I had lunch with my daughter today and she told me that she had her gas stolen out of her SUV. I asked if they drilled a hole in her tank. She said no that her gas cap doesn't lock so someone just siphoned it out. Her's is a fairly new vehicle so I thought that was crazy not to have some kind of locking mechanism on the gas cap. I told her that my old 92 Toyota pickup needed a key to open the gas door. Her SUV uses a key (not a keyless system) and she showed me that she could open the door and remove the cap while the SUV was still locked.

I had always assumed that my 08 CTS had a locking gas door and I never had to do anything to get it open because I was carrying the key fob. So I tried an experiment and had my wife hold the fob staying a good 25 to 30' away. With the CTS still locked (the front door would not open) I was still able to open the gas cap door and remove the gas cap!!! :(

I hope there is an option setting that I missed somewhere that will let me lock it. Please tell me that I missed something.

You'll have to buy a locking gas cap. Yeah it is pretty easy to open the gas door, just push and presto it opens. I wish there was a way the gas door locked when the car does.

I think getting your gas cap and or gas stolen is as likely as getting hit by lightning. Yea, it happens, but rarely.

Just go buy a locking gas cap. Problem solved.

I, for one, am thankful that the CTS does NOT have a locking gas cap - especially one with a key. It would really irritate me to have to unlock the cap with a key at every fill-up. I've been driving for 40 years or so and have never had gas stolen or any other problem involving access to the gas tank.

Sure it happens, but the probability is largely influenced by where you park your car. I live and work in nice areas with very low crime rates. I'm not worried about it and would consider the inconvenience to outweigh the risks.

It's not that easy to buy a locking gas cap...... unless Caddy offers one......
Stant, which makes top of the line stuff, has locking gas caps....but not for the 2008 CTS.
It is important to get one that is made for the exact car or you could end up with check engine lights due to leaks.

As to stealing the gas.......I "think" the caddy has an anti-syphon feature......
But that doesn't prevent somebody from pouring a foreign substance in your tank........

My Murano has the same setup, except the gas door locks with the doors............and unlocks with the doors........except every now and then somebody's door won't unlock..........

I don't care what kind of lock you have on your gas door or gas cap. Having that off of there is only about a thousand dollars worth of damage away from anybody with a "Wonder Bar". I'd rather have the gas stolen than have the door and cap ripped off. A couple of kids with an Oklahoma credit card is one thing but a dedicated gas thief is quite another.

There is a valve in the filler neck that prevents gas from escaping through the filler neck in a roll over. This same valve will not allow you to put a siphon hose in the filler neck. This is nothing new for GM cars. It would be difficult, if not impossible to siphon gas out of this car. As stated in the post by Southern, be more worried someone does not dump something in, rather than take out.

I realize that the risk of someone stealing gas is probably low. Even the risk of someone pouring something into your tank, although more scary, is probably low also but I guess I thought all these years that having a locking gas door was something that came standard on any car, like assuming a spare tire was standard. :)

Is this an industry trend? My 2000 Audi A6 had a similar gas door but it was locked when the car was locked. Even may 2002 Masda Tribute has a lever by the driver seat to unlock the gas door. What about the new Audi's, BMW's, etc? Is the locking gas door a thing of the past?

If I were to steal gas, it would be out of a truck or SUV. Gas tank is higher off the ground so it's easier to syphon, and the fuel tanks are larger.

There is a valve in the filler neck that prevents gas from escaping through the filler neck in a roll over. This same valve will not allow you to put a siphon hose in the filler neck. This is nothing new for GM cars. It would be difficult, if not impossible to siphon gas out of this car. As stated in the post by Southern, be more worried someone does not dump something in, rather than take out.

Calcustom,
Thanks for this post. There have been times the lawn mower was out of gas and the can in the garage was empty. I was thinking of maybe hitting the Caddy for some petrol. Now I know better.:tisk:

Calcustom,
Thanks for this post. There have been times the lawn mower was out of gas and the can in the garage was empty. I was thinking of maybe hitting the Caddy for some petrol. Now I know better.:tisk:
The check valve in the neck won't keep you from getting a hose into the tank but it may snag the hose and keep you from getting it back out. Ask me how I know.:D

Some of the things 08 owners complain about really boggle my mind..... Im sure finding a locking gas cap wouldnt be hard.

I actually have one sitting in my basement. Im not going to install it because the joy of finding someone siphoning gas out of my ride would be worth the lost gas. The chance to stomp a mudhole in a criminal dirtbag's ass would be well worth it.....

it could be a funny kid trashing his lolly pops into in .. not necessary thief..

Gee, this is turning ionto a "so what" day!

So what? Sugar won't hurt an engine. That is an old wives tale......well maybe it is an old husbands tale.............

Gee, this is turning ionto a "so what" day!

So what? Sugar won't hurt an engine. That is an old wives tale......well maybe it is an old husbands tale.............

Actually, you're right. But it can cost a good bit to clean it out of the tank and replace filters, etc.

All in all, it's something we'd rather not have to deal with.

.
.

Use powdered sugar. It goes right through the filters.

Use powdered sugar. It goes right through the filters.

I use a Demerara sugar or some similar cane sugar. Yeah, it's expensive, but you can find it at Williams Sonoma. If you're gonna trash a nice car, you should use a high-end sugar.

:duck:

I use a Demerara sugar or some similar cane sugar. Yeah, it's expensive, but you can find it at Williams Sonoma. If you're gonna trash a nice car, you should use a high-end sugar.

:duck:

Once in a while someone really makes me laugh. I prefer organic pure can syrup.

This reminds me of an old post entitled "Why no briefcase full of cash in the wheel well?" Gas theft is an intentional criminal act. Taking an extreme example I would ask: Why didn't GM design a protective force field around the car to prevent someone from kicking in the fenders? Becasue the cost associated with doing so outweighs the benefits obtained from doing so. The cost associated with a locking cap, including the cost of your convenience each time you fill up, greatly outweigh the benefit of preventing gas theft.

Has anyone actually found one that works on the '08 CTS?

I would love to witness someone stealing fuel and just ask them where they made the wrong turn in life that led them to sucking fuel out of my tank. A bad deal in the stock market? Heroin? Cheating on your millionaire wife? What? Is fuel THAT expensive?

I would love to witness someone stealing fuel and just ask them where they made the wrong turn in life that led them to sucking fuel out of my tank. A bad deal in the stock market? Heroin? Cheating on your millionaire wife? What? Is fuel THAT expensive?


No words would be spoken. I would just proceed to stomping the shit out of them.

Edited! My judgement got the better of me! HAHAHAHAHAAHAHA!!! Some of the whiners might get their panties in a bunch if they see me making jokes!

The problem around here is not gasoline theft but there have been thousands of gallons of home heating oil stolen this winter. The thieves have been cutting the locking caps off the tanks with a pipe cutter and pumping them dry.

The problem around here is not gasoline theft but there have been thousands of gallons of home heating oil stolen this winter. The thieves have been cutting the locking caps off the tanks with a pipe cutter and pumping them dry.

Really?
What's that stuff worth these days?

Okay, I started this thread and it seemed to have drifted as they tend to do. To get back on track I would like to know if the CTS is blasing the trail with the open-to-all gas cap or if this becoming an industry trend? I did check this evening and to open the hood the car must be UNLOCKED to get to the hood latch. So we're okay there.

On my 2000 Audi opening the gas door was easy. If the car was unlocked you push on the gas door and it opened. If the car was locked it didn't open. This is last decade's (almost) technology.

So is the open-to-all gas cap the new trend?

Really?
What's that stuff worth these days?
My last fill up was $3.60/gal. It cost me over $1000/mo. to heat my house this winter.

Okay, I started this thread and it seemed to have drifted as they tend to do. To get back on track I would like to know if the CTS is blasing the trail with the open-to-all gas cap or if this becoming an industry trend? I did check this evening and to open the hood the car must be UNLOCKED to get to the hood latch. So we're okay there.

On my 2000 Audi opening the gas door was easy. If the car was unlocked you push on the gas door and it opened. If the car was locked it didn't open. This is last decade's (almost) technology.

So is the open-to-all gas cap the new trend?
The gas door on my STS doesn't lock. I'd rather lose the gas than get my fender torn up. A new filler neck for the gas tank can be several hundred dollars to replace as well.

My 1998 STS has a locking filler door which is really nice - I know it won't stop a dedicated fuel thief, but as with most crimes, the perpetrator will prefer to take the path of least resistance that draws the least amount of attention to himself.

With a locking fuel flap on my car, those two goals will be better achieved by him taking fuel from one of the other cars parked around me.

I don't see the harm in continueing to give the buyer something my 10 year old car has other than it probably saves GM a buck or so per car.

Calling others whiners that complains about something that is not standard for a 50k car is retarded. There can be many reasons to have one that locks, jealous kids that are just bored, thief, to just about everything. Like rodster said, if it is easy access to your car thief will steal from yours first. Not to mention if kids wants to pour some random stuff in your tank it is much easier. If it was locked and kids dont know how they won't bother.

Many of your logics are so baised to GM just to deny anything they have not done well in these cars so making your cars flawless. Chances are slim that someone can sneak a weapon on a plane, hijack it, and crash it into a big important building. Based on your logic just because it happened 1 time we shouldn't implement security into airports because the chances of it happening vs the cost of security is not worth it!

I'm happy I don't have a locking door or cap. In 50+ years it's never been an issue. If it had a locking door or worse, gas cap, I would not have bought the car. I specifically ask the salesman to show me that it did not lock. When he asked me why , I told him I wouldn't buy the car if it did. After he showed me how easy it was to open it and remove the cap, he asked me if I had any other questions. I said no, write me up.

I'm happy I don't have a locking door or cap. In 50+ years it's never been an issue. If it had a locking door or worse, gas cap, I would not have bought the car. I specifically ask the salesman to show me that it did not lock. When he asked me why , I told him I wouldn't buy the car if it did. After he showed me how easy it was to open it and remove the cap, he asked me if I had any other questions. I said no, write me up.

Okay I'll bite, what happened in your 50+ years that has caused you to have such a problem with a locking gas door?

Why would I want to have to carry a key to the gas cap? Why would I want to have to even pull a lever to unlock the door. I now simply push on the door and it opens. I then simply unscrew the cap and it comes off. I don't need a key to enter my car or start it. Why would I desire to have a key to unlock the cap?

If you are the type of person that consistantly pisses off people, get the locking cap.

I can't believe we are on page 4 of this dumb thread.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thats what the beauty is of my "98 STS system - the button to pop open the filler flap is on the lower left dash, just above my left knee. It couldn't be easier and more convenient to lightly press the button as I am getting out of the car to fill up with gas to pop open the filler flap, no key required. There is also a cable pull on the inside of the left side of the trunk interior in case of a problem with the button, although I have never had any problems with it, but it does insure no fuel tank lockout if the button stops working.

In a world of gasoline approaching $4.00 per gallon, I like that my car is harder to get into than the one sitting next to me without a lock. Sure, they might damage the car to get gas from a locked flap, but it is still easier and less attention generating to get it from the other unlocked cars sitting around mine, and it does slow down the chances of somebody pouring something nasty in the tank. Not 100% prevent it, but make it harder for the bad guys. As far as damaging the car to get to the fuel, they might also just vandalize your car just for the fun of it too, lock or not, but thats what insurance is for, and I still think they'll take fuel from the unlocked car nearby than go through the trouble to break in and increase the risk of getting caught.

Nothing can stop all of this worlds nastiness from raining on your parade at all times, but there are simple things to eliminate some percentage of it. I actually wish my "05 CTS-V had the same thing. That said, I still havn't put a locking cap on the V because I don't really want to have to fool around with a key for the cap either.

Why would I want to have to carry a key to the gas cap? Why would I want to have to even pull a lever to unlock the door. I now simply push on the door and it opens. I then simply unscrew the cap and it comes off. I don't need a key to enter my car or start it. Why would I desire to have a key to unlock the cap?

If you are the type of person that consistantly pisses off people, get the locking cap.

I can't believe we are on page 4 of this dumb thread.

I would expect that in this age of keyless entry the CTS gas door would at least work as well as my old Audi. There is no button to push, no key to open the cap, if the car is unlooked you would not know that you had a locking gas door. You push on the gas door such like as the CTS does now. But if the car is locked the gas door won't open, at least not without a crowbar.

If you have been reading this boring thread, you would know that you can't siphon gas out of this car. I'd be willing to say that is the same for almost any late model car, as I believe the saftey valves are probably federally mandated like every other thing in the car that wasn't there 10 years ago. So a low- life white trash comes up to my car with a hose. Oh, look, the door comes right open. Look , the cap comes right off. Oh shit, the hose doesn't go in. Hey, look at that Audi. Nice car. The door is locked. Good thing I have this large screwdriver. Hey now it's open. Wow, nasty scratch and bent door. Hey, the damn hose won't go into this either. Oh well, maybe I'll go to the gas station and try to steal gas. It's alot easier.

Actually, check out what Cadillac Tony has to say about it here - http://www.cadillacforums.com/forums/cadillac-cts-forum-2008-beyond/132520-locking-gas-cap.html#post1420761

So, at least you "08 owners don't have to worry about gas being stolen, don't know if my "05 has this or not. Still doesn't help much to keep somebody from pouring something bad into the tank though, but if they want to do that you really aren't going to stop it no matter what you do.

I actually just read an article where inventive gas thieves are simply drilling holes in the bottom of truck and SUV gas tanks to steal gas now - probably a lot easier than the old siphon method, but I wouldn't want to be in the vicinity if their drilling creates a spark as they penetrate the tank :bighead:

Based on your logic just because it happened 1 time we shouldn't implement security into airports because the chances of it happening vs the cost of security is not worth it!

The so-called security at airports is a joke. Do you really think banning liquids and forcing everyone through security checkpoints with TSA officials being paid $10 an hour (if that!) is really going to stop a determined person from smuggling something on board a plane? A co-worker and I recently flew together - he forgot he had a small knife on his keychain, airport security didn't pick it up. This was the third time he's done this, btw.

It's called Security theatre (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Security_theater) - the illusion of increased security, with little to no real-world benefit.

The so-called security at airports is a joke. Do you really think banning liquids and forcing everyone through security checkpoints with TSA officials being paid $10 an hour (if that!) is really going to stop a determined person from smuggling something on board a plane? A co-worker and I recently flew together - he forgot he had a small knife on his keychain, airport security didn't pick it up. This was the third time he's done this, btw.

It's called Security theatre (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Security_theater) - the illusion of increased security, with little to no real-world benefit.

Security has increased to certain extent. Can we all stop everything from happening? No, but we can try. Why don't you come up with something that will stop 100% of the time?

Again based on your logic...why even have locks on doors? You think a lock will prevent a determined person from getting passed the doors? "It's called security theatre - the illusion of increased security, with little to no real wold benefit." :thumbsup:

If you have been reading this boring thread, you would know that you can't siphon gas out of this car. I'd be willing to say that is the same for almost any late model car, as I believe the saftey valves are probably federally mandated like every other thing in the car that wasn't there 10 years ago. So a low- life white trash comes up to my car with a hose. Oh, look, the door comes right open. Look , the cap comes right off. Oh shit, the hose doesn't go in. Hey, look at that Audi. Nice car. The door is locked. Good thing I have this large screwdriver. Hey now it's open. Wow, nasty scratch and bent door. Hey, the damn hose won't go into this either. Oh well, maybe I'll go to the gas station and try to steal gas. It's alot easier. In today's world, it would be more like, "Hey guys, look at the nice car - rich SOB!. Let's see if we can pour some sh** in this guy's gas tank to f*** up his engine! Ha Ha!"

I would vote FOR the locking door to avoid the hassle and provide some piece of mind. (JMO)

Has anyone here tried this locking gas cap posted on eBAY ?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&sspagename=STRK%3AMEBTOX%3AIT&viewitem=&item=120227901735&_trksid=p3984.cTODAY.m238.lVI

In today's world, it would be more like, "Hey guys, look at the nice car - rich SOB!. Let's see if we can pour some sh** in this guy's gas tank to f*** up his engine! Ha Ha!"

I would vote FOR the locking door to avoid the hassle and provide some piece of mind. (JMO)

Carterb,
I think we will get this dumb thread to 10 pages. But seriously, where do you live that a gang of thugs are walking down the street carrying this mysterious engine busting powder (and it's not sugar, that would do nothing) and a very long necked syphon necessary to get the mysterious yet unnamed powder into the tank, because these thugs spend their nights doing this to rich SOB's?

This thread is about an urban myth. Has any of your friends, in your entire life, told you, "Someone poured a mysterious powder down my filler neck and now my engine is toast." I've never heard this from anyone in my life. It's an urban myth like alligators in the sewers:bonkers:

Why powder? I'm sure just pouring in diesel gas in would do the trick. Not to mention a few gallons of salt water or something or even some expired milk would be funny. Not that hard to pour in random stuff.

Carterb,
I think we will get this dumb thread to 10 pages. But seriously, where do you live that a gang of thugs are walking down the street carrying this mysterious engine busting powder (and it's not sugar, that would do nothing) and a very long necked syphon necessary to get the mysterious yet unnamed powder into the tank, because these thugs spend their nights doing this to rich SOB's?

This thread is about an urban myth. Has any of your friends, in your entire life, told you, "Someone poured a mysterious powder down my filler neck and now my engine is toast." I've never heard this from anyone in my life. It's an urban myth like alligators in the sewers:bonkers:

Quite true. Of course if enough sugar/sand were poured in the tank, it could potentially get past the sock/filter on the pump and clog the fuel filter or maybe even the injectors. Certainly not enough to damage an engine. Just the relatively minor cost and annoyance of dropping the tank and cleaning that crap out of there.

And with that said, the lack of a locking gas cap has gotta be the most random and pointless complaint I've ever heard on a car forum. :histeric:

I mean... seriously. ::nono:

Quite true. Of course if enough sugar/sand were poured in the tank, it could potentially get past the sock/filter on the pump and clog the fuel filter or maybe even the injectors. Certainly not enough to damage an engine. Just the relatively minor cost and annoyance of dropping the tank and cleaning that crap out of there.

And with that said, the lack of a locking gas cap has gotta be the most random and pointless complaint I've ever heard on a car forum. :histeric:

I mean... seriously. ::nono:What about someone saying the panel gaps are too big? :)

Honestly, If I were trying to piss someone off I certainly wouldnt throw some sugar in their gas tank. How many criminals have you seen carrying around bags of sugar? :)

Id grab my keys and leave someone elses name in the paint. And then Id shove a lump of dogshit into their cabin air filter...

Strangle a cat until it's almost dead and then throw it in the car so it'll run around pooping on everything. Put a couple of ducks in the car to poop all over everything. Put a couple of fish in the trunk on a hot day.

These are tried and true and guaranteed to work. :D

What about someone saying the panel gaps are too big? :)



Well, clearly that's completely different. :cool2:

Now if caddy were to start advertising how secure their gas tanks were... then... yeah. :histeric:

The last several posts sound like lots of ways to f*** up a car ... I hope that new or other potential "troublemakers" are not reading these posts and getting ideas ! :D

The last several posts sound like lots of ways to f*** up a car ... I hope that new or other potential "troublemakers" are not reading these posts and getting ideas ! :D
Anything worth doing is worth doing well.