.

 

[tmbrwolf]

With the can adapter water can enter the vent hole, in the field we got water in them all the time. It's a pain to explain to the commander why his lights and coffee pot keep going out!

 

[cranetruck]

With the can adapter water can enter the vent hole, in the field we got water in them all the time. It's a pain to explain to the commander why his lights and coffee pot keep going out!

Here is a picture of the vent hole, it exits under the "handle" and is not visible from above.
It should be labeled "vented"....