File this one under OOPS. Yesterday Dave went to drain the Racor filter and grabbed a red Solo cup to do so.
Great; it was the perfect size to fit the space in the engine compartment. He even made a comment about how much easier it was than the bottle he’d used the previous time.
After draining the Racor (mostly diesel fuel), Dave set the cup down in a drink holder while he put things back together in the engine compartment.
Five minutes later he spotted diesel fuel on the cockpit floor. Tracing it back, he found that the diesel had eaten holes in the bottom of the cup.
We won’t make that mistake again.
The Solo cups have a recycling number 6 stamped in the bottom, I assume that any cups with a number six would be a problem. In a quick Google search, it turns out that #6 plastics are styrofoam and its relatives (polystyrene).
Hmm, I knew that styrofoam melted easily with many chemicals, I just didn’t realize that red Solo cups were made from “styrofoam.”
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Scott Lee says
I once put the fluid from our compass into a water bottle for temporary storage. Didn’t hurt he bottle any but while it was sitting there somebody picked it up by accident and took a drink!
MIke O'Quin says
Use a plastic milk jug. Made of HDPE, same stuff as the plastic car bumpers and in my case my water tank.
Carolyn Shearlock says
Mike, no way is there room in the engine compartment under the Racor drain for a plastic milk jug. This was what he was draining the Racor into until he could transfer it into something “better” (such as a milk or water jug) to take it to the recycling center.
Jennifer Dormann Moore says
We put gasoline in a solo cup once… Oops!
Don Koch says
If my memory serves me well, number six is PS, or polystyrene. So called styrofoam is EPS or expanded polystyrene. Cheap but not impervious to petrochemicals and oils.
Joe Sprouse says
water bottles work, mixer bottles like tonic water etc also work. We have a pocket that holds several mixer bottles of diesel for filter changes.
Dave Skolnick says
Empty quart lube oil containers…
Mike Boyd says
I find that containers with recycling numbers 2, 4, and 5 work for most things. 2 and 4 are High and Low density polyethylene and 5 is polypropylene. Those “semi-disposable” food containers they make now are usually one of those and I’ve found handy to have around outside the galley.
Be glad it was only diesel and not something like gel coat or your mess could have been much worse.
-Mike
ThisRatSailed
Gimme Shelter says
Holy crap! Good to know.
Incidentally, last time I was in France one of my co-workers asked me, “Do all American parties really have red cups?”
Claire Ford says
Gimme Shelter, that quote had me laughing. It’s like everybody thinks we ride horses here in Texas.
Chuck D says
Your timing is incredible – as always. I’m changing my fuel filters today! Thank you!
Red Canoe says
one red solo cup filled with gas from a jerrycan by the bikes by the trees and carried to stoke up the wet fire resulted in a flame that went from the throw point up the arm then trailed back to the trees, jerrycans and bikes. makes me laugh now but seeing my guy at the time go up in flames well…lesson learned
The Boat Galley says
Ouch! Yeah. Lesson learned. DON’T.
Edward Popka says
Need to ad rum and chug-a-lug it!
Colin Mombourquette says
Made the red cup mistake when bleeding the fuel line last year – can be quite messy.
Marty Besant says
Use #1 PETE or #2 HDPE. Polyethylene is what your diesel or gas can is made of. #6 PS styrene is what models are made of. That is why airplane glue makes them stick together for assembly. It dissolves and the after the solvent evaporates, it rehardens
Steve Klitzky says
Once used one to clean the winch parts. Left it overnight and the plastic was melted onto the parts. ugg
Carolyn Shearlock says
Oh no! That would be SO nasty!
Jim McGovern says
DUH!!!!!
Brian Kepner says
Luv that I learn stuff every day from your posts
Colin Mombourquette says
Found that out the hard way
Alison Edmands says
I had no idea solo cups were styrofoam either. Yet another reason to ban single use plastics. Thanks for the info!
Larry Blankenship says
Agree …..I need more government help in my life to help me buy “proper” cups.
Jim McGovern says
number six is PS, or polystyrene. So called styrofoam is EPS or expanded polystyrene hence the ‘foam’ But that doesn’t really matter, I waiting for the my betters (the Gov.) to tell me what kind of cups to buy.
Alison Edmands says
I was referring to more of a self imposed ban on single use plastics. Something similar to “say no to straws”…
Jim McGovern says
Fuel filter change cup for doing the filter of Gas/Diesel dispensers. Cost about $15 and will last a lifetime. Soft rubber so they are easy to get into tight spots https://www.johnwkennedyco.com/index.jsp?path=product&part=65822&ds=dept&process=search&qdx=0&text=cup&title=60070-Cim-Tek
Doug Treff says
Yes and in many areas #6 plastics are not accepted in recycle bins.
Henry Neeter says
Nog vele jaren.
Ruth Seifert says
We save empty peanut butter jars and use them. The lids will dissolve so don’t store upside down. We use large jars and the filter will fit also.
Steven Taylor says
That’s why you use styrofoam! (Please don’t actually mix those two.)
John Alber says
I use a West Marine 2.9 liter vacuum oil extractor, UPC 25282085088, to remove fuel from Racors and to clean the turbo mechanism and bowls. The small hose meant to fit in oil dipstick tubes slides nicely down beside the turbo and into the bowl. It acts like a little vacuum cleaner and sucks up debris. The extractor has a pour spout, making it easy to decant the fuel into an appropriate container.
John Alber says
We solve the Racor problem by coming in from the top. No cup is necessary. We use a West Marine 2.9 liter vacuum oil extractor, UPC 25282085088. Drain and remove the old filter, then push the small vacuum extractor hose (the one meant to fit in dipsticks) down beside the “turbo” mechanism and vacuum out debris and fuel there. Then work the hose down to the bottom of the bowl and vacuum up fuel and sediment. After all the fuel is gone, I splash a little Sea Foam in the bowl and let it sit, then vacuum out any leftover residue.
The vacuum extractor body has a spout, making it easy to decant fuel into an appropriate container. I never smell like fuel or have any nasty spills.
Btw, I try to change Racors when our saddle tanks are full. When it’s time to refill the Racors, I simply open the selector valve and let gravity fill them. We also have rigged a hose from the fuel polisher pump that can provide fresh fuel for the Racors when tanks are low.
Abby Carter says
Hahaha Nicholas Carter
Tina Gonsalves says
Don’t think you’re smart and pour Interlux Micron CSC Antifouling Paint into one either….. that doesn’t work either.
Tony Castagno says
We use the soup container from our hot and sour from the Chinese restaurant 😉