My PO (at some point) must have lost his key or become fed up with the gas cap and made his own with a screwdriver. I have read about other owners having issues with those lockers, so I just kept the same screwdriver that the PO was nice enough to throw into the glove box when we made the deal - works great. 

I like the ritual of the whole thing as well. I rather enjoy pulling up to a pump where some "new-to-towner" is there with his/her $50K SUV....and I whip out a screw driver to unlock my gas cap.

But, I'm in Montana so we don't have much in the way of vandal problems - just unibombers and such ;)

I did see on Mythbusters once, however, that sugar doesn't do a thing to an engine when dumped into a gas tank (not trying to open a Friday-esque discussion though). But, I'm sure enough of anything poured down there would do some damage - I'd have an official locker in CA too. 

For me, the screwdriver offers just the right amount of security and function, all in a nice Western grease monkey package.

> Date: Wed, 20 Feb 2008 16:35:18 -0800
> From: oldvolkshome@GMAIL.COM
> Subject: Re: Vgon Locking gas cap - I hate it!!
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> 
> I hear this from time to time, but I've had no problems whatsoever with the
> locking caps on both of my 84's years.  And no, a screwdriver will NOT
> unlock them either unless the internal tumbler/wafer system is destroyed by
> one "forcing it".  Living in Southern California like I do, I would NEVER
> run a Non-Locking Gas Cap.  That's just asking for "dirt" or "sugar" trouble
> from a vandal.
> 
> Volkswagen VERY briefly made a Non-Locking Cap, but this almost two decades
> ago.  Perhaps Stant or Robert Shaw (aftermarket cap manufacturers) make one.
> 
> Chris Turner ( jordanvw@aol.com ) has 'em once in awhile, maybe has a bucket
> full of 'em.
> --
> Jim Thompson
> 84 GL 1.9 "Gloria"
> 84 Westfalia 2.1 "Ole Putt"
> 73 K Ghia Coupe "Denise"
> 72 411 Station Wagon "Pug"
> oldvolkshome@gmail.com
> http://www.oldvolkshome.com
> ***********************************
> On Wed, Feb 20, 2008 at 2:26 PM, John Baker <busvwzen@yahoo.com> wrote:
> 
> > Here's a question for all you Vanagon guys.  My 85 has
> > a locking gas cap and it is a PITA!!  Does anyone
> > make\sell a non-locking cap for these buses??  Anyone
> > wanna trade a non-locker for my locker??
> >
> > PEACE!
> > John Baker

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