It is always a good idea to have a back-up plan and emergency supplies for your F150. If you travel for work or are going on an extended vacation, having emergency fuel reserves is a great idea… and many will put extra fuel in a jerry can. But how easy is it to fill your Ford F150 up straight from a jerry can? Here’s how yu do it…
How do you fill an F150 with a Jerry Can? There are several steps to follow to fill your F150 with a Jerry Can fuel tank. You will need the container filled, but not overfilled, the downspout neck for the jerry can, and possibly an adaptor funnel if you have a capless fuel neck on a newer F150.
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Steps for how to fill an F150 with a jerry can
Filling your F150 with a jerry can is easy if you have the right tools, and you have not overfilled your Jerry Can. Make sure to read these directions carefully, as you may need to use additional tools that require set up before you can pour the fuel from the Jerry Can into your F150.
Handy Hint: You can also take a look at the owner’s manual for your F150 here.
Step #1: Do not overfill your jerry can
Filling the jerry can to an appropriate level seems obvious, but do not overfill your jerry can. Overloading a jerry can is very dangerous and can create too much pressure in the can, spill, or worse while you are traveling in your F150.
Step #2: Locate your special funnel (for newer models of F150)
The newer models of F150 have a “capless fuel filter.” These capless fuel filters are used instead of the old twist-off gas caps. When you insert the nozzle of the fuel line while you are at a gas pump, the nozzle edges two doors in the neck of the filter apart.
Fuel is locked in with rubber seals around each door and designed very securely.
The seal and doors of the capless fuel filter are supposed to function for the lifetime of the vehicle. A capless fuel tank requires a particular funnel to fill it with a gas canister like a ferry can.
You can usually find the special fuel funnel in the storage of the F150 next to the truck’s jack system. The funnel is generally located under the second row of seating, near the driver’s side with the spare tire and toolbox.
Step #3: Insert the funnel into the easy fuel system
After you find the special funnel in the storage of your F150, insert the funnel into the capless fuel filter. The funnel should fit snugly and almost be latched in by the doors in the capless fuel filter.
Even though the fit should be snug, you should not have to force the funnel into the capless neck of the fuel tank. If you are forcing it, you could be damaging the doors in a way that you will have to have fixed.
Step #4: Fill the truck with fuel
When you fill the F150 with fuel from a jerry can, you will need to balance holding both the funnel and the can at the same time.
Keeping each thing in hand may be more comfortable with a second person. Using the jerry can, carefully hold the special funnel securely as you tip the jerry can get up to the funnel. Begin to pour out the gas from the jerry can until you have poured in the desired amount of fuel.
Step # 5: Clean the funnel
Using a paper towel or a clean rag, carefully clean off any excess fuel from the funnel and replace it in the storage of your truck.
Why use a Ford dealer authorized funnel?
The funnel design is authorized by the dealership to fit securely into the capless fuel filter without pushing the doors and rubber stoppers within too far. After-market funnels can damage the doors so that they may not close fully or ever again.
Using cheaper after-market funnels can wreak havoc on your fuel system.
Particles and debris is more likely to get into your fuel if the doors are left ajar, and evaporation is more likely of your fuel. The authorized dealer funnels are on $5 to $7 at a dealership.
Don’t replace a lost funnel with an after-market funnel. Find a Ford dealership and get the correct fitting funnel if you are going to fill your fuel tank with a jerry can.
How to fill a jerry can and transport it safely in your F150
Safety should always be a priority when you are dealing with fuel. Staying safe is especially true when you are filling and transporting.
Here are the steps needed to fill a jerry can of your own and then to safely transport it to where you need to use it.
Keep in mind that you can only store up to 30 liters of fuel at your residence at one time. However, since most jerry cans should only be filled to 20 liters, you can have multiple jerry cans at your home.
Step #1: Place the jerry can on the ground to fill it
Place the jerry can on the ground, instead of in the bed of an F150 truck helps to make the jerry can remain electrically be grounded. The last thing that you want while fueling your vehicles or transporting fuel is to be dealing with static electricity.
Also, the flow of gasoline is known to create static electricity, which could spark the fuel if the can is not grounded.
Step #2: Fill the jerry can
Gas pumps have the safety catch valve on the nozzle. You will need to hold the gas pump hose firmly and depress the nozzle safety guard with either the edge of the jerry can hole or with your fingers.
Step #3: Fill the jerry can with 20 liters
Filling the jerry can to about 95% of the way full will leave enough room to prevent spilling.
Step #4: Replace cap
Make sure to screw the cap on your jerry can securely. A jerry can cap will tighten down, usually to a soft click when fully secure
Step #5: Store the jerry can in your truck
You will want to store the jerry can in the back of your truck. Take the time to tie the Jerry Can safely to the tie-down corner in the bed of your F150.
Tying down the jerry can will keep it from tipping over as you drive.
Pros and cons of a capless gas tank on an F150?
Many people who have older cars may not even know about the capless fuel systems that are now available. Almost all newer Ford models have a capless gas tank, and many other car manufacturers are also going capless. Are they better than old cap twist-on fuel tanks? Or are there negatives to having the convenience of not having to twist the cap off on each fill up at the gas station?
Having a capless fuel tank just means that you must use a special funnel to fill the gas tank from a jerry can. If you run out of fuel or need to put extra fuel in your gas tank for some other reason, you will have to use a special fuel funnel that fits into the capless gas tank.
Pros of a capless gas tank on an F150:
No gas smell on your hands
Since you never have to touch the fuel odor source, there is less chance to get any fuel on your hands. The stink of fuel can last hours, and it is very upsetting for some people. Fuel can spill while you are using the twist-off cap.
A capless fuel tank limits your exposure to fuel spills.
Never be embarrassed by a dangling gas cap
We have all done it. You drive away from the gas station in your F150 happy to continue with your day when you start seeing people motioning strangely to you from other cars. Someone pulls up to you and says, “Your gas cap is off.”
Very embarrassing. But, with a capless gas tank, you never need to worry about forgetting to tighten down that cap!
No scratched paint from a dangling gas cap
Forget the embarrassment of a dangling gas cap. Some gas caps can do damage! As it swings down after each fills up or if you forget to tighten it back on, the paint below your gas tank hole is slowly getting gouged and scratched in unsightly ways.
Keep the paint clean with capless!
Stop siphoning gas thieves
It is much more difficult for thieves to put a garden hose down into your gas tank with a capless gas tank.
Since it is nearly impossible to siphon gas from these types of gas tanks, you are protecting your expensive gas from would-be thieves.
No more painful twisting and tightening
For people with chronic hand and finger pain, such as arthritis, twisting on and off a gas cap can be excruciating. Luckily, you don’t need to worry about it anymore with your F150 and the capless gas tank.
Cons of a capless gas tank on an F150:
Emergency gas is harder to get into your gas tank
True, the capless system does virtually make siphoning gas from your car with a device like a garden hose impossible. But this also means that you can only add gasoline by a gas can, or jerry can with a particular dealer provided funnel.
Filling a capless fuel tank is just another step that you need to have the tool for. You also have to hold the funnel in place as you fill the gas tank with the gas container, which can be awkward.
You can’t siphon gas for emergency situations
Very rarely will you need to siphon gas out of your gas tank. But the occasional emergency might occur. Examples might be if you are stranded and the roads are impassable, but you need fuel to start a generator. Or, you just want to help someone on the side of the road who has run out of gas.
Forget about doing this at all with a capless gas tank.
Safety regulations for storing and using a jerry can
Staying safe during any activity should be the most important. Safety concerns are especially valid when you are handling fuel. Fuel is volatile and can be very dangerous if not taken seriously.
According to public safety legislation, the most fuel that you can store in a pressed steel jerry can is 20 liters. Any more than that can be dangerous due to increased pressure and the higher possibility of spilling.
Here is a list of other safety precautions to consider when using and storing a Jerry Can of fuel.
Where to fill and store
Make sure always to store your full jerry can in the back of your F150. That may mean tied to the side in the bed of your truck. Also, only fill the jerry can on the ground.
Filling your jerry can on the ground will prevent spilling at the pump and limit motion while you are filling, which can cause static electricity and sparks.
Clean your jerry can before filling
Not checking your jerry can before filling it with fuel is a huge mistake. If there is any dirt, spray it out with a pressure hose. Make sure to clean out any dirt or residue that you see. Again, make sure the interior of your jerry can is clean inside, especially if it has been sitting around somewhere outside.
Dirt and grime can get into your fuel and foul your fuel injection system and even make your engine malfunction. Try not to use chemical cleaners on containers that are going to be holding fuel to reduce the chance of adverse reactions with the chemicals.
No smoking or talking on your phone while filling a fuel container
Not smoking hopefully goes without saying. When you are dealing closely with fuel, you do not want to have any open flames or be smoking a cigarette.
Also, cell phone interference has caused static charges in the past that have led to fires while people were fueling. Don’t take the chance! Always wait to use your phone until after done filling your jerry can with fuel.
Insert nozzle fully
Avoid spilling over the sides of the jerry can by inserting the pump nozzle entirely into the hole of the jerry can. Do not hover the nozzle about the opening of the can.
Leave room in your jerry can
When you leave room in your jerry can, you are trying to avoid overfilling. Overfilling your jerry can can cause accidental spillage.
Secure the cap tightly
When finished fueling, make sure to secure the cap on the hole of the jerry can. There should be a click sound or a firm feeling to the cap. The cap should be flush with the body of the jerry can, not entering the hole at an angle.
Clean up
If you have a throwaway rag handy, that is great. If not, a paper towel will work just as long as you keep any pieces of paper away and out of the jerry can hole.
Using a throwaway rag or paper towel, clean the edges and lip of the jerry can hole and cap. Absorb any remaining fuel residue and adequately dispose of the rag or paper towels.
Maximum allowable fuel storage at home
The most fuel that you can store in your home is 30 liters. Make sure to keep fuel stored away from open flames like your water heater. Also, a cool, dry place like the garage is an excellent place to store fuel containers.
Non-fuel containers
Containers such as bladders or fracking tanks are not suitable for holding fuel. Never use containers to store fuel other than those that are supposed to keep fuel (like jerry can). Most containers for liquid have a special lining on the inside that are suitable for fuels. However, when in doubt, ask a certified professional to avoid danger.
Children should not have access to fuel
Keep fuel in a place that is not easily accessible for children. Areas that are out of the way and hidden are good. Also, consider having containers that can be locked shut.
The difference between jerry cans and gas containers?
Jerry cans have an exciting history that dates back to the 1930s. Originally a German production, these pressed steel fuel containers were innovative for the time because they allowed you to pour gasoline into a vehicle without a funnel. Allied forces realized the potential of jerry cans.
They recovered them after battles and used the technology to copy and create their own. The so-called “Jerry” Can became widely used and popular and kept the name jerry because that’s what the soldiers called the Germans.
Jerry cans are metal in a rectangular shape with straight sides. The jerry can was innovative because of the fuel neck tube that was hanging inside of the can. This could then be attached to the hole of the jerry can and funneled into fuel tanks without additional tools.
Contemporary gas containers are plastic, not metal. Also, the characteristic red color of the jerry can is too red for plastic gas containers. The fuel neck built-in funnel is the same technology perfected by the Germans and stolen by the Allied in World War 2. Many plastic gas containers have plastic fuel necks.
Final tips for using a jerry can and storing gas
Here are just a few more tips about fuel storage and containers. These tips are so that you can become a master of your jerry can and any other fuel storage that you may be doing. Becoming a master of your fuel system will give you the edge in emergencies and keep you comfortable. When you are satisfied, you are less likely to make mistakes or cause injury or messes.
Tip #1: Use fuel stabilizer for long term storage
If you are not going to use the fuel in your jerry can all at once, you may want to think about chemicals to help preserve your fuel. Fuel stabilizer chemicals will help keep your fuel for a long time, and it also limits the risk of combustion during the storage of fuel.
Tip #2: The colors of fuel cans matter
The original color of the jerry can be red. Red has become the standard color for containers designed to hold gasoline. However, other colored containers are for other fuels. Red is for gas, blue tends to be for kerosene, and yellow containers are supposed to hold diesel.
Few more tips
Using a jerry can to fill your F150 can be more of a process than you probably might have thought before trying. However, it is crucial to have back up ways to fill the fuel tank of your truck, just in case there is an emergency, or the situation calls for it.
In this article, I have detailed the tools you will need and the procedure you will need to follow to fill your F150 with fuel from a Jerry Can.
Remember, newer F150s have capless fuel tanks. The pros may outweigh the cons of having a capless fuel tank. However, you still need to take into consideration the damage you could be doing to the doors within the fuel neck hole. Using an aftermarket funnel can damage these doors permanently.
These specially designed funnels work only with capless fuel tanks. They are another thing that you need to hold against the side of your car as you are filling the tank with a fuel canister. For this work, a metal jerry can is not your best option since they are heavier than ordinary plastic fuel containers.
And just because your jerry can is metal does not mean that you should store it in your truck as though it will not move. Find a secure place in the back of the cab or tie or lock it down to the bed of the truck so that there will be no spillage while you are turning. Keeping the jerry can only 95% will also help to keep the fuel in the jerry can.
Conclusion
Knowing about fueling your F150 can be just as crucial as other storage and filling knowledge. Knowing how to fill your jerry can with fuel, how to store your jerry can, and the differences in fluid containers and what each one is designed for can help you get a full picture. If you have the overall picture of how to take care of your fuel system from filling to storage, you are much more likely to stay safe and clean.
Hopefully, you will never need to use your jerry can in an emergency. But, if you do, being comfortable with the fuel system and how to fill your truck may give you the edge you need to stay safe and sane while you take care of the emergency.
I hope that this article has been educational and that you now feel comfortable to fill your F150 with fuel from a jerry can.