# Real noob question, you will laugh haha - But I have no clue and I have to ask **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [May 4, 2019, 1:39am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/real-noob-question-you-will-laugh-haha-but-i-have-no-clue-and-i-have-to-ask/139731 "2019-05-04T01:39:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![TheMidnightNarwhal](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/themidnightnarwhal/32/5375_2.png) [@TheMidnightNarwhal](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TheMidnightNarwhal)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2019, 1:39am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/real-noob-question-you-will-laugh-haha-but-i-have-no-clue-and-i-have-to-ask/139731/1 "2019-05-04T01:39:56Z")
So I got a gas can like this. Now my question is the small yellow cap at the back. Is that supposed to be on tight so it seals. So if I blow in the front no air should be escaping from the back cap? Is that just a hole to open when you pour gas so it doesn’t glug glug? I thought that was the point of the special self venting spout… ![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/2X/9/921befd35dd8c4a0066f6d57a3d56c8f1c60fbc4.png) ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2019, 1:46am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/real-noob-question-you-will-laugh-haha-but-i-have-no-clue-and-i-have-to-ask/139731/2 "2019-05-04T01:46:57Z")
It’s called a vent cap. You open it when you pour gas out of the can. Tester ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2019, 1:56am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/real-noob-question-you-will-laugh-haha-but-i-have-no-clue-and-i-have-to-ask/139731/3 "2019-05-04T01:56:25Z")
You’d think that self-venting design for the spout would eliminate the need for another vent. But it appears from the photo the self venting design is geared more for lower flow rate pouring; if you were trying to pour gas as fast as possible the space around the outlet might all get filled with liquid gasoline and the self-venting spout idea wouldn’t work. ---
**Author:** ![oldtimer-11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e79b87/32.png) [@oldtimer-11](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldtimer-11)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2019, 2:02am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/real-noob-question-you-will-laugh-haha-but-i-have-no-clue-and-i-have-to-ask/139731/4 "2019-05-04T02:02:26Z")
You can buy those little plastic caps on ebay. I have added them to all my plastic cas cans because all the self venting spouts don’t work wort a hoot. You just drill a 1/2 " hole with a spade bit and pop them in. ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2019, 2:02am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/real-noob-question-you-will-laugh-haha-but-i-have-no-clue-and-i-have-to-ask/139731/5 "2019-05-04T02:02:43Z")
You use the self-venting nozzle when filling things like lawn mowers, snow throwers, etc… But if you use the gas can to add gas to a modern vehicle gas tank, the ORVR system won’t allow the gas can to vent properly. So you open the vent cap. It’s an EPA thing. Tester ---
**Author:** ![TheMidnightNarwhal](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/themidnightnarwhal/32/5375_2.png) [@TheMidnightNarwhal](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TheMidnightNarwhal)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2019, 2:03am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/real-noob-question-you-will-laugh-haha-but-i-have-no-clue-and-i-have-to-ask/139731/6 "2019-05-04T02:03:22Z")
Ok thanks guys 🙂 So keep it shut tight when it’s in storage so no water get in the ethanol mix? ---
**Author:** ![SteveCBT](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/stevecbt/32/3192_2.png) [@SteveCBT](https://community.cartalk.com/u/SteveCBT)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2019, 2:05am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/real-noob-question-you-will-laugh-haha-but-i-have-no-clue-and-i-have-to-ask/139731/7 "2019-05-04T02:05:50Z")
![gas%20can](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/2X/1/167376205195d95ad8c14951b86eb4bcda8dfb0e.png) ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2019, 2:07am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/real-noob-question-you-will-laugh-haha-but-i-have-no-clue-and-i-have-to-ask/139731/8 "2019-05-04T02:07:39Z")
Always add a fuel stabilizer such as Sta-Bil when storing gasoline. > **[STA-BIL Storage Fuel Stabilizer - Keep Fuel Fresh | Gold Eagle Co](https://www.goldeagle.com/product/sta-bil-fuel-stabilizer/)** > > Keep gasoline fresh for up to 24 months of storage for collector cars, boats, generators, lawnmowers, and seasonal equipment with STA-BIL Fuel Stabilizer Tester ---
**Author:** ![TheMidnightNarwhal](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/themidnightnarwhal/32/5375_2.png) [@TheMidnightNarwhal](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TheMidnightNarwhal)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2019, 2:10am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/real-noob-question-you-will-laugh-haha-but-i-have-no-clue-and-i-have-to-ask/139731/9 "2019-05-04T02:10:13Z")
It’s only going to maximum 1 month maybe. It’s E85 so it’s even less store able right? Would you recommend it’s for 1 month? ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2019, 2:14am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/real-noob-question-you-will-laugh-haha-but-i-have-no-clue-and-i-have-to-ask/139731/10 "2019-05-04T02:14:40Z")
> [@TheMidnightNarwhal](#): > > It’s E85 What do you have that can use E85 . I know your BMW can’t . I certainly would not put it in lawnmower. ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2019, 2:18am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/real-noob-question-you-will-laugh-haha-but-i-have-no-clue-and-i-have-to-ask/139731/11 "2019-05-04T02:18:56Z")
Soooo? Are you planning to use that E85 gas in a flex-fuel vehicle? Tester ---
**Author:** ![TheMidnightNarwhal](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/themidnightnarwhal/32/5375_2.png) [@TheMidnightNarwhal](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TheMidnightNarwhal)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2019, 2:25am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/real-noob-question-you-will-laugh-haha-but-i-have-no-clue-and-i-have-to-ask/139731/12 "2019-05-04T02:25:34Z")
It’s to run E fuel mix maps on my car. E85 is rare in Canada. This “local” sports club 40 mins away sell some. I only plan to use it at drag days at my local track so having a 20 litre few weeks before for when I go will give me a full tank of E30 mix when mixed properly. ---
**Author:** ![TheMidnightNarwhal](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/themidnightnarwhal/32/5375_2.png) [@TheMidnightNarwhal](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TheMidnightNarwhal)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2019, 2:25am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/real-noob-question-you-will-laugh-haha-but-i-have-no-clue-and-i-have-to-ask/139731/13 "2019-05-04T02:25:44Z")
Yes it can. ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2019, 2:33am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/real-noob-question-you-will-laugh-haha-but-i-have-no-clue-and-i-have-to-ask/139731/14 "2019-05-04T02:33:33Z")
Alcohol drag racing? You’re good to go. The gas can will work. Tester ---
**Author:** ![auto-owner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/50afbb/32.png) [@auto-owner](https://community.cartalk.com/u/auto-owner)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2019, 1:18am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/real-noob-question-you-will-laugh-haha-but-i-have-no-clue-and-i-have-to-ask/139731/15 "2019-05-05T01:18:19Z")
> [@TheMidnightNarwhal](#): > > It’s E85 so it’s even less store able right? Alcohol lasts a mighty long time. ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2019, 1:21am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/real-noob-question-you-will-laugh-haha-but-i-have-no-clue-and-i-have-to-ask/139731/16 "2019-05-05T01:21:37Z")
> [@auto-owner](#): > > Alcohol lasts a mighty long time. [http://www.fuel-testers.com/expiration\_of\_ethanol\_gas.html](http://www.fuel-testers.com/expiration_of_ethanol_gas.html) Tester ---
**Author:** ![TheMidnightNarwhal](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/themidnightnarwhal/32/5375_2.png) [@TheMidnightNarwhal](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TheMidnightNarwhal)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2019, 3:13am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/real-noob-question-you-will-laugh-haha-but-i-have-no-clue-and-i-have-to-ask/139731/17 "2019-05-05T03:13:32Z")
Yeah but I’ve been told E85 has a tedency to absob water, kinda like brake fluid. So the container has to be saeled really really well.