Interior Opening Gas Cap Cover

[Zandcwhite]

People will also just regurgitate fear mongering bs as fact as well, which they base their need for said precautions on.

Drive through all types of bay area crap neighborhoods regularly. I've done projects right downtown where the parking is on the other side of a homeless camp from the actual jobsite. Still never an issue with gas tampering or vandalism. It was one of these jobsites where a buddy had his cat cut off his truck while we were at work. Left the Jeep in the Oakland Airport lot many times for as long as 2 weeks, no issues. Theft is a real concern. People toting funnels and chemicals to pour into the gas tank? Nope. Vandals want to see their handiwork. Thieves want to get something of value.

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[AndySpill]

You're overlooking the obvious: an internally latching fuel door can easily be pried open with basic implements. It's highly unlikely a vandal is going to break into the vehicle interior (tripping the alarm) to access the fuel door release (though they might use the release on an open air Jeep).

No.

What I'm doing is compared how each method of deterrence works.

Prying open is a more obvious act that looks suspicious, than opening a locked and armed car door.

And drilling a locking gas cap is always an option too. They're all about deterrence, not prevention (the latter your original point) and come with their own pros and cons, as sure as they are not mutually exclusive of one another. You can choose zero or more of these at times.

 

[AndySpill]

They are restricted significantly more than the fuel designed to be in there. Unless, of course, you use a fuel nozzle to do that delivery.

Maybe you're thinking the typical vandal has figured out the type of funnel that works well with our Wranglers and carries that around with them "just in case"?

John, your posts I lean highly towards respecting, but I just don't understand what you are trying to say. Clearly I'm missing something.

My point is pouring a bottle of soda down an open fuel port doesn't seem to me to be much harder than pouring down a bottle of fuel stabilizers or gas-line antifreeze, although much more likely to cause issues.

Are you talking about the challenges that may arise in getting the tip of the bottom inside the pipe that leads to the tank?

 

[AndySpill]

Vandals want to see their destruction.

Fair point. Rest assured I know of nobody targeting me but those that do pour crap down the tanks of vehicles whose owners they dislike do eventually get to see their handiwork; the damage inflicted perhaps worth their patience.

I do think this rare. I also think it so trivial for me to open my Mopar matching key cap that its worth the effort its limited protection provides.

But again, this was mostly about whether people could adopt a locking gas cap cover, cabin actuated on a Wrangler, like most other vehicles, or oppose it because of feelings that such a feature would too much violate its original DNA.

 

[Zandcwhite]

Fair point. Rest assured I know of nobody targeting me but those that do pour crap down the tanks of vehicles whose owners they dislike do eventually get to see their handiwork; the damage inflicted perhaps worth their patience.

I do think this rare. I also think it so trivial for me to open my Mopar matching key cap that its worth the effort its limited protection provides.

But again, this was mostly about whether people could adopt a locking gas cap cover, cabin actuated on a Wrangler, like most other vehicles, or oppose it because of feelings that such a feature would too much violate its original DNA.

You guys keep saying "most" other vehicles have this feature but that hasn't been my experience at all. Rams, Ford trucks, Ford vans, Ford cars, Jeeps, Mazda, Chevy cars all of which I've driven at least one of post 2006 and none have that annoying feature. Honda civic and Toyota prius do. You call popping that little plastic tab open conspicuous prying, but literally no more effort with a screwdriver in hand than opening one without a latch. And yet the funnel and bottle of mystery fluid are completely invisible? I'd still like to see evidence of even 1 random vandal doing that in the last 10 years? Slash a tire, smash a window, set a fire, tag, spray paint, sharpie, all various levels of noticeable but all vandalism that you see happens. Pouring stuff into the fuel tank? Never seen it even once. Would an entire 12oz soda even do any damage mixed in 20 gallons of fuel? I'm guessing probably not.

 

[THAW]

Prying open is a more obvious act that looks suspicious, than opening a locked and armed car door.

No. Not even close.

 

[Terrymo]

It doesn’t matter that it’s not a real problem. “What if“ scenarios aren’t going to make it any more necessary. But marketed correctly it will sell, If that’s the goal. This forum is proof of that Jeep owners will buy the strangest things If they’re told they’re the next big thing. Skoda, Azuto, Threedom and many other companies come to mind.

 

[Ratbert]

My point is pouring a bottle of soda down an open fuel port doesn't seem to me to be much harder than pouring down a bottle of fuel stabilizers or gas-line antifreeze, although much more likely to cause issues.

That's an excellent point and I hadn't considered it from that perspective. You don't actually need a funnel. I apologize for not fully thinking it through.

 

[flyer92]

People will also just regurgitate fear mongering bs as fact as well, which they base their need for said precautions on.

Agree 100%, which why I base my opinions on what I personally observe and experience. After what I saw in Watts and Oakland, I think anyone in their right mind would consider every possible security measure. That said, I realize that our experiences shape our opinions, so those who are fortunate enough to have never seen these things wouldn't consider said precautions.

 

[AFD]

It doesn’t matter that it’s not a real problem. “What if“ scenarios aren’t going to make it any more necessary. But marketed correctly it will sell, If that’s the goal. This forum is proof of that Jeep owners will buy the strangest things If they’re told they’re the next big thing. Skoda, Azuto, Threedom and many other companies come to mind.

I live my life by what-if scenarios. The real threats of surviving 150+ years ago are mostly long-gone, so as creative and somewhat intelligent humans, we imagine/amplify very real, but far rarer difficulties that we might be able to prevent.

Plus, without a fuel door to deter the miscreants from pooping in your fuel filler neck, where else are you gonna stash your nifty green mini ice scraper? Someday your primary scraper will fail and you'll wish you had a backup stashed away!


Ho-Lee Shin! Was searching for a Skoda pic to post and found this ultimate solution to every problem. A locking JL fuel door so no one can steal your locking gas cap or mini ice scraper!

 

[OminousSkitter]

Prying open is a more obvious act that looks suspicious, than opening a locked and armed car door.

I’m sorry, you completely lost me here. Silently and quickly prying open a fuel door is way less obvious than opening a **locked and armed** car door.

Unless you’re carrying a gas can or at the pump, fiddling with the fuel door/gas cap/filler neck is suspicious—regardless of whether or not the door/cap locks.

I happen to have a key matched Mopar gas cap. I also saw videos on how easy it is to compromise this.

You already have a locking cap but are concerned about how easy those are to bypass. We’re saying a latching fuel door is easier to bypass. It takes less than 2s to pry open a locking/latched fuel door with little to no sound. It’s not like it ties into the car alarm and triggers that.

Your post asks if it should be a thing. The general consensus is that it shouldn’t. Even those on board with some security are saying a locking gas cap is enough. I think that’s your answer.

 

[Wbino]

Agree 100%, which why I base my opinions on what I personally observe and experience. After what I saw in Watts and Oakland, I think anyone in their right mind would consider every possible security measure. That said, I realize that our experiences shape our opinions, so those who are fortunate enough to have never seen these things wouldn't consider said precautions.

What did you see in Watts and Oakland that made you piss your pants?

 

[flyer92]

What did you see in Watts and Oakland that made you piss your pants?

Didn't piss my pants, but I witnessed multiple robberies thanks to the state's $1000 theft limit and almost got shot on another occasion. I don't recommend either city for your next family vacation.

 

[AFD]

Remember watching that trucker get pulled from his cab live on TV during the Rodney King riots back when I was younger and that's probably the reason I've always locked my doors after leaving the driveway - way back before auto-locks were a thing.

Even though I live out in the middle of nowhere, every few years I'll hear of someone local that had a stranger walk up to them at a stop light and try to open their door, for who knows what reason.

People do stupid shit all the time no matter where you're at. Nothing wrong with a little prevention if you choose.

 

[Zandcwhite]

Didn't piss my pants, but I witnessed multiple robberies thanks to the state's $1000 theft limit and almost got shot on another occasion. I don't recommend either city for your next family vacation.

I'm sure their next move after robbing people was to spend the proceeds on chemicals to pour in random gas tanks. Thats the obvious next step in a criminals path. Robbery is the gateway...to fuel additives.

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