Locking fuel tank tops

Back in the late '70s I paid $65 for a old Ford to drive home from terminal so did not need to leave anything nice parked in the lot for weeks at a time. Came in once, did not have enough gas in it to get to station. Was late fall, time for me to drain some fuel out of Pete tanks to reduce chance lines freezing. To solve the theft issue, I put a Derby fuel tank in the trunk. But because cars of that era drove so much better in snow with a full tank I decided to store that wet diesel in the car's tank. Next time I got to town a dispatcher was holding up drivers so he could witch about how much it cost to clean out fuel system on his fancy car. I checked the gas gauge, walked back in, reached across the counter and busted his nose. When I told the drivers why, dispatcher did not even clean out his desk.

Grit dog wrote:
I'd take some siphoned fuel over a drilled tank. But no matter, locking cap is also not secure, so it really depends if the thief can siphon or is only smart enough to watch it run into a bucket...

Yep, the drilling of tanks was a big problem here a while ago and I'm sure it will be again with gas at 2.09/l and rising...:M

dblr wrote:
My dad always said NOT to use the locking gas cap as they would puncture the fuel tank if they wanted it bad enough, just his opinin.

They won't -- the common plastic locking gas cap barely even slows them down, they just pry off the locking top and unscrew the remaining piece. If they're in a hurry, then they'll punch a hole in the tank 'cause it's faster than siphoning.

Here's an example:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayZCruxNiZg

Anyone that's changed their generator fuel filter knows that with an RV, another convenient place to get gas is the rubber fuel line leading to the generator (even if it will only drain the tank to 1/4).

dblr wrote:
My dad always said NOT to use the locking gas cap as they would puncture the fuel tank if they wanted it bad enough, just his opinin.

Seen it on the news already. Siphon takes too long.

My dad always said NOT to use the locking gas cap as they would puncture the fuel tank if they wanted it bad enough, just his opinin.

I'd take some siphoned fuel over a drilled tank. But no matter, locking cap is also not secure, so it really depends if the thief can siphon or is only smart enough to watch it run into a bucket...

BobsYourUncle wrote:
I just wandered in to the local auto parts store and bought an off the shelf cap

That's what I would do.

With fuel prices today, fuel theft is going to be on the rise.

BTW, I heard of a guy who carries a red gasoline can in the bed of his pickup. Filled with diesel. Then he parks in shopping center lots, wanders off to a nearby store to shop. He's had occasional instances of the can being stolen, and he's waved to broken down cars on his way home. Oh, he always gets his can back, he says, because after they dump the fuel into their car's tank, they discard the can. Dunno if it's true, but it would be an expensive lesson for the thieves.

I have a locking cap on my 2007 Classic GMC, same truck as 2006.

I just wandered in to the local auto parts store and bought an off the shelf cap - done.
I had actually just bought it for my 2003, but kept it when I traded the truck and put it on 2007.

The same cap fit my 97 GMC Safari van too.