A DRIVER has been forced to pay a $2,000 repair bill after a thief stole the gas from his vehicle.
Marco from San Diego, California, revealed to reporters that he immediately discovered a bizarre issue with his truck’s gas tank after he attempted to take his children to school.
A driver has been forced to foot a repair bill that costs over $2,000 after a thief damaged his car[/caption]
He first discovered a bizarre issue with his truck’s gas tank after he attempted to take his children to school[/caption]
It’s since been revealed he’s one of many residents in the same neighbourhood who have been forced to foot the bill on fixing their cars – after crooks drilled holes in the fuel tanks.
Recounting the moment he discovered the issue, Marco told Fox 5: “My computer dashboard said zero miles to empty, which is strange.”
He then looked under his truck to find drill shavings on the ground, before smelling gas and noticing the hole.
He added that the cost of replacing the damaged plastic gas tank is expected to be over $2,000 – as newer polyethylene tanks can’t be patched due to their expanding and contracting properties.
He said: “It’s infuriating and frustrating. I work in South County, my spouse works in North County, our kids go to school in the middle.
“It’s just not easy to live on one car.”
Marco also posted about the incident on the Nextdoor app after learning a neighbor had something similar happen to them.
Others soon came forward, sharing that they had also reported gas thefts on the same day, with some incidents dating back to March – all in the same area.
Lia Conrath, another resident, told reporters she hadn’t heard about the thefts until recently.
She said: “I usually park right outside of my house and we do have a big dog, so it helps keep people away.
“But I don’t know – we might put up surveillance cameras, we don’t have any at the moment.”
Marco, too, is considering installing cameras.
Despite admitting high gas prices have been a strain in recent times, he said the damage caused by the thefts is far more severe than the small amount of fuel being taken.
“It’s so little reward for so much damage,” he said, adding that around three gallons of fuel was likely taken.
San Diego police claim they have received at least two official reports so far.
Many more victims are expected though, with authorities encouraging anyone affected to contact the police.
What happens if you put the wrong fuel in your tank?
Dwanye Saunders, the owner of Genuine Automotive & Diesel in Austin, Texas, said the common mix up isn’t as dire as people think.
He told The U.S. Sun in an exclusive interview there are things drivers should look out for at the pumps to avoid putting the wrong fuel in your tank, and what to do if it happens.
The first thing he noted is that most gas stations make it very difficult to fill a gas-powered car with diesel. At the pumps, size does matter.
“The nozzle for the diesel pump is usually much bigger than a gasoline pump,” he said.
“So, it’s pretty hard to put diesel in a gas tank, it’s actually easier to accidentally put gasoline in a diesel engine.”
If the wrong fuel type is used, drivers will know right away, as the engine will run incredibly rough before shutting off. When that happens, it’s important to not try and start the vehicle again, as it pushes the fuel further into the system. Forcing the wrong fuel through an ill-equipped engine can cost thousands in repairs, or even merit an engine replacement.
Instead, it’s best to have your vehicle towed to a trusted mechanic, where they’ll begin repairs.
“A good mechanic would drain the fuel tank and flush the lines with fresh gasoline, maybe run some fuel system cleaner through it and it’s usually not detrimental,” said Saunders.
Read more here.
