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Gas thieves.......

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  • #16
    I would imagine that potential gas thieves don't read Snopes, giving us a unique opportunity to start an e-mail rumor that drilling gas tanks can make the car blow up....

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    • #17
      Originally posted by 3kids4me View Post
      I would imagine that potential gas thieves don't read Snopes, giving us a unique opportunity to start an e-mail rumor that drilling gas tanks can make the car blow up....
      We could make the world a much safer place for SUVs and their gas tanks! Is this our opportunity to Make a Difference?????

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      • #18
        Originally posted by wackymother
        That's what I started thinking! Can't cordless drills produce a spark? Or wouldn't the friction and heat of drilling pose a risk? But I looked it up on Snopes and they don't mention it....
        So long as the spark doesn't hit gas vapors I don't think it would be a problem. As I understand it, it's the gas vapors that are explosive (don't let your mind go there) and not the gasoline. But, if you want to drain a tank of a liquid there must be a vent hole somewhere. I'm not certain if the gas cap itsself would provide that venting or if the would be theif would have to punch an additional hole in the tank to vent it.

        As an example, if you buy one of those 5 gallon containers of water and you want it to drain properly, you have to punch a vent hole in the top of the container. Otherwise it will drain a little but not completely and not very fast.
        Our timeshare and other photo's at http://dougp26364.smugmug.com/

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        • #19
          The most comprehensive article I can find is an MSNBC article. I don't consider MSNBC the best researched news firm on the planet but this article wasn't to bad.

          Essentially, there is a very small blurb about Denver area police investigating holes being drilled in gas tanks. That's it, one paragraph of a two page article concerning one location in the country.

          What's of more concern to me was that at least one thief just cut the gas line to three vans at a day care center to drain the tanks. Now this I could see happening if a thief feels he has enough time to crawl under a car and cut the line.

          Otherwise the article mostly deals with gas covers being pried off and gas stolen the old fashioned way with a can and a rubber hose. The article recommend locking gas caps as the locking covers on cars are being pried open. Fortunately for us, the gas covers on our cars don't lock down so any would be thief wouldn't have to damage the car by prying open the cover only to find out we have locking gas caps. I could see using the pry bar on the gas cover causing more damage than the cost of the actual gas stolen.
          Our timeshare and other photo's at http://dougp26364.smugmug.com/

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          • #20
            A friend of mine who does some welding has told me that there are only 2 ways to work on gas tanks- totally empty and totally full. Anything other than that go for a Darwin award.

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            • #21
              Originally posted by tonyg View Post
              A friend of mine who does some welding has told me that there are only 2 ways to work on gas tanks- totally empty and totally full. Anything other than that go for a Darwin award.
              Oh, darn. Sounds like I need a locking cap after all.

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              • #22
                Wonder how many gas tanks are still full metal and how many have gone to plastic?
                Don

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                • #23
                  Good point- plastic- no sparks !

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                  • #24
                    Originally posted by vintner View Post
                    Wonder how many gas tanks are still full metal and how many have gone to plastic?
                    Originally posted by tonyg View Post
                    Good point- plastic- no sparks !

                    It would still seem like a lot more work than is required by just syphoning the tank and still more risk. But then again, no one ever said that thieves were smart.
                    Our timeshare and other photo's at http://dougp26364.smugmug.com/

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                    • #25
                      Originally posted by tonyg View Post
                      Good point- plastic- no sparks !
                      Wouldn't plastic spark, too? If you drilled into it and it got hot? Maybe not spark, but get dangerously hot from the friction?

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                      • #26
                        Perhaps- this reminds me that I have to go clean the melted plastic out of a hole saw I used recently. I'm sure some thieves will be on the news showing us the don'ts soon.

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                        • #27
                          Originally posted by wackymother
                          Wouldn't plastic spark, too? If you drilled into it and it got hot? Maybe not spark, but get dangerously hot from the friction?
                          From the story I read, you (well, not you, the bad guys) take a sharp tool and maybe a hammer, puncture the plastic tank, and the gas just runs into a pail below the tank. Quick and easy. Much faster than syphoning.
                          Don

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                          • #28
                            Originally posted by vintner View Post
                            From the story I read, you (well, not you, the bad guys) take a sharp tool
                            I dunno, a life of crime is starting to look better and better, now that I've got step-by-step instructions....

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