Remove Gas Cap Without Key

[MrAl]

Hi,

More good ideas, thanks.

Is there such a thing as an original locking gas cap? Yes the door locks but anyone that can get inside can get the door open simply by pressing the gas door lock button. I thought a little extra here would help so i got a locking gas cap. I had a 'small' leak in the EVAP system too so i wanted to try a new cap anyway.

[j-dawg]

If someone's broken into your car, you probably have bigger problems than the gasoline in your tank. Not saying it's not worth thinking about, but it is worth considering the balance of protection and protection-incurred cost.

If you have to take a taxi home once to get your key, you've balanced out the loss of the fuel in the tank financially. If you can't drive your car because you've lost the key, as is now the case, there's a dollar value associated with that. It seems to me like a lot of effort and risk of being locked out of your tank to prevent something that's pretty unlikely to happen.

It's even more unlikely when you consider the first rule of theft prevention: you don't have to be perfectly protected, only better than the guy next to you. These cars require access to the interior to open the gas door. A fuel thief would just go to the next car on the block, rather than breaking into your car.

One final point, playing the hypotheticals game: you're concerned about using channel locks to pull the locking cap off the filler neck, which is fair. Let's assume the hypothetical fuel thief has broken into your car to open the filler door. Do you think he'll hold off on the pliers to avoid damaging the filler neck? So now you've lost a tank of gas and your filler neck is damaged. If you'd had a non-locking gas cap, you'd be able to replace the window the thief broke, replace the fuel in the tank, and be on your way. Total made-up situation, but the point is that it's really easy to overthink these things and not end up better-protected.

[RickHaleParker]

Is there such a thing as an original locking gas cap?

Volvo part numbers 9142606, 1394835, 3514227, 9142541, 1325002, 3507678, 1129133. Sold as a accessory, not standard equipment.

[RickHaleParker]

So now you've lost a tank of gas and your filler neck is damaged.

You don't break the cap off with channel locks. What you do is squeeze the plastic cap just enough to get the cap out of round. This binds up the locking the locking mechanism and allows the cap to turn the threads.

[abscate]

Just leave lots of guy-debris around - then the thieves will know you probably have to low gas light on since you are too cheap to fill the tank, and there isnt enough gas to steal.

(Remember June, if that asteroid hits, we are ahead!!)

[j-dawg]

So now you've lost a tank of gas and your filler neck is damaged.

You don't break the cap off with channel locks. What you do is squeeze the plastic cap just enough to get the cap out of round. This binds up the locking the locking mechanism and allows the cap to turn the threads.

Yep - I suggested the same thing earlier in the thread - but if we're playing the hypotheticals game, we might as well be working under the same assumptions.

[RickHaleParker]

we might as well be working under the same assumptions.

How about we work with the facts as told to me by a thief ... locks are to keep your friends out.
The rest is just Security Theater. The best security we have is human empathy.

[MrAl]

Is there such a thing as an original locking gas cap?

Volvo part numbers 9142606, 1394835, 3514227, 9142541, 1325002, 3507678, 1129133. Sold as a accessory, not standard equipment.

Hi,

Thanks. Would you happen to know if any of those are self locking so you dont have to use the key to lock it, just to unlock it?
The one i have now is a double pain because the key is required for both locking and unlocking.

[MrAl]

we might as well be working under the same assumptions.

How about we work with the facts as told to me by a thief ... locks are to keep your friends out.
The rest is just Security Theater. The best security we have is human empathy.

Hello,

Security is never about absolute protection, it's about different levels of protection.
Leave your gas door open and the gas cap off. That's level zero.
Use the cap only. Level 1.
Use both the cap and the door. Level 2.
Use the door and a locking cap. Level 3.
Use a garage. Level 4.
Hire a guard 24/7. Level 5.

It's all about making it not easy.

[MrAl]

Just leave lots of guy-debris around - then the thieves will know you probably have to low gas light on since you are too cheap to fill the tank, and there isnt enough gas to steal.

(Remember June, if that asteroid hits, we are ahead!!)

Hi,

I actually leave a bunch of garbage bags in there
It looks like a mess to someone looking in the window i hope that helps.