After almost getting hit by fuel thieves, I invested in two spanking new Volvo locking fuel caps. They are less than two months old.
I had a very hard time getting the keys into the locks today. I am guessing it's magnesium chloride buildup. I had the truck washed yesterday, tho....and they were clean on the outside. I used PB buster to get them open.
So! What to do to? Any ideas or what are you guys doing to keep the locks dry and working?
Thanks in advance!
Anyone have a slick trick?
Discussion in 'Trucks [ Eighteen Wheelers ]' started by formertaxidriver, Dec 14, 2008.
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Coat key with petroleum jelly and slide in a couple of times till inside of tumbler get's a good coating. May have to repeat a couple of times then just once a week.formertaxidriver Thanks this.
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graphite luberacant...get at napa
wont freeze, wont get think like oil or PM jelly and no messformertaxidriver Thanks this. -
That's what I'm talkin' bout! I was also thinking about some sort of covering, like maybe slipping a latex glove over the top, but would that look strange... Do they still make the bowl covers that had the elastic around the edges, like little mini shower caps? If one was small enough that would work.
It was scary being on the fuel island and wondering if i would end up calling a locksmith before it's all over
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You could cover them with Magnum condoms. If anyone asks you just pretend someone is pulling a prank on ya.
formertaxidriver Thanks this. -
I've seen people have to cut them of after letting a truck sit for a while. I'd just keep a can of wd40 handy with a nozel and give a squirt down inside it every time you fuel.
formertaxidriver Thanks this. -
Stuck fuel cap locks were a common happening in my grainhauling days; always loading/unloading in dusty conditions, didn't take long to realize any kind of oil/grease was the worse possible thing to spray or put into the keyhole. I found three products worked well, the above mentioned graphite, which I liked in a small squeeze tube; a teflon based lubricant, and another lubricant that is a wax, similar to candle wax, both are available in the rattle can. The teflon, and the wax lubricant are found in this area at the home improvement type stores- Lowe's, Home Depot, etc. They spray on wet, shortly after turning dry.
The trick, no matter which lubricant used, is to USE it. Due to neglect, I still ran into problems, had to continually spray a penetrating oil into the keyhole until it freed up, then flush the oil out and get some of the dry stuff in there. PITA, big time!
Please be sure to properly thank your local fuel thief for this inconveince!formertaxidriver Thanks this. -
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What ever you use, Vaseline probably isn't the best
Use very little of it
Oil and grease works like a magnet to dirt, then you really have trouble, goops it all up with time
Graphite works great -
Why not get a couple anti siphon units? Don't have to worry about locking caps then.
Just my 2 cents.
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