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Who is stealing my gas ?

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Poodle Head Mikey

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
2007 Toyota Tacoma w/ 2.7 engine.

I always fill the gas tank before I leave the truck sitting. Which happens a couple of times per year. Left it this past April and when I got back in July the gauge said about 1/4. So on my way out I mindlessly stopped to fill the tank. Then, checked MPG and found it was 4.3. There was 56 miles on the trip-set. I mindlessly went 'huh?' and just reset the trip-set to zero. After a couple days of thought I concluded that someone must had stolen the gas while the truck was just sitting here. So I installed a locking gas cap.

Parked it July 1 with a full tank and left it. Now; August 10, the gauge shows 3/8. The locking gas cap is still in place and appears unmolested. So probably nobody stole either tank.

Question: what other possible answer is there?

Truck never smells like gas, is stored in the shade, nothing that I can see about the fuel system appears damp.

Where can 15 gallons of gas go in a month or two of just sitting?

I remember finding old cars - with fully vented tanks - that had been sitting for Years and still had gas in the tank.

I mused this morning that maybe something about the vapor recovery system may have failed - so I got Auto Zone to check the codes. Neither of which have anything to do with the fuel system.

Any ideas?
 
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#3 ·
Sounds like someone must have stolen it. I can't see any other explanation. They must be fairly good at opening locks.
 
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#4 ·
I cant imagine a gas cap having a sophisticated lock mechanism

Its probly 1 key that fits all of them lol
 
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#5 ·
Snapperhead said:
I cant imagine a gas cap having a sophisticated lock mechanism
Click to expand...
Most of those kind of locks are generic.
My parents bought a 1990s school bus and installed a new locking tool box under it and the keys were identical. I think they also fit some other locks they had but I don't remember what. Basically you can buy a few keys online and open most cheap locks.
 
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#6 ·
Crs?
Take pics, write it down, mark the tires….
Used to put a drop of custom nail polish on safety adjustment screws after calibration to indicate tampering or tape on a door.
 
#7 ·
Did you verify the gauge or the sender itself is not faulty. When you refilled did the refilled amount match what you expected based on the gauge readings?
 
#8 ·
Have you tried filling it a second time to confirm it will actually take anymore fuel?

Might be a sticking fuel sender. Not sure how Toyota units are designed but my Ford truck recently was sticking. Apparently a semi common problem with them.

Sent from my SM-G965W using Tapatalk
 
Discussion starter · #9 ·
This truck always gets about 15 mpg. So the 4 mpg caught my eye. <g> But casually assuming I had screwed up somehow, the guy filled the gas tank, gauge said full, and off I went. And subsequent fill-ups showed about 15 mpg.

But after rolling all the likely possibilities around in my head for a day or two I installed the locking gas cap.

Then eventually I filled the tank to leave and rushed off to the airport. Got back here late Friday, started the truck Saturday, and found the gauge near 1/4 again with 13 miles showing on the trip set. <g>

WTF? Over?

PHM
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szw21 said:
Did you verify the gauge or the sender itself is not faulty. When you refilled did the refilled amount match what you expected based on the gauge readings?
Click to expand...
 
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Discussion starter · #10 ·
My original assumption was something like that: "Huh. Damifino. Fill him up - I've got stuff to do."

But the second time (now) I know it's not me. <g>

Nobody is driving the truck. For one thing I always disconnect the battery when I leave. So, although my keys are always here, anyone taking them would find the truck dead. I unbolt the clamp and leave the wrench on top of the battery for when I get back - nobody here is going through all that trouble. Plus; the trip-set miles would match the gas they used. Nobody is THAT clever. <g>

I did consider putting a dot of hot-glue holding the filler door shut. Then if it is still intact in September - the gas isn't coming out through the fill pipe. <g>

PHM
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ehsx said:
Crs?
Take pics, write it down, mark the tires….
Used to put a drop of custom nail polish on safety adjustment screws after calibration to indicate tampering or tape on a door.
Click to expand...
 
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#11 ·
Poodle Head Mikey said:
My original assumption was something like that: "Huh. Damifino. Fill him up - I've got stuff to do."

But the second time (now) I know it's not me. <g>

Nobody is driving the truck. For one thing I always disconnect the battery when I leave. So, although my keys are always here, anyone taking them would find the truck dead. I unbolt the clamp and leave the wrench on top of the battery for when I get back - nobody here is going through all that trouble. Plus; the trip-set miles would match the gas they used. Nobody is THAT clever. <g>

I did consider putting a dot of hot-glue holding the filler door shut. Then if it is still intact in September - the gas isn't coming out through the fill pipe. <g>

PHM
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Click to expand...
I like the hot glue idea.
 
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Discussion starter · #12 ·
I considered that but it would interfere with my 'let's leave it and see if any more disappears' idea. <g>

PHM
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BALloyd said:
Have you tried filling it a second time to confirm it will actually take anymore fuel?

Might be a sticking fuel sender. Not sure how Toyota units are designed but my Ford truck recently was sticking. Apparently a semi common problem with them.

Sent from my SM-G965W using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
 
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#13 ·
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#14 ·
Most vehicles have a check valve so siphoning gas is not easy. Of course thieves may have tricks to get around this.

I had to drop the gas tank on one of my vehicles a while ago to service the sender assembly. I just could not pump out the gas due to the check valve and ended up using up the gas and then dropped the tank when about 2 gallons were remaining.
 
#20 ·
When all other possiblities have been properly discounted the one that's left must be it, or so the saying goes. So the logical conclusion is . . .

The Twilight zone.
 
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