RE: Is the price of gas changing your life yet? (Full Version)

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Smith117 -> RE: Is the price of gas changing your life yet? (5/8/2008 8:59:20 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Irishknight

The low to the ground argument kind of fails next to the hole punch thing.  I could pop a metro as easily as anything else that way.  I just wouldn't get as much gas.  Mind you, I have always thought that the so called benefits of lifting a truck that you use for anything but shows was outweighed by the extra costs.  I was disowned by the other rednecks for that and branded a heretic.


The story in my city indicated they were going under the car to do their hole punching, not going through the body. Therefore, the ones most vulnerable to being "under" was the vehicles that sat up high enough to allow that.



Irishknight -> RE: Is the price of gas changing your life yet? (5/8/2008 9:08:06 PM)

I can reach under the metro from almost anywhere on the car and punch a hole in the tank.  Many other small cars are the same way.  Where did I say go through the body?
It just involves a couple of tools and a drain pan sold for oil changes at home.  It really is quite easy and not a new trick.



DomAviator -> RE: Is the price of gas changing your life yet? (5/8/2008 9:16:27 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Irishknight

I can reach under the metro from almost anywhere on the car and punch a hole in the tank.  Many other small cars are the same way.  Where did I say go through the body?
It just involves a couple of tools and a drain pan sold for oil changes at home.  It really is quite easy and not a new trick.


On my SUV you would have to remove the spare tire to punch the gas tank... Plus even as high as gas prices are now - its not worth getting shot for $50 in gas. However, if you dont have the spare tire issue to contend with you can do it on any car you dont need much clearance at all. Just PRAY you dont get a spark .... Here in Texas its probably easier and safer to drain "condensate" from the gas wells than to punch gas tanks. Cars run GREAT on condensate. 



Smith117 -> RE: Is the price of gas changing your life yet? (5/8/2008 10:08:42 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Irishknight

I can reach under the metro from almost anywhere on the car and punch a hole in the tank.  Many other small cars are the same way.  Where did I say go through the body?
It just involves a couple of tools and a drain pan sold for oil changes at home.  It really is quite easy and not a new trick.


It's not as easy to get under a car that's lower to the ground and you draw more attention to yourself than if you went under a higher vehicle. It's the same reason that small cars around here aren't having to contend with catalytic converter thefts. If you had to kneel down to get under an SUV or lay down to get under a Civic, which would you choose? Consider that you know that the amount of gas an SUV is likely to have far outweighs the amount of gas a Civic is likely to have.



Irishknight -> RE: Is the price of gas changing your life yet? (5/9/2008 3:40:28 AM)

Catalytic converter thefts and punching a hole in a gas tank are waaaay different things.  I can do one with a minimum of effort in less than a minute.  The other requires quite a bit of effort.
These guys are not slowed down at all by dropping ro their backs, placing the drain pan, knocking the hole or holes in the tank and then walking away while it drains.  They walk back by later, stopping only momentarily to retrieve the drain pan.  Its quick, easy and they don't get caught hanging around under someone else's vehicle.  As I said, its not a new thing.  Its been going on for years.



Smith117 -> RE: Is the price of gas changing your life yet? (5/9/2008 4:44:57 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Irishknight

Catalytic converter thefts and punching a hole in a gas tank are waaaay different things.  I can do one with a minimum of effort in less than a minute.  The other requires quite a bit of effort.
These guys are not slowed down at all by dropping ro their backs, placing the drain pan, knocking the hole or holes in the tank and then walking away while it drains.  They walk back by later, stopping only momentarily to retrieve the drain pan.  Its quick, easy and they don't get caught hanging around under someone else's vehicle.  As I said, its not a new thing.  Its been going on for years.


I guess I'll have to repeat myself.....again.

According to the news, a catalytic converter theft was just as easy as you claim 'punching a hole' to be. They lie down, saw the thing off, and they're on their way. Trouble is, they can't easily lie down under a car that's only 5 to 6 inches off the ground. So, no catalytic converter thefts from cars.

By the same token, when you have to lie down on your back and try to scoot up under a tiny car........or you can kneel down and peek under an SUV....which do you think the lazy-ass, thug criminals are going to do? I will again repeat that when an SUV has an average of a 20+ gas tank vs a 10 or 11 of a car......and when you consider the average vehicle has about half a tank, speaking solely in gambler's odds....which are you going to waste your time trying to steal from?

Stop trying to defend your awesome gas-tank puncturing skills. They are irrelevant. I don't care how easy you think it is to steal gas from 'any ol' car.' I'm telling you what's been reported and it IS NOT theft from small cars. In fact, I haven't seen one case of that yet. I HAVE, however, seen numerous cases of SUV, van and large truck owners coming out to find punctures in their tanks and no gas in their vehicles.

That tells me that the criminals out there aren't looking for a challenge (surprise surprise). They are looking for the quick, easy score and the most they can get in one shot. That means small cars are off their list.



petdave -> RE: Is the price of gas changing your life yet? (5/9/2008 5:47:21 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: bipolarber
This is great during the summer months, but I do run into the gelling problem in the colder motnths. I plan on adding a tank and fuel line heater for next winter.

This will last maybe another yer or two... then I expect everyone will be doing it, and I'll have trouble finding the leftover oil.

But I'm looking for a motorcycle. Good on gas, and also a good excuse to buy leather...



Do regular Diesel anti-gelling additives work on bio, or no? It would add a bit to your cost/gallon, but not nearly as much as switching back to refined stuff. Just get the jumbo-sized bottles at truck stops, rather than paying top dollar at auto parts stores.  And don't neglect your fuel filters... i had an '82 Chevy Diesel pickup, and it was very touchy about those.

Bikes are great, though... you can pick up a late 70's-mid 80's Japanese bike for $1500 or so, pay a hundred bucks a year for insurance, and get an easy 50 MPG+. Look for water cooling and shaft drive for easy maintenance. Plus, you should be a pretty short hop to some superb riding roads in the Ozarks [:)] i really need to get back there one of these days...



Phoenix2raven -> RE: Is the price of gas changing your life yet? (5/9/2008 10:58:33 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: FatDomDaddy

They have been coming down for several weeks now and when gas gets back to reasonable market prices after the crude bubble pops the will go down further
Not if the major trucking companies have anything to say about it! They need to recoup their losses.



mercifulsiren -> RE: Is the price of gas changing your life yet? (5/9/2008 1:33:49 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: blissy

> Breaking News:

> CNN reports that gas stations will start showing PORN movies on the
>
> screens of the pumps so that you can see someone else get screwed at
>
> the same time you are!! [:D]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


So I also assume that they are going to install a handy lube pump there too because it is starting to hurt.



LaTigresse -> RE: Is the price of gas changing your life yet? (5/9/2008 1:37:54 PM)

Yeah, I would like to see someone try and crawl under my car!! Hell, I just want to see the person that would fit under my car.

Although, watching someone get stuck whily TRYING to crawl under my car would be the most fun![:D]



oilburnerbowtie -> RE: Is the price of gas changing your life yet? (6/27/2008 9:01:01 AM)

I get free fuel at work, I drive, and drive, and drive, and drive...........................like I have nowhere in particular to go. Damn I can be a jerk!



winterlight -> RE: Is the price of gas changing your life yet? (6/27/2008 9:25:39 AM)

we have been warned in my neighborhood not to park your toyota outside as they are stealing the catalytic converters.

Diesel here is $4.99 a gallon. It is higher than regular which is $4.67.



oilburnerbowtie -> RE: Is the price of gas changing your life yet? (6/27/2008 9:30:35 AM)

catalytic converters?????????what the hell. Diesel is 5.15 or so last time I looked. 



oilburnerbowtie -> RE: Is the price of gas changing your life yet? (6/27/2008 9:33:42 AM)

how do you attach a pic to your posts.......err change avitar to my own pic?



soul2share -> RE: Is the price of gas changing your life yet? (6/27/2008 9:46:08 AM)

I have to agree with the whole "it's easy to steal the catalytic converter" crowd....we have a ring of folks doing it around the Capitol area, and they are doing it in broad daylight, in the middle of traveled parking lots.  As far as gas theft, we haven't had any reported yet.  But that may be because everyone is so vigilant about watching out for it.  Anyone poking around vehicles now gets called in mighty damn fast....between the loss of the converters and the price of gas, it's not paying off for the crooks anymore.

I have noticed that the buses for rush hour are pretty much standing room only any more.  People who once would never have ridden the bus are now rethinking their stance on it.  Even now, I'm using the bus/bike option, and I own a scooter.  I'm not going to get a car....not at this point in the game......even gas in a smaller car is outrageous.  When I get a new vehicle, it will only be a bigger motorcycle. 



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