Locking Gas Caps: Love 'em Or Hate 'em?

[pdqdl]

New style Stihl caps are the reason many folks here prefer Husqvarna, Dolmar and Jonsered

Sure. Everybody has a preference. I mostly prefer my Husqies, too. But not because of the oil and fuel caps.

Why do you guys dislike the Stihl caps? I don't see anything to dislike about them.

 

[turnkey4099]

Sure. Everybody has a preference. I mostly prefer my Husqies, too. But not because of the oil and fuel caps.

Why do you guys dislike the Stihl caps? I don't see anything to dislike about them.

I don't actually hate them, just can't see the reason for them. Seems to have been a solution to a nonexistant problem.

I do find myself fiddling around with them to get them on right more than I ever did with screw on caps.

Harry K

 

[pdqdl]

I don't actually hate them, just can't see the reason for them. Seems to have been a solution to a nonexistant problem.

I do find myself fiddling around with them to get them on right more than I ever did with screw on caps.

Harry K

I can understand that. I remember resenting them when they first came out.

 

[MTCInc]

Who here uses locking gas caps on their equipment? On the surface it sounds like an intelligent idea, but I've only heard of them, not actually knowing anyone who uses them. !!

I thought of this mainly to protect the gas from sabotage, but also thinking about one of my trucks a couple of days ago. I don't remember, but thought I recall one of my trucks having more gas in it from the time I last drove it. I couldn't help but think it was siphoned, but don't know for sure.

Are there any issues with locking gas caps people should know about? Are there any drawbacks or disadvantages to them?

If you use locking gas caps, how do you like them? I'm thinking of placing them on my equipment.

StihlRockin'

I do use locking gas caps on both my chipper and truck. My main reason to use was because I was concerned with an "ex employee" putting something down my fuel system. In hindsight, I think I was over worried, but I am glad I have locks on my tanks. I guess the one disadvantage would be misplacing the keys. Other then that, they have been nice and reliable.

 

[gremlin]

I do use locking gas caps on both my chipper and truck. My main reason to use was because I was concerned with an "ex employee" putting something down my fuel system. In hindsight, I think I was over worried, but I am glad I have locks on my tanks. I guess the one disadvantage would be misplacing the keys. Other then that, they have been nice and reliable.

ha wouldnt be too smart to mess with a man that has a arsenal of chainsaws, chippers and so on and so forth

 

[glenn31792]

Locking gas caps
Pro’s Keeps people from siphoning your gas or adding sugar.
Con’s Snap the tip off of a tooth pic in the key hole and you will never get it off.
Placing one on someone elses car -
The look on your favorite high school teachers face when he pulls in to the gas
station to fill up. Priceless.

 

[turnkey4099]

Locking gas caps
Pro’s Keeps people from siphoning your gas or adding sugar.
Con’s Snap the tip off of a tooth pic in the key hole and you will never get it off.
Placing one on someone elses car -
The look on your favorite high school teachers face when he pulls in to the gas
station to fill up. Priceless.

I had one that I couldn't unlock. Local fix-it shop said he would take it off with a big pair of channel locks. I got it unlocked before we resorted to it. Kinda wish I'd of seen the process.

As for the 'sugar in the gas' - that is an urban legend. The sugar won't disolve in gas, at most it will clog any filter it hits. Try it yourself, it becomes about the consistancy of saturated sand.

Harry K

Harry K

 

[pdqdl]

I had one that I couldn't unlock. Local fix-it shop said he would take it off with a big pair of channel locks. I got it unlocked before we resorted to it. Kinda wish I'd of seen the process.

As for the 'sugar in the gas' - that is an urban legend. The sugar won't disolve in gas, at most it will clog any filter it hits. Try it yourself, it becomes about the consistancy of saturated sand.

Harry K

Harry K

That's no urban legend when you add it to the oil. Trashes the engine just like antifreeze can. But MUCH faster.

I got curious about the solubility of sugar in gasoline [I always thought a fuel filter would stop the sugar also], so I did a simple test. Just a pinch of sugar did not seem to dissolve in about a cup of gasoline.

Then I added some alcohol, and it did seem to dissolve a small amount of the sugar. I did not attempt to do a scientific analyisis, so there are no guarantees about my results. If you were using 10% or more ethanol fuel, the sugar might have some consequences, especially to fuel injectors. Maybe, I don't know. Sugar is nothing more than a complex alcohol, so perhaps it would do nothing more than add fuel to the tank if it was dissolved in the alcohol.

I'd hate to be wrong about that!

 

[gremlin]

trust me guys its no urban legand. iv been working on cars all my life and have replaved several engine due to sugar. it reeks havoc on fuel systems and valves. DO NOT TRY THIS.