Protecting fuel from theft?

[dzzz]

Any ideas on protecting two round 100 gallon fuel tanks from fuel theft? It doesn't seem that locking gas caps are much deterrent to the theft of ~$700 of fuel.

edit: A second question: How are you managing multiple fuel tanks? I have the simplest system that keeps both tanks at the same level through gravity. There's a shut off on both tanks to separate.

 

[ntsqd]

Don't most such fuel tanks have provisions for a shackle lock on the cap? Perhaps some sort of locking cap enclosure?

Convert the supply hoses to braided stainless hose to make it harder to cut, and use NPT ends to make it harder to un-thread.

 

[charlieaarons]

I have 2 x 61 gal (actual usable capacity) with locking caps.
They pump into the "main" tank which is only 40 gal with electric pumps, manually controlled. I've had an overflow only once due to inattention.
The main tank has no locking cap, but does not hold the majority of my fuel.
I'm not even sure my system is legal.

Charlie

 

[Joe]

Hi,

although it is not a really satisfying answer:
How do you want to protect the release screw under the tank (if you have one)?
Or how do you want to prevent that someone who really wants to get the fuel uses a carpentars hammer (you know those ones with a really sharp end) and "opens" your tank with that?
Or uses a drilling machine?
or ...

It is OK to lock the gas cap so that no-one fills in sugar etc. but unless you don't put a thick and heavy protection made out of steel around it I wouldn't spend too much efforts in trying to protect it.

I will install sooner or later as well a second fuel tank and found the "pollak valve" (search for that phrase) a very interesting solution and ordered one through Ebay in USA. I haven't installed it yet because I am lacking the 2nd tank but as soon as I have installed it I will put an update on my HP and a link in here.

 

[greg mgm]

As soon as I saw the title I had to chime in.

My previous truck, a 78 GMC had the gas stolen from it. The scumbags cut the rubber filler hoses and siphoned the gas from the cut ends. So after you secure the cap, find a way to secure the lines from being cut and siphoned from.

 

[mogcamper]

I had a full load stolen from my square tank while it was sitting on the docks. The locking fuel cap did no good since the float gauge assembly can be removed by a simple twist.

 

[stolenheron]

Any ideas on protecting two round 100 gallon fuel tanks from fuel theft? It doesn't seem that locking gas caps are much deterrent to the theft of ~$700 of fuel.

go to a dog shelter. find a dog, treat it right and it will protect you and/or your stuff from anything.

throw a sidearm into the mix and you've got a combo no one will screw with. LOL

 

[Iain_U1250]

We don't have locking fuel caps on any of our pipeline plant - we gave up on our equipment out in the field as the fuel is cheap compared to the damage they will do trying to get the fuel out otherwise.

If someone really wants to steal your fuel, they will do it no matter what. It's better to let them siphon off the 20-50lt that they would take than have them poke a screwdriver into the tank or cut a hose and after they have taken what they want leave the rest to drain out all over the ground.

I'm planning to have just a simple flap in the aluminium panel over the cap than can be easily be removed with a bit of force with damaging much, but have a loud alarm when that happens.