Tank siphoned

[redozzy64]

On Saturday night/Sunday morning , my son's BA XR8 ute, which had a full tank, got siphoned from the drive way of our house. The ********* must of watched him fill up at the local servo around the corner, then followed him, or knew where we lived. He got home at around midnight and when he went to drive it in the morning the petrol cap was open and the fuel gauge showing less than a quarter.
Is there any place that fits petrol flaps that open from inside the cabin like sedans and station wagons?

[AussieAV]

That really sucks redozzy64! (pardon the pun)

Can't understand how some people can just help themselves to what others have worked hard for. They'd scream blue murder if it was done to them.

Before you fit a flap though, bear in mind that they are far from sturdy.

It sounds like no damage was done to your son's car (thankfully). I doubt if these flaps could keep a would be thief out though, just make it more likely that they'll damage the car forcing them open. A locking fuel cap may be a better option, if they still make them.

[fairmont1998]

AussieAV is right, if they want the fuel, they'll damage the car getting a locked petrol flap open. As much as losing a tank of petrol sucks, at least the car is undamaged.

[SM1DY]

There are fuel caps that have locks on them, you can pick one up relatively cheaply from super cheap. I got one when I first got my ute to avoid this sort of situation.

[mac_man_luke]

You can just get a locking cap

I thought there was a non return sort of setup in the neck that prevented syphoning, obviously not!

[SpoolMan]

All my Utes I go out and purchase a locking cap, only today sourced one for the FG when it comes to locking flaps and or caps Ford are way behind the times....
They make a nice car with all the mod cons and still refuse to put a locking flap on the FG..
Locking caps can be purchased for under $30 at Supercheap or Bursons..

I feel for your son full tank in a ute $100 worth of fuel..

[mik]

locking cap is a bit of a deterent, a sensor floodlight and a dog are pretty good too, its a crappy feeling having your boundries and pride and joy violated like this.

[CFOUR]

i believe this happened to a forum members fg a day or two after he bought it.

[MRFGXR6]

Yeah go for a locking cap only about $38 and it will save this from happening hopefully. Bought one for my FG due to the fact that Ford was a little stingy in that department. Have seen them on e-bay from time to time or go to your local auto parts shop.

hope this helps.

[irlewy86]

I'd be draining what is left in the bottom of the tank. My friend had a half tank stolen, they then topped it up with water.

[kcufasevigohw]

Originally Posted by redozzy64

On Saturday night/Sunday morning , my son's BA XR8 ute, which had a full tank, got siphoned from the drive way of our house. The ********* must of watched him fill up at the local servo around the corner, then followed him, or knew where we lived. He got home at around midnight and when he went to drive it in the morning the petrol cap was open and the fuel gauge showing less than a quarter.
Is there any place that fits petrol flaps that open from inside the cabin like sedans and station wagons?

Little as##ole

[saber]

Originally Posted by irlewy86

I'd be draining what is left in the bottom of the tank. My friend had a half tank stolen, they then topped it up with water.

No way!!!

Luckily for me my cas is an egasser...so no stolen fuel for me!
Although it won't stop the scumbags from busting open the fuel lid...

[TheZHLANE]

atleast my fairlane has a lock on it

[[Tonko]]

Originally Posted by saber

No way!!!

Luckily for me my cas is an egasser...so no stolen fuel for me!
Although it won't stop the scumbags from busting open the fuel lid...

...Yeah, but it is gas. I'm sure they will just feel sorry for you.


jokes....

[Yellow_Festiva]

A lot of new cars were fitted with a spring like mesh half way down the filler during the times when petrol was $1.50+ per litre.

Why, when this addition would be only a few cents per unit on the production line be omitted when the car has no locking cap?

Beggars belief.

I would drain the tank as well. They may have dropped something in there during the act. Rubber / plastic hose will probably dissolve over time and cause all sorts of havoc down the track..

People caught doing this should be made to drink what they stole......

[Madaya]

Some b*****d had a go at my Triton CC, syphoned fuel. I'd just finished my set of night shifts, which as anyone who has stood up to nights, can agree, is a relief beyond measure.

I park my ute, at a little 'village', on the way to work, where my workmates pick me up and we carpool the forty or so kilometers to work.

The sun was just coming up as we returned to my ute after our twelve hour shift. We were all tired, perhaps this morning more so than usual. It was a busy set of night shifts, all we could think of was bed - pillow - sleep.
But as we approached my ute, a little neurone said 'hey!' . In other words, even though the car itself was unmoved and the same as when I had left it, a part of my mind was fighting through the groggy part of my present, to say, 'something isn't right!'

Too tired to consider otherwise, I said my cheerios and hopped in the ute to head on home. First note was, the fuel guage was around half, and the trip meter read around 300kms, which was about right. It's about 15kms from my pickup point to home. As I swung onto the main highway that led home, the gauge was around a 1/4 and at first I suspected perhaps the car was in need of a tune up. But as I'm driving along at about 100kmh, the fuel gauge needle was rapidly sinking towards zero. Fortunately, a couple of guys going past gave me a wave, I wound down my window, and the passenger yelled that I appeared to be losing fuel. I thanked them for the news and immeadiately pulled over for a check.

Some sod had disconnected the return fuel hoses from my fuel tank and had a go taking the petrol. The tank has a locking cap, but the hoses and filter are easily accessible.. Because they ommitted the 'reconnect hose' step, as I was driving along, the petrol was spraying out onto the chassis and road and at the end of the day, could have caused an explosion, or at the very least, I would have ran out of petrol, 5k from home.

We all know the feeling, I've worked hard to buy the petrol, I need it for my job. The price of 'gas' is going to go through the roof in the next few years, we will all be shaking our heads.

Okay, some idiot has been smart and spent several minutes dribbling petrol from my tank in the dead of night. But why try and kill me with your handiwork.

A locking cap may not be the answer if they can get at the hoses.

[myxr6]

Back in 87 when I was in Queanbeyan ,I had an XC and lost two full tanks of fuel in two nights.Would have taken ages to siphon 80 litres at a time.

[Gaz]

Back in about 97ish uncle hired a brand new statesman... overnight some ****** stole the WHOLE fuel tank.

Yep, they unbolted it, dropped it out and took the whole thing.

[mik]

Originally Posted by irlewy86

I'd be draining what is left in the bottom of the tank. My friend had a half tank stolen, they then topped it up with water.

are you sure it was water?

[redozzy64]

Thanks for all of your suggestions. I think a locking cap is a good idea.
The funny thing is ( well not that funny ) my bedroom window is less than 4m from the petrol flap. Didn't hear a thing.

[irlewy86]

Originally Posted by mik

are you sure it was water?

That's what they found in the carbie.

[Murph-51]

yes yes yes what a **** of an act to have happen to you........... at least they didn't replace the fuel with sand in your tank....... you'd be one of the lucky ones I'd suspect

[AussieAV]

Originally Posted by SpoolMan

All my Utes I go out and purchase a locking cap, only today sourced one for the FG when it comes to locking flaps and or caps Ford are way behind the times....
They make a nice car with all the mod cons and still refuse to put a locking flap on the FG..

FGs (the sedans anyway) do have a locking fuel flap. Its linked in with the central locking, so assuming you leave your car unlocked when you fill up, it will always appear unlocked. Not sure if the utes are different, give it a go.

[wor57]

back to the old days of XH utes with key'd fuel lids

[Gaz]

Originally Posted by AussieAV

FGs (the sedans anyway) do have a locking fuel flap. Its linked in with the central locking, so assuming you leave your car unlocked when you fill up, it will always appear unlocked. Not sure if the utes are different, give it a go.

not unless it is a very very recent addition. This was complained about for months and months after the FG was released.

[shroomies49]

Heres a question about the Fiesta's fuel system..

It has a capless system.. Can it be easily siphoned? And would you be able to get a cap for it?

[Boosted]

Originally Posted by AussieAV

FGs (the sedans anyway) do have a locking fuel flap. Its linked in with the central locking, so assuming you leave your car unlocked when you fill up, it will always appear unlocked. Not sure if the utes are different, give it a go.

Sep 09 sedan, no locking fuel flap, it came out after that sometime.

[midnightXR6]

I had this done to me last week before i went offshore.

Parked up at my folks with just under half tank.

got up in the morn stuck nipper in the car started up and lots of beeping.

Gauge dropped 85km left. 30k left 10k left just made it to local station to top up.

Went to motor shop and bought a lockable fuel cap. only $17

[Fiesta God]

Originally Posted by shroomies49

Heres a question about the Fiesta's fuel system..

It has a capless system.. Can it be easily siphoned? And would you be able to get a cap for it?

The Fiesta has a capless system, but I believe it operates with a check valve in the neck, which creates an extra seal and reduces fuel evaporation ... obviously contributes to fuel efficiency but also prevents fuel leaking out if the car rolls over etc.

This would also stop someone siphoning the fuel.

[JamesR]

is it even worth using a lockable cap?
as some have said about changing the fuel door, if they want it, they will get it.