by JPXman » Tue Oct 16, 2007 1:19 pm
so i called US Plastics (the distributor i went through) and they himmed and hawwed saying "we're just the distributor". they offered the nalgene company tech support number, so i called them.
talked to a nice guy named Tom, and he said that the ratings on the tanks are based on a 30-day test at room temperature and then they measure degradation with exposure to certain chemicals. he said that the rating on the jerricans we have (we as lazairheads) only guarantees the tank against gas for 30 days, after that degradation will occur. i would concur with this, because i was beginning to get remnants of plastic in my fuel lines that the filter was picking up, and then became visible in the line itself. this was after the tank had gas in it for about 5 years and exposed to temperatures as low as -40C. i think the gas peeled the fluorination right off the inside of the tank, and then the gas made the remaining plastic brittle to the point of cracking.
so Tom is sending me a new tank at no charge, but he said he can offer no guarantee the same thing won't happen. so i'll take the new tank, but will search for another kind now.
Tyer
Nalgene customer support - (800) 625-4327