February 10, 2012
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WHAT IS IT? At first, the Pit Posse Spout Extender doesn’t look like much, but look again. It is a detachable spout that fits on five-gallon, metal, VP-style gas cans that facilitates pouring.

WHAT’S IT COST? $19.99.

CONTACT? www.pitposse.com or (866) 447-6773.

Here’s a list of things that stand out with Pit Posse’s Spout Extender.

(1) Problems. When you tip a full can of gasoline up to the tank of a dirt bike, fuel starts pouring before the spout reaches the filler hole. To make matters worse, the fuel will not flow smoothly because it creates a suction force behind the flow. When you tip an unvented gas can vertically, it tries to gulp air back through its spout (against the flow of traffic). Pit Posse’s Spout Extender has a clever venting system built into its hose. Running an air-vent hose down the length of the spout until it reaches the bottom of the gas can allows the fuel to be vented from below. When fuel pours out of the spout, it creates a vacuum at the other end of the can that sucks air through Pit Posse’s vent hose to replace the volume of fuel that comes out.

(2) Attachment.
Most five-gallon metal fuel cans have a collapsible plastic pouring spout built into the can’s opening. It pulls out after you peel back the lead seal. The retractable plastic spout is messy to pour through because it is very short. The Pit Posse Spout Extender threads onto the end of the retractable spout to not only extend the pouring capabilities, but to allow the fuel to vent better. Care must be taken because the flimsy plastic of the metal can’s retractable spout has very limited threads (one big thread as opposed to a series of threads). This means that if you tug on the Pit Posse Spout Extender, it could pop off.

(3) Seal.
This type of threaded connector is common on gas jugs and pressure washers. The seal is created when the male end is pressed into a rubber washer at the opening. The threads keep the pressure against the seal, but aren’t responsible for blocking fluid directly. The thin edge of the VP can’s retractable plastic spout wasn’t designed to mate with a rubber seal, and the minimal amount of threading can’t create an abundance of clamping pressure. The result is that when the Spout Extender is capped off and the fuel can is tipped over, the weight of the fuel can weakens the seal between the Pit Posse connector and the metal can’s plastic spout. But, when the fuel is flowing, the seal holds up and allows you to pour fuel without spilling.

(4) Spout vs. funnel.
Most racers use a funnel with metal VP-style fuel cans to get the fuel transferred to the bike’s gas tank or a conventional plastic gas can. Pit Posse’s Spout Extender has some advantages over a funnel. First, a funnel blocks your vision into the filler hole. You have to stop pouring to check the fuel level. Second, a funnel splashes fuel. The Spout Extender doesn’t splash gas. Third, funnels take up space because of their shape. The Pit Posse Spout Extender is a rubber tube. Finally, to the funnel’s credit, it offers a universal fit, has multiple uses and can have the added function of a built-in filter.

(5) Fitment.
The Spout Extender is available in two sizes: one for a five-gallon, VP-style, metal fuel can and one for larger openings.

Ideally, the Spout Extender would have a larger-diameter vent hose and spout. The fuel would flow quicker if both were upsized.

The Pit Posse Spout Extender is a handy gadget for pouring race gas directly out of an unvented metal gas can.


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