Yesterday I found out I had about 10 gallons of gas stolen from my tank, and the gas cap
Unless somebody happened to steal my gas cap and the Eagle happens to get 4MPG
Which then led me to an idea
Would it be possible to somehow put a screen at the bottom of the fuel filler tube, so that gas can flow through, but no hoses or anything can dip down into the tank easily?
I know, the easy solution would be to buy a locking gas cap, but I don't want to get out of my car every time I get gas (this is NJ, we aren't allowed to pump out own gas ::) )
i would go with the locking gas cap and keep a key in the ashtray to hand to the clerk who pups the fuel
It would be easy to do on the big cars. Unbolt the filler tube bracket, spray a little light oil around the outside, and pull it out. It sits in a rubber gasket. You can modify it as long as the outside stays smooth.
Then just spray some light oil again on the outside and push it back in. I like a silicone spray or WD-40. You'll have to pull the filler neck if you ever need to empty the tank, though.
Frankly, I'm amazed anyone remembers some cars had the filler is behind the license plate!
I always end up getting down the car, also where a clerk is present. They just don't figure out where the filler is and it takes me less time to open it for them than to try to explain... ;)
A locking cap wouldn't solve your problem, too... people who steal fuel hardly stop in front of a lock. Any flat screwdriver would pop it open in seconds.
I'd take some wire mesh, bend it and fabricate some sort of a "cup" slightly smaller than the filler tube diameter, cut out any loose wires that could end up in the pipe and push it down the tube, as low as it goes.
It should stop and set at the first bend and it would be impossible to take it out again. Should work.
Back in the day, the 70's when gas was rationed and it almost got to the astronomical price of 75 cents a gallon, they used to sell a tapered spring looking like thing that you just slipped into the filler neck. It tapered to not allow a hose to be stuck in far enough to siphon out gas but you could still stick the nozzle in to fill it.