Do you ever wish your gas can would stop dumping gasoline all over your lawnmower when the tank was full? The pump at the gas station can stop the flow of gas when it reaches the nozzle, so you know it can be done. If the claims of the folks over at No-Spill are correct, you can get this functionality at home, with their No-Spill gas cans.
To use the No-Spill gas, can you simply lift the can and hold the spout so the tip is completely inside the tank you wish to refuel. Then, you press the valve button to release gas at a flow rate of up to 3 gal/min. To stop the flow, you can either release the button or wait for the fuel level in the tank to reach the spout.
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How does the automatic shutoff work? “It’s simple physics,” says No-Spill Jill in one of their promo videos. The tank vents its air through the center of the spout. When the fuel reaches the spout the vent is covered and the flow stops.
To make it easier to see how much gas is in the can, the 1.25 and 2.5 gallon gas cans feature wide view stripes on the front and rear. The cans also have large openings so you can see inside them while filling. The wider opening means that it’s probably impossible to use No-Spill nozzle assemblies on any other brands’ gas cans.
Made in the USA, No-Spill produces 1.25, 2.5, and 5 gallon cans to hold gasoline, and 5 gallon cans meant for diesel fuel and kerosene. Interestingly, they also sell 1.25, 2.5, and 5 gallon multi-purpose cans for non-fuel liquids.
You can purchase all of the No-Spill cans at Amazon, where the 1.25, 2.5, and 5 gallon gas and multi-purpose cans are priced at about $20, $23, and $35 respectively. The 5 gallon Diesel can runs $34 and the 5 gallon kerosene can is priced at $38.
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It looks like there are a bunch of other distributors for No-Spill cans. You can check their distributors page to find a local retailer that carries these gas cans. You might save some money too; the 1.25 and 2.5 gallon gas cans are cheaper at my local Fleet Farm, where they are both priced around $18.
Buy Now (via Amazon)
More Info (via No-Spill)
Here is one of the videos explaining the No-Spill cans with No-Spill Jill:
http://youtu.be/6UHHuVGtFGI
Dave L.
Now THAT’S thinkin!’
Pete
Wow that’s pretty awesome. I’m going to get a couple.
Jimmie
Interesting design and looks better than most of the other new CARB-compliant nozzles. I’m wondering about the ergonomics, though, especially for the larger 2.5- and 5-gallon cans. With a traditional can with a spout, you can position your hands where advantageous to support the weight and tilt the can. But this design seems to require one hand must hold the nozzle button which limits how much weight that hand/arm will bear. That suggests that the other hand/arm will bear the brunt of the weight. It just seems…awkward for a large can.
Matt Hayward
I have a few of these cans and they’re great. As far as being awkward to lift and operate, I actually find them better than most.
John
She does have nice cans. Go Jill!
Jerry
Just about anything has to be better than those first CARB compliant cans where you had to insert the spout, and press it in farther against a spring until gas slobbered out all over.
I resorted to using one of those steel safety cans, and a funnel. Had I known about these, I would have tried them first. However, one can’t argue that the steel safety cans are a step above for both durability and safety. Our local firemen do a demonstration where they open the lid, light the vapor at the spout with a match, and close the lid to snuff the fire. I doubt you could do that with a plastic can.
But it's me!
I agree about the metal cans being superior after also trying the first plastic CARB-compliant cans. I’m just not coordinated enough to juggle it without spilling gas everywhere, so I tossed it and picked up a metal can that I can operate. I like that the lid is spring loaded, more so now that my teens fuel the mower.
Bob
I have one of the 5 gallon ones. WAY better than the other cheap stuff at the store. They are easy to pour and they don’t make a mess and seem to even have a tighter seal around the neck. Highly recommended.
Beowulf
These will never replace NATO jerry cans in my garage. They don’t spill unless you want them to.
Daniel
I’ve never spilled more gas than with “no spill” gas cans. I can’t say I will try these.
pencil neck
Look for “EZ-Pour” spouts for your…. water containers. I won’t say chicks dig them, but fat bald guys may ask about them, this has happened to me twice now while getting gas, or rather, water.
mikeh
these are the very best cans for handling fuel
Kalos
Has there been any advance in gas cans since 2015? Every last CARB-compliant gas can I’ve bought since ~2009 or tried has been awkward or non-functional, and I’ve ended up spilling more gasoline than I ever did with pre-2009 gas cans.
Are EZ-Pour spouts for …water containers legal in California?
John
I’ve got 3 of these cans and really like them. The 1.25 came free with my Stihl string trimmer last spring. Bought a 2.5 for the lawnmower. A couple of weeks later, our county was collecting old, non-compliant gas cans in exchange for a new 2.5 gallon No-Spill so I was happy to take them up on that offer. People I bought my house from left 3 old cans in the shed so I could have ended up with 3 free 2.5 gallon No-Spills but I just wanted to empty the junk out.
The mechanism takes a little getting used to – especially with the larger cans but it isn’t any worse than any other compliant cans I’ve used. I’ve been able to spill gas when filling equipment but that was operator error over anything else. Like was mentioned earlier, the spout and valve body seals to the can very well and haven’t had a problem there. Overall, I like them and would definitely buy again when the need arises.
Rick
Have one of these. Great concept. Would be much easier to get the nozzle “vertical” if they had molded a handle on the back side or molded the top handle at a diagonal opposite the dispenser.
river1
Great concept! for the folks asking about rear handles, there is one on the five gallon can and molded grips on the rear of the smaller cans.
later jim
Brian
also own, not likely that Ill ever own another can. Yes it works, which is awesome. Im more excited that I dont have to open a vent manually (or ignore it and deal with the chug chug chug flow)
the orientation isnt much of a bother. I can always support the can with a 2nd hand under the back. THe handle has to be where it is because you put your thumb on the button to open the valve.
Phil
I find these to be the best of any of the plastic CARB/EPA fuel cans currently available. The simple valve arrangement is simple to use and is pretty much fail-safe. The best part of the valve is the ability to finely regulate flow by thumb pressure on the button. It is very easy to fill very small tanks on trimmers and chain saws that all too often end up gushing fuel if you aren’t careful.
While the shut-off feature does work, it’s not very reliable if you are using one of the larger, 5 gallon cans and there is not much fuel remaining in the can. The shutoff works by having the fuel block the make-up air from entering the can. When there is not a lot of fuel in the can, the large volume of air is rather elastic, and it can allow a fair amount of fuel to still escape the can. Being vigilant and quick with your thumb will prevent spills and overfilling.
The only real downside to this can, as well as most of the more annoying EPA cans is the stubby nature of the nozzle itself. For most OPE and other small engined applications, it’s not too bad, you can tip the can in any position and there won’t be any flow until you need it. As it stands, the can’s nozzle won’t fit in most vehicle fuel fillers without a nozzle extension. Of course, these cans aren’t intended for that use, but in an emergency, you will run into problems unless you’re prepared. A long neck funnel also can be used to fill a vehicle with a recessed fuel filler in a pinch.
I recommended these cans to a friend of mine, and after he got one, he told me he didn’t like it. He is a smaller man with positively tiny hands, and apparently he got the 5 gallon version as well. The weight of the full can and the small span of his thumb seem to make it difficult for him to press the button, because his hand slips away from the nozzle end of the handle. I traded him my 2.5 gallon can which was easier for him to handle.
Bill
I too have been completely disappointed with all plastic fuel cans that been available. Some IMO are just dangerous and make it impossible to use without fuels being spilled. The No-Spill design is better but not without its problems. I managed to have the valve mechanism on one come apart while I was filling a tractor with diesel. Of course, the pieces are now somewhere in the tractor’s tank. My guess is that when these tanks are being designed the first consideration is how to make them legal and inexpensive. Hopefully some product designer will be given the chance to design a tank that transfers fuel safely, simply and effectively with user ease. I do not think we are there yet.
PE
These are great. I have been using them for the past year or so. No spill and great flow control. perfect for small or large gas reservoirs,
matt
Read some reviews, the cap leaks periodically when you’re pouring gas. They previously came with a lifetime warranty so this wasn’t a huge deal, but they only carry a 3 year warranty now.
Brian
I just bought one, and it was worth the extra $4. I love mine.
Kenneth
What is the purpose of the child-proof (Serrated) device on the black fill cap? (other than being a requirement by the EPA). If the can has fuel in it, all a child has to do is tilt the can and press the button to get fuel out. I guess the cap will prevent a child from refilling the can? First thing I did was cut the annoying serrated part off.
Dave
The smaller ones are fine but the 5 gallon ones are too heavy to use while holding that button and the slow flow makes the torture that much worse!