Why can’t gasoline be stored in plastic containers?

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I saw a mid-covid video back when gasoline prices were soaring of someone dumping gallons of gasoline in a giant plastic tub (to save money or something) but people in the comments claimed it would fall apart. I searched it up and gasoline does break down plastic but I can’t figure out why. Is it because they’re both carbon chains or something?

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Anonymous 0 Comments

Just something worth mentioning here: you really shouldn’t be storing gasoline in *any* container that is not specifically made for it, reguardless of what material it is made out of. For several reasons:

Gas containers are specifically designed to prevent spills, leaks, and tipping. Much moreso than most other containers. They’re also designed to take a fair bit more abuse than most containers.

Gasoline slowly vaporizes over time. Storing it in a sealed, air tight container for a long period of time can lead to a dangerous pressure buildup. Gas containers typically have vents that prevent this from happening.

You should never store gasoline in any container that will later be used to contain water or other fluids meant for human consumption. It greatly increases the risk of accidentally ingesting harmful chemicals that may still be present, even after cleaning.

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