Holes Drilled In Fuel Tank

radtastic · September 30, 2008

To all of those out there with a truck, or any vehicle somewhat high off the ground, I want to say to not worry about locking fuel doors/gas caps. This is my opinion of course, but here's what happened:

I took a work vehicle home, as I had some night work to do, and left my truck at work, which I had done many times. I get back this morning, only to find a pool of gas under my tank, and upon further inspection.. 3 holes drilled into the tank I really wish I didn't have a locking fuel cap, as I would have preferred an old siphon trick (although the check ball makes that hard). I'm pretty sure I was the only one to get hit, out of my truck, and 3 company cars, because my truck was the highest off the ground. I haven't had any personal fallout's, or anything, either.

For those of you thinking of using a locking gas cap, it's great deterrent, until someone gets crafty and drills into your tank to empty it, instead. This thread was mostly to vent, not to try and dissuade anyone from use of locking gas caps/doors. The truck height just makes it so much easier to just drill into the tank, instead. This was probably a fluke event, but I'm not using the locking cap anymore, after this. Either that, or a sign of worse things to come, if the economy stays in trouble. All I can say is that I'm glad my deductible for Comprehensive isn't too high...

Oh yeah, sorry if this is a dupe situation/thread.

asilverblazer · September 30, 2008

Flammable fluid and electricity, wish they'd drill mine.

radtastic · September 30, 2008

Flammable fluid and electricity, wish they'd drill mine.

It surprised they hell out of me that they were stupid enough to use a drill. It doesn't sound very safe to me... But, then again, it doesn't surprise me in the area I'm in. Some are none too smart.

steman73 · September 30, 2008

People who steal (both by accepting government welfare/handouts AND through material stealing) really burn my butt.

Go earn the stuff on your own instead of stealing from someone who -GASP- paid for it.

wlvrn1215 · September 30, 2008

Ive heard of punching a hole in a composite gas tank but not drilling one...wow, someones very stupid and desperate.

Paul58 · September 30, 2008

Hmmm, maybe now's the time to market that flint gas tank shield I invented! Let'm drill that bad boy... Sparks fly, fuel flows, KABOOM!!! Krispy Kritter badguy...

DofD · September 30, 2008

That totally sucks. Nothing is very safe or secure any more.

Someone should invent a sensor that detects drops in gas level while the vehicle isn't running and then sets off the alarm.

Good luck to you in getting everything sorted with your insurance.

VMax2007 · September 30, 2008

That totally sucks. Nothing is very safe or secure any more.

Someone should invent a sensor that detects drops in gas level while the vehicle isn't running and then sets off the alarm.

Good luck to you in getting everything sorted with your insurance.

Now THAT is a really good idea!

tobias · September 30, 2008

Hmmm, maybe now's the time to market that flint gas tank shield I invented! Let'm drill that bad boy... Sparks fly, fuel flows, KABOOM!!! Krispy Kritter badguy...

And, unfortunately, Krispy Truck too.

VMax2007 · September 30, 2008

Hmmm, maybe now's the time to market that flint gas tank shield I invented! Let'm drill that bad boy... Sparks fly, fuel flows, KABOOM!!! Krispy Kritter badguy...

And, unfortunately, Krispy Truck too.

True, but it would be worth it. Insurance will replace the truck, but insurance won't do the crispy a-hole much good.

DofD · September 30, 2008

Probably wouldn't be too hard to do as one could probably (off the top of my head thought) piggyback off the existing fuel float/monitoring system.

c4cruiser · September 30, 2008

If you take a battery operated drill and wrap it in something like a plastic bag with only the bit sticking out and drill into the GM composite tank, it probably would be much safer than not protecting the drill.

Gas thieves are either dumb enough to not understand the potential for spark=fire=bang with any sort of electric motor, or are willing to take the chance, or have figured out a way to reduce the potential for a really big BBQ pit.

It's sort of like the meth-head thieves that steal copper electrical wire from street lights so the can sell the metal. Most street light systems are 480V. These idiots use wire cutters to cut the wire out of the standards and from the underground vaults.

DofD · September 30, 2008

If you take a battery operated drill and wrap it in something like a plastic bag with only the bit sticking out and drill into the GM composite tank, it probably would be much safer than not protecting the drill.

Gas thieves are either dumb enough to not understand the potential for spark=fire=bang with any sort of electric motor, or are willing to take the chance, or have figured out a way to reduce the potential for a really big BBQ pit.

It's sort of like the meth-head thieves that steal copper electrical wire from street lights so the can sell the metal. Most street light systems are 480V. These idiots use wire cutters to cut the wire out of the standards and from the underground vaults.

Ceramic drill bit with a manual hand drill. Of course the average scum criminal wouldn't think of that.

Yeah, there have been a few nuts who have bbq'd themselves stealing copper from underground electrical vaults. Gee, these bolt cutters should work fine for cutting that big wire. Bzzzzt...

tobias · September 30, 2008

Hmmm, maybe now's the time to market that flint gas tank shield I invented! Let'm drill that bad boy... Sparks fly, fuel flows, KABOOM!!! Krispy Kritter badguy...

And, unfortunately, Krispy Truck too.

True, but it would be worth it. Insurance will replace the truck, but insurance won't do the crispy a-hole much good.

Oh, I agree. If your truck were to burn up, it'd be doing everyone a favor.