Page 2 | How has this happened in my car?!

uspakl · 2024-08-16T12:17:16+00:00

I have attached the image, has petrol burnt this?

Original poster

uspakl · 16/08/2024 14:50

Sent photos to the garage and they’re saying it’s definitely not theft as the whole door to the petrol cap would have to have been broken into which it isn’t?

OP posts:

GasPanic · 16/08/2024 14:32

KrisAkabusi · 16/08/2024 14:28

if the cap doesn't lock in place it is hard to see why they would drill there, just remove the cap and siphon from there instead.

Because almost all cars have an anti-siphon device in the fuel tube now.

Ah right did not know that !

Still there are much easier and more practical ways to steal it IMO ! But probably best not to go into those...

KrisAkabusi · 16/08/2024 14:28

if the cap doesn't lock in place it is hard to see why they would drill there, just remove the cap and siphon from there instead.

Because almost all cars have an anti-siphon device in the fuel tube now.

GasPanic · 16/08/2024 14:27

Maybe you left it closed but open. I used to do that all the time on my old car. if the cap doesn't lock in place it is hard to see why they would drill there, just remove the cap and siphon from there instead. Mystery deepens !

I don't know why someone would chose to try and steal petrol like that.

Not an expert in petrol theft though !

BiscuityBoyle · 16/08/2024 14:26

That’s crazy. So at night, presumably, someone has come along, popped open the OPs fuel cap and drilled a hole? Wouldn’t that be noisy?

Check with your neighbours to see if it’s happened to anyone else and if they have Ring doorbells or the like and might have film of it. Perhaps ring 101 to see if anyone else has reported it.

KrisAkabusi · 16/08/2024 14:22

uspakl · 16/08/2024 14:16

Can’t get an appointment until Wednesday so I am stressing a bit now

Can you not just drive to the nearest garage and ask someone to take a look? It will take a professional seconds to tell you if it's dangerous or not, or if someone has tried to steal the fuel.

Original poster

uspakl · 16/08/2024 14:21

@GasPanic no but it locks when I lock the car. I tried to open it when the car was locked and it would definitely cause damage to access it when locked

OP posts:

GasPanic · 16/08/2024 14:19

Does your petrol cap lock with a key ?

Original poster

uspakl · 16/08/2024 14:16

Can’t get an appointment until Wednesday so I am stressing a bit now

OP posts:

GasPanic · 16/08/2024 14:07

Petrol can dissolve plastic as it is a solvent for it. Some plastics like PTFE it will not dissolve. Diesel poses different hazards to various plastics because of its different composition. That's why the emergency cans for diesel are black and for petrol green (not just to tell you what is in them). Petrol is a better solvent for plastics than diesel so the plastic has to be more "special" to resist being dissolved by it. There is a famous case of someone who during fuel shortages thought it would be a great idea to fill up non reccomended containers with petrol. Needless to say the petrol dissolved the plastic and the whole resultant mess resulted in a considerable fire hazard.

Petrol tanks and areas likely to come into contact with petrol in your car are all built of petrol resistant plastic. So they will not be dissolved or "melt" when they come into contact with it. That photo looks like an attempt at fuel theft to me.

Edit : I would say it is a crap attempt because from what I know about petrol tanks it would be unlikely to succeed. It may be worth checking your fuel to make sure they didn't then try to drill the tank directly.

Silvers11 · 16/08/2024 14:03

Honestly @uspakl I know you've phoned them, but you really, really, really need to take it into a garage and let them see it. It could be dangerous driving around with that. Money might be an issue - but safety has no price.

Original poster

uspakl · 16/08/2024 14:00

OneTC · 16/08/2024 13:59

But is the cover not damaged?

Edited

@OneTC no it’s not damaged at all. I called the garage and they said there would be damage on the cover as it would have to be forced open to even access this bit…

OP posts:

KrisAkabusi · 16/08/2024 14:00

Also my petrol hole has a spring-mounted metal cover in it that seals whenever there's not a petrol nozzle actively in it. Yours looks suspiciously like it should have one, but no longer does. I may be wrong, I ain't a mechanic :)

I think you're right, the actual petrol hole looks damaged as well. The whole thing really looks like physical damage.

Original poster

uspakl · 16/08/2024 13:59

nomorezoflora · 16/08/2024 13:54

The damage totally looks like someone's been at it with a drill, badly.

My petrol cover can be popped from locked with a little bit of effort and no trace, so don't count on locking working against someone who's actually intent on access and doesn't care about damaging it.

Also my petrol hole has a spring-mounted metal cover in it that seals whenever there's not a petrol nozzle actively in it. Yours looks suspiciously like it should have one, but no longer does. I may be wrong, I ain't a mechanic :)

But you definitely want to get it all checked out at a garage for damage and safety reasons.

Edited

@nomorezoflora do you not think that the lock would then be damaged though afterwards? If it’s been forced open?

OP posts:

OneTC · 16/08/2024 13:59

But is the cover not damaged?

OneTC · 16/08/2024 13:59

Definitely a drill, that little track on the right is where it's slipped before they got it to bite

nomorezoflora · 16/08/2024 13:54

The damage totally looks like someone's been at it with a drill, badly.

My petrol cover can be popped from locked with a little bit of effort and no trace, so don't count on locking working against someone who's actually intent on access and doesn't care about damaging it.

Also my petrol hole has a spring-mounted metal cover in it that seals whenever there's not a petrol nozzle actively in it. Yours looks suspiciously like it should have one, but no longer does. I may be wrong, I ain't a mechanic :)

But you definitely want to get it all checked out at a garage for damage and safety reasons.

Original poster

uspakl · 16/08/2024 13:43

Ok so it can’t be theft as the actual thing won’t open unless the car is unlocked and I religiously lock it every night without fail… and there’s no damage to the cover either.

OP posts:

dcsp · 16/08/2024 13:37

MonsteraMama · 16/08/2024 13:33

The ready made hole is normally locked! If it isn't locked, siphoning with a hose is definitely easier than drilling as long as you don't mind risking a mouthful of petrol.

Show quote history

Modern cars have anti-syphon necks on the fuel tanks.

I've emptied the tanks on a couple of our cars before selling them for scrap and in both cases I did so by disconnecting the fuel line under the bonnet and jumpering the fuel pump relay so the fuel came out that way (well, I got my retired mechanic FIL to do that!)

Original poster

uspakl · 16/08/2024 13:34

Doggymummar · 16/08/2024 13:32

You need to go get it fixed, as if it's compromised it may not seal properly and could catch fire. Can't see if that's the case from the picture

@Doggymummar do you happen to know how much this will cost? Stressed!!

OP posts:

MonsteraMama · 16/08/2024 13:33

SunnyWavess · 16/08/2024 13:28

Sorry to be thick, but why the hell would someone go to the bother of drilling a hole and the noise it would make, when there’s a ready made hole to steal the petrol?

Edited

The ready made hole is normally locked! If it isn't locked, siphoning with a hose is definitely easier than drilling as long as you don't mind risking a mouthful of petrol.

Doggymummar · 16/08/2024 13:32

SunnyWavess · 16/08/2024 13:28

Sorry to be thick, but why the hell would someone go to the bother of drilling a hole and the noise it would make, when there’s a ready made hole to steal the petrol?

Edited

Cis you need a key to open the ready made hole.

Doggymummar · 16/08/2024 13:32

You need to go get it fixed, as if it's compromised it may not seal properly and could catch fire. Can't see if that's the case from the picture

Original poster

uspakl · 16/08/2024 13:28

is this a common occurrence?! I’ve never heard of this happening other than on large scale not domestic homes, I must have had a sheltered life!!

i feel sick that someone has been on our drive to do this?! So have they tried to melt it or have they just scuffed it by trying to get in?

OP posts:

SunnyWavess · 16/08/2024 13:28

Sorry to be thick, but why the hell would someone go to the bother of drilling a hole and the noise it would make, when there’s a ready made hole to steal the petrol?