Primarily Petroliana Shop Talk Forums Shop Talk Petroliana Forums General Petroliana Discussion odd oil can issue

OK - I have a very odd oil can issue that I can't figure out! I bought an oil can in Peotone on Sunday, kind of rough and with some oil pooled on the lid. I figured that a can on the shelf above it probably leaked on the lid. So, I cleaned the can all up on Monday night with some Dawn dish soap and left it on the kitchen counter. Later that night, I noticed a little oil pooled on the lid. I just figured I didn't get it all wiped off, so I did cleaned it off. The next morning, more oil pooled on the lid. This keeps happening! I am not moving or squeezing the can at all, just wiping the oil off the top, only to find some there later. It is a metal can that is about half full and seems solid. HOW CAN THIS HAPPEN?? (I am thinking I got a possessed, Halloween can!)

The can could be possessed, so be careful.

If there is a microscopic crack or other leak, just a small temperature change could cause hydraulic pressure to force out a little oil. This will be annoying and possible a fire and marriage hazard.

The easiest way to deal with it is to drain with two tiny holes in the bottom. Rinse with a little solvent or detergent after it fully drains and be done with it.

See what you missed, Jim, by not coming to Peotone this year!

Anyway, there shouldn't be a temperature change on the kitchen counter. (no cooking actually occurs in there.) I guess draining would solve my issue, but I am just so perplexed by it.

Since it is already leaking from top, I would drain from top. No use taking the chance of not removing all the oil & ***** off the wife.

spoooooooooooky....

call a priest man... do it now!

LOL, I bet it's his wife, teaching him a lesson for leaving the can on the counter!

I had this same issue with some Esso cans. There was 12, and I wiped the top of each one good..
next week, oil on top.. then again wiped it down..
week later, oil again on top.

Mind you they were all sitting straight up, and not moved. Same temperature, etc.

I stuffed a paper towel in each one, and on the top (previous owner had a big hole to get in) Mostly fixed the problem..