Interior Opening Gas Cap Cover

[flyer92]

As I stated above, plastic tank and tall enough vehicle to roll under. It's quicker and easier to stab the tank with a simple screwdriver and throw a bucket under the Jeep. Who cares if 15 gallons of your fuel pours on the street after they get their 5 gallons? And if it's really just to destroy your vehicle, skip the bucket and throw a match under there instead. In my opinon you're just encouraging more expensive damage with your $25 locking gas cap, which is why I can't justify it.

As stated previously, the JL (and most modern vehicles) has an anti-siphoning filler neck, so thieves can't steal your gas from the filler regardless of whether a locking cap is installed. Either way, they are gonna punch a hole in your tank if they really want it.

Instead, the locking cap is used primarily to prevent vandalism, which I have seen several times over the years. Granted, it's not a common occurrence, but when it does happen, it can be a very costly and intensive repair, especially in this era of supply chain shortfalls, long lead times, and increasing costs. $25 to prevent thousands in damage is a no-brainer IMO, even if nobody ever attempts to vandalize my Jeep. Folks spend more than that for cheap plastic Amazon garbage that breaks after a few weeks, so this is clearly a much better value.

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[Ratbert]

Instead, the locking cap is used primarily to prevent vandalism, which I have seen several times over the years.

Yep, but the vandal would have to explicitly prepare beforehand for that vandalism. They'd need a specific type of funnel to make it past the flap and to somehow get the liquid to the other side of the barrier.

Breaking windows, slashing tires, Vaseline on everything, egging it, keying paint, urinating / defecating on it, etc. are all pretty damn simple in comparison.

 

[flyer92]

They'd need a specific type of funnel to make it past the flap and to somehow get the liquid to the other side of the barrier.

Right...but liquid will sit in the top end of the filler neck, which still isn't good. I'd gladly pay $25 to prevent that from happening.

 

[THAW]

Right...but liquid will sit in the top end of the filler neck, which still isn't good. I'd gladly pay $25 to prevent that from happening.

You are clearly a believer in locking gas caps, but do you think an internally latching fuel door with a cabin release like the OP proposed offers the same level of vandalism protection?

 

[dragoneggs]

You are clearly a believer in locking gas caps, but do you think an internally latching fuel door with a cabin release like the OP proposed offers the same level of vandalism protection?

Not advocating for Jeep to provide locking gas caps but it is hard to argue that a little deterrent is better than nothing.

This is a value question that can't be definitively answered. Probably need to ask yourself a question.

What is crime, vandalism, theft situation in your environment? At home and work?

 

[THAW]

Not advocating for Jeep to provide locking gas caps but it is hard to argue that a little deterrent is better than nothing.

This is a value question that can't be definitively answered. Probably need to ask yourself a question.

What is crime, vandalism, theft situation in your environment? At home and work?

Personally I think concern over filler neck access vandalism is unwarranted, but assuming it isn't: my question was about whether internally latching fuel doors provide equivalent protection to the locking gas cap everyone keeps mentioning instead.

 

[Zandcwhite]

Not advocating for Jeep to provide locking gas caps but it is hard to argue that a little deterrent is better than nothing.

This is a value question that can't be definitively answered. Probably need to ask yourself a question.

What is crime, vandalism, theft situation in your environment? At home and work?

The tires on the Jeep are $500 each, paint and body work is thousands of dollars, windows are super expensive. And yet we are worried about people carrying around specialized funnels to poor specific liquids in sufficient quantity into our gas tanks? Short of you really missing someone off specifically, vandalism is a bored teenager crime of opportunity. If they are hell bent on doing a bunch of damage to the point their pre-planning they'll be lighting cars on fire or smashing windows or slashing tires...as those all have that visible damage they'll their looking for. Pooring soda into your gas tank and hoping in a day or more when you start it they got enough in there to cause any damage? It sounds dumber and less likely the more we discuss it.

 

[TrailMax]

The tires on the Jeep are $500 each, paint and body work is thousands of dollars, windows are super expensive. And yet we are worried about people carrying around specialized funnels to poor specific liquids in sufficient quantity into our gas tanks? Short of you really missing someone off specifically, vandalism is a bored teenager crime of opportunity. If they are hell bent on doing a bunch of damage to the point their pre-planning they'll be lighting cars on fire or smashing windows or slashing tires...as those all have that visible damage they'll their looking for. Pooring soda into your gas tank and hoping in a day or more when you start it they got enough in there to cause any damage? It sounds dumber and less likely the more we discuss it.

No dumb ass teenagers who do stupid stuff because they think it's funny live in your town?

 

[Zandcwhite]

No dumb ass teenagers who do stupid stuff because they think it's funny live in your town?

Again, none that are going to plan for special funnels and liquids to pour into the gas tank. Much easier things to vandalize with the instant gratification of breaking glass, visible damage, etc. Sure 30vyears ago when you could actually siphon gas and/or pour random crap into the tank with a rolled up newspaper from the guys driveway (good luck even finding that these days) it happened and was still incredibly rare. Now with antisiphon filler necks and fill flaps? It's just not a real concern.

 

[flyer92]

While all the naysayers find any excuse to refute the utility of a locking gas cap, it is interesting to note that most modern cars (also with non-siphoning filler necks) do have a locking fuel door, offering the same/similar level of security. Wonder why that is?

 

[AFD]

defecating on it, etc.

Is that actually a thing people do now?

"It's on my fuel door, on my locking gas cap, there's shit everywhere!"

 

[Zandcwhite]

While all the naysayers find any excuse to refute the utility of a locking gas cap, it is interesting to note that most modern cars (also with non-siphoning filler necks) do have a locking fuel door, offering the same/similar level of security. Wonder why that is?

I'd say most don't. The company Toyota is the only one I've seen recently. The Ford focus was not only non-locking it didn't even have a gas cap. Ford trucks don't for sure. Neither do rams. Or Jeeps. Foreign cars mostly?

 

[The Last Cowboy]

The answer to this hypothetical situation is simple. Supply and demand. Apparently there is no demand sufficient enough to warrant producing such a product, therefore, no supply.

If one really wants to lessen the chances of being a victim of vandalism, don’t put stickers on your vehicle supporting, or bashing political, social, religious, or constitutional views. Drive in such a way that you don’t piss off everyone around you, and don’t be the guy who has work enemies. Besides, the most motivated vandals right now are looking for Teslas to target.

 

[Ratbert]

While all the naysayers find any excuse to refute the utility of a locking gas cap, it is interesting to note that most modern cars (also with non-siphoning filler necks) do have a locking fuel door, offering the same/similar level of security. Wonder why that is?

Because it's what people expect to be there due to what it historically addressed? And if (deities forbid) it's not there then it'd result in discussions like this?

There's a lot of people out there with a mentality of "I'd never buy that. It doesn't have a locking gas cap!!!"

 

[Heimkehr]

Breaking windows, slashing tires, Vaseline on everything, egging it, keying paint, urinating / defecating on it, etc. are all pretty damn simple in comparison.

While in college, my car got egged while it was parked on the street at a friend's house. I didn't give the matter much thought after discovering it, figuring dried egg would wash off easily. Nope. Proper clean-up required more effort than I'd have guessed necessary.

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