The things people do to save on gas...

['97ventureowner]

http://www.thebostonchannel.com/news...29/detail.html
Heard about this the other day and had to look further into it. Apparently a couple, worried about the rising cost of gas decided to start stockpiling it in their apartment. Bad thing is it caught fire . Authorities say they had about 45 gallons stored up for later use. It makes you wonder how many others are doing something like this across the country, and the dangers involved not only to themselves, but also to those around them.

[new2mitsu]

god, people are stupid

[Hungrycat7]

WOW!!! That is scary to think about. I live in an apartment complex and I would be so pissed if someone here was doing that! How dumb can you be?

[2.2 Straight six]

Originally Posted by '97ventureowner

Authorities say they had about 45 gallons stored up for later use.

45 Gallons isn't even that much. Besides, Petrol/gasoline goes stale and if you leave it long enough it'll cause problems. Apart from that, although the fumes smell nice, prolonged exposure gives awful headaches and stuff. It can be quite unpleasant.

My friend's dad owns a big transport/plant hire company, next to their workshop they have enormous tanks for storing diesel. Of course, it's made of heavy-gauge steel and is fireproof too. Oh, and it's not something you can break into to steal fuel either. Although people have tried.

['97ventureowner]

Originally Posted by 2.2 Straight six

45 Gallons isn't even that much. Besides, Petrol/gasoline goes stale and if you leave it long enough it'll cause problems. Apart from that, although the fumes smell nice, prolonged exposure gives awful headaches and stuff. It can be quite unpleasant.

45 gallons is enough to cause problems As I posted the original post, I wondered if the people realized the fact that gas goes stale within a short amount of time, ( hope they invested in Sta-bil ). Or if they were also aware of the other factors you listed, such as prolonged breathing of the fumes.

[2.2 Straight six]

The workshop i used to work at, they washed the shop floor with a mix of petrol and diesel. in a bucket, with a mop.

made the place slippery as hell for a couple hours, and gave me some insane headaches. Really unpleasant to work around. Even those stubborn fuel filters (VW polo comes to mind..) can give you a headache when you can't separate them from the fuel lines and you're around the fumes for a prolonged period of time.

[xeroinfinity]

Originally Posted by '97ventureowner

45 gallons is enough to cause problems As I posted the original post, I wondered if the people realized the fact that gas goes stale within a short amount of time, ( hope they invested in Sta-bil ). Or if they were also aware of the other factors you listed, such as prolonged breathing of the fumes.

They were probly making meth when it caught on fire.

Around here when prices drop lower I see a lot of people filling 5 gallon gas cans.
I also heard a bunch of people have installed locking gas caps on thier SUV's, I guess thieves got smart and now they drill a hole in the tank and drain it that way.

['97ventureowner]

Yeah, a news report recently said they prefer the newer plastic gas tanks as they are much easier to get the fuel from. Just waiting for someone to develop and mass market a shield that you can install over your gas tank to prevent thieves from drilling into it. That would be the next step up from the locking gas cap.

[xeroinfinity]

You might be onto something there Tom....

Has anyone seen those ads in magazines to convert your gas gusslers into a hybrid for $1000 ?

I've seen several of them in various magazines, says it takes about 4 hours to install but doesnt give any hints as to "what" they are installing.

Stop driving, that's what I'm going to have to do if it gets any higher.
Walking sucks though, maybe I'll bike it. lol

[Hungrycat7]

Biking is the way to go! I have began biking everywhere and the saving are unbelievable! I hate being that ass riding down the road when everyone is driving but I just figure I get the last laugh because I don't have to whip out my credit card every time I go somewhere. I sweat my ass off but I am sure getting in shape and it gives me extra time to rip my car apart and make repairs

[2.2 Straight six]

Originally Posted by '97ventureowner

Yeah, a news report recently said they prefer the newer plastic gas tanks as they are much easier to get the fuel from. Just waiting for someone to develop and mass market a shield that you can install over your gas tank to prevent thieves from drilling into it. That would be the next step up from the locking gas cap.

Over here, most commercial diesels have special siphon-proof drop-in things for their fuel tanks. It's like a colander, so the fuel goes in and the thing itself is maybe 3" deep for the pump nozzle. this allows fuel to go in just as easy, but you can't get a siphon tube in very far.

Thieves just drill a hole in the bottom of the tank and a hole in the top though, the hole in the top lets air in as fuel drains out the bottom. makes it quick and queit. I've been with a friend to fill up the saddle tanks on his DAF CF 8x4 25' Flatbed. Four tanks take something like $5,000 to fill them all. They hold something like 600 litres each, or ~160 gallons each.

[xeroinfinity]

I'm sure the U.S. it will soon be a felony for stealing gas/fuel from anyone.
Most all pumps at the stations around here state if you steal gas you'll loose your license, and its a felony.

Pedaling my ass around might be an last resort......

[72chevelleOhio]

Originally Posted by xeroinfinity

I also heard a bunch of people have installed locking gas caps on thier SUV's, I guess thieves got smart and now they drill a hole in the tank and drain it that way.

All the locking gas caps I seen look like you could run a screw into it and lock it all together. Not mess with the lock itself, just run a screw into the edge and take it off like a regular gas cap. I never tried it.

Originally Posted by Hungrycat7

Biking is the way to go!

F that. I get winded drinking through a straw..... (not really, but I am not about to do anything I don't have to)

[ericn1300]

Originally Posted by 2.2 Straight six

45 Gallons isn't even that much.

When mixed with air in the right proportions, the vapor of one cup of gasoline has the explosive power of about five pounds of dynamite, enough destructive force to destroy any house or car.

http://www.cdc.gov/nasd/docs/d000701...0/d000760.html

at 16 cups per gallon US, 45 gallons has the potential equivalnt of 3,600 pounds of dynamite.

You can safely store petrol if it is converted to napalm which reduces the vaporization but check out these basic safty rules first: http://www.napalm.net/safety.html