WTF, found gas door open, cap off

[super302]

My brother came over tonight and he said that my gas cap was off, i went out side, and sure enouch, the motherfcking gas door was open and lid hanging there by that string thing. What could have happened, haven't started car or done anything except put it back on. Do you think someone syphined the gas out or put sugar in?? What does sugar do to it anyways? I'm pissed if somethings wrong with my car. Can't tell if anything else is wrong, its too dark out.

 

[silent_tragedy]

have you gotten gas lately? someone may have messed with your tank, sugar creates a thick syrup like liquid, clogs pump, fuel lines, reg, and anything that comes in contact with gas, friend had it done to his wrangler, ended up costing him somewhere like $2500 for new fuel system.

 

[CobraWannabe]

Maybe you forgot to put it back on last time you got gas?

 

[super302]

haven't got gas in about a week, i know i put it back on, 100% positive it was on earlier today.

 

[65ShelbyClone]

Sugar will also cook onto any engine component that gets hot enough and then becomes abrasive. Chambers and valves come to mind.

 

[blk92stangg]

Hard to say. There was a discussion on my sportbike forum a while ago about sugar in the tank, and there was a large group of people, myself included, who wondered if sugar would dissolve in gasoline. You would think it does, but solvancy of various compounds don't always follow common sense. Worse scenario, someone dumped 20 pounds of sugar in your tank, and if there is enough dissolved would probably foul your plugs, carbonize your combustion chamber, and otherwise gum up the injectors over time. Best case scenario, someone dumped a cup or 2 in there, and the sugar dissolves slowly in your tank, and you see no ill effects. I invested 20 bucks in a lockable gas cap, maybe you should too.
If you are really paranoid, as I would be, siphon out as much gas as you can, drop the tank and clean the thing out with clean gasoline. Also, CHECK YOUR OIL PLUGS too, they may have been loosened up/taken out. (Made any enemies recently?( Maybe check the filler neck with your finger to see if you can't feel and granules in there.

 

[TheUser]

I'd definately get a locking gas cap if I were you. I dropped my tank tonight and it only took me about 10 minutes or so. Put a jack under it w/ a board on it to kinda distribute the weight. I used an impact to get the bolts off, otherwise, it would have taken longer and been a heck of a lot harder...I tried using a ratchet first and mine wouldn't budge. They must have gotten spooked or something, a sly villian would put the cap back on and close the door so you wouldn't suspect anything. If it's your daily driver, i'm not sure what to tell you. If it's your 2nd car or something, i'd drop the tank just to be safe. If you have any neighbors, they could have noticed someone messing w/ it - wouldn't hurt to ask.

 

[super302]

I think i'm gonna drop the tank out and check whats going on, you would think they would put the cap back on....stupid fckers. If i find who it is i'm gonna beat the sht out of him/them. I'm pissed, hopefully nothing happened.

 

[blk92stangg]

Well I just read the straight dope article on your situation, and supposedly the sugar WONT dissolve in the gas. Instead it gets picked up the with the gas, and THEN wreaks havoc with your pump, filter, and when burnt in the combustion chamber, your engine. So much for the guys' expertise on my sportbike forum lol.

 

[89CopCoupe]

I think it's just siphoned.

If they were working towards a damaging effect they probably would've screwed the cap back on.

 

[Carney Woods]

If they did put sugar in the tank check around the filler neck, ground where the car is parked for any sugar. I'm sure if you got "sugared" there would definately be evidence left. Damn I can't even fill the cup at home without making a mess on the counter!!!

 

[Ourobos]

If you do find evidence of it, it's a simple matter of getting the tank cleaned totally out before you start it. If you can remove ALL of the sugar, then you should have no mechanical problems.

 

[mob]

If they did put sugar in the tank check around the filler neck, ground where the car is parked for any sugar. I'm sure if you got "sugared" there would definately be evidence left. Damn I can't even fill the cup at home without making a mess on the counter!!!

maybe they used a funnel?? ive never heard of someone pouring sugar in a gas tank, i guess that like egging a house, buts much worse, i would never do that, it is pretty dumb they left the cap open, maybe they did it an ran u know how kids get when they do those things, they always do something wrong cause its all happening so fast, i would definetly drop the tank and see whats in there, maybe they did it to scare u but if it only take 10 mins i would definetly check it out

 

[Michael Yount]

89copcoupe and Carney are probably right. Why leave the door open and cap off if they were trying to cause damage? Why would they go to the trouble of using a funnel, and then leave the door open/cap off? Don't make sense. And if they were gonna vandalize, and simple key-job is much more effective and satisfying. In case anyone hasn't noticed - gas prices are up. Incidences of stealing gasoline are up to.

edit: Just got back from the garage where I did my own myth-busters test. I couldn't get sugar to disolve in gasoline. It just sits there in the bottom of the container. I shook it, stirred it - nothing, it just falls right back to the bottom of the container. I suppose over time there may be some chemical reaction - but I'd bet it's simply myth. I'm guessing the worst that could happen is enough of it might clog the filter up. Actually the worst that can happen is a little later my wife is gonna want me to explain what the hell I was doing mixing sugar and gasoline in the garage. It's tough being a guy.

 

[Js5ohLX]

Sugar will not dissolve in gasoline. It will turn into a concrete like substance in the filler neck though. I worked at a ghetto shop where vandalized cars where very common. It won't make it past your fuel filter, but it will smoke your pump, if it is sugared, drop the tank, put in a new pump and strainer, change the fuel filter, and blow air through the fuel lines to clean em out. Water will work great on getting it out of the tank and filler neck, just make sure it's dry when you put it back together.

 

[Michael Yount]

From a buddy of mine with some sugar/vandalism/insurance experience:

"21 yrs of insurance adjusting made me very familiar
with this problem. we handled both sugar in the gas
and sugar in the motor. 1st, usually there is
evidence such as sugar on the ground or around the
opening used to pour the substance into the item in
question. vandals are not careful and are in a
hurry.. sugar in gas does not disolve and will remain
in the original state. it will clog the sock (filter)
on the pickup and other filters since their job is to
clean out impurties. it may even clog the injectors,
but does no harm to the engine. the entire fuel
system must be flushed or replaced if contaminated.
Sugar in the engine, (dumped into the oil filler neck)
can cause failure due to clogging the oil pick-up
screen and starving the engine for oil. usually a
sugar problem was an onwer's attempt to get a new
motor and they were not aware of the factors and
behavior of sugar.
i saw 0 instances of sugar in the trans. or diff. due
to difficulty of introduction underneath the car. i
suspose the theft of fuel is the reason the filler cap
was left off, if there was no sugar evidence."

 

[oz]

I've got a dumb question - is your fuel level lower than what it was the last time you drove the car? i.e if you turn on the key (without starting the car) does the gage read lower than you remember? If you don't remember the level you can kind of figure it out if you reset your trip odometer last fill up and you have an idea of your mileage.

 

[MUSTANGJOE]

Maybe they were about to cause damage but someone scared them off Anyways drop the tank or tow it to a shop and check it out. Good luck!

 

[r6bullet]

Maybe they just stole some gas? You know with the gas prices and all, they probobly took a gas can around and looked for cars that probobly have premiem gas in them (mustang).

 

[89 Saleen#455]

I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure that all GT's came equiped with a locking fuel. You know the one with the release button in the glove box. Did they have to pry the door open to get the gas cap off? Anyone who goes through the trouble of prying open a locked fuel door has something more than a prank on his mind. Drop the tank and check for evidence.