What can you put into Gas to screw up an engine?

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

If I remember Mythbusters, Chlorine Bleach does the job the best. Sugar was a hit and miss

 

[Quiksilvr]

I'm not planning to put anything into the kids car. If a kid steals something off my property and puts it into his own car- well let the stealer beware.

I think we may try water mixed with enough gas to make it not noticeable- and just leave the can in the same location.

If I was quicker thinking the kid would have been caught this past weekend when we first saw them try but run away when they saw us watching them. But I didn't think someone was actually doing something wrong. I only went out because they kid ran toward the back garage- where my adult son used to live and I was going to see if it was a friend to tell him where he was now. They drove away fast so I didn't get the license plate number- I have friends in police and sheriff departments so could have at least given the kid a hard time if nothing else (hard to prove they stole gas without some other proof). I didn't even say anything to my husband until they started running off.

We had moved everything that they could have possibly been going after on that side of the house except for this one can of gas- that my husband had used some of to refill neighbor's lawn tractor and didn't put away again. We figured it was gas cans though since my husband had several empty ones in that area. We have so many from hurricane Rita when you had to drive an hour or more to get gasoline and he was cleaning up differnt things and had tossed the empty ones into a pile.

I just want to teach a lesson to the punk- that stealing is bad. And that getting arrested isn't always the consequence. Just a little Karma for them.

You could be prosecuted for the damage civilly or criminally irrespective of whether he is prosecuted for theft. The law does not allow for vigilante or self-help justice. You are supposed to report the crime to the police and let them deal with it. I know that's a harsh pill to swallow sometimes considering the ineptitude of some members of law enforcement, but it's the way it is. You could definitely be punished for taking matters into your own hands.

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

Looks like Denton and I were on the same wavelengths there

 

[Illuminations_Rocks]

It's not necessarily "vandalism" but it could be any number of other things, especially if he could prove that the OP intended to cause the damage (which would be pretty clear if there was sugar in the gas can). The boy would be prosecuted for theft, but the OP could also be prosecuted for a number of crimes depending on what level of damage the vehicle sustained. Additionally, if someone was hurt because of the sugar in the tank (e.g., a car accident) the OP could be prosecuted for that and probably would be. The prosecutor would paint it as a willful disregard of a clear risk.

I agree with this. OP, be careful. Yeah, the kid should get a lesson - but this isn't it! Yes, he is stealing, but you would be willfully intending harm as you mean for him to get the can.

 

[Jennasis]

Oooh, I would be sooooo tempted to do just what the OP is interested in. Fill the tank with something stupid just to mess with the kid. I'd probably choose Diesel as you could always play the "I forgot which of our cans was for Diesel" route if you were "caught". But in reality, I'd videotape and present it to the cops...AFTER I marched to his front door and reamed him out.

 

[Mrs.Toad]

This reminds me of the time food kept disappearing out of our office refrigerator, so we sprinkled about half a shaker of salt under the cheese on a slice of pizza and put in in there. The next day it was gone, but nothing else disappeared after that.

Messing with the gas would be very tempting, but I also think videotaping and contacting the police would be a better solution.

 

[EmmersIsTheMommy]

I'm gonna have to say it's OP's gascan. What they put it in it is THEIR business. Maybe they LIKE watered down gas.

Maybe they LIKE their gas with chlorine in it.

That kid's fault if he's stealing gas that happens to have it in there. Now if he were to come over and ask to have some and they gave him watered down gas, then that'd be rude

 

[N&B'smom]

Videotape it and post it on youtube for all of us to see!!

Shelby

 

[VirtuallyMe]

So the kid has stolen maybe 50.00 worth of gas from you and your're posting to ask how you can cause hundreds of dollars of damage to a car that might not even be his? Not to mention what could happen to you if it got back that you did that OR the possibilty that if he doesn't bite and you forget what you added to the gas can, you could end up putting the gas into your car or lawnmower and having the act of revenge backfire on you.

Videotape him in the act and let the police handle it.

Actually it was probably more like $20 worth of gas. Less than 5 gallons at $4/gallon (probably even older than that- it may have even been $2.50 a gallon)

I'm not sure how I could get into trouble if someone stole something- used it and it wasn't what they thought it was.

and we would label the can someway or the other

Videotaping would be fine- but how? Am I to set up a motion sensitive camera on the side of my home and video tape the neighbor's cats, the kids and what ever else may do it- or am I supposed to stay home all day waiting for them to return?

Sure it isn't the mature thing to do- but when someone takes something from my property it is a violation. I felt violated when the kid just tried the other day. Its my house- I should be able to set something on my property and expect it to stay.

We may not even do it- but it sure is fun to imagine what could happen if we did... Of course the kid probably wouldn't even know what happened.

 

[gottaluvPluto]

I know you can put sugar in, like others have said.

However, be careful. I would take the safer route and videotape him stealing from you rather than do something that could inevitably get you in trouble if it ruins the car.

Why would she get into trouble for putting sugar in her gas can? She didn't put it in his car, so they shouldn't get into any trouble.

I say go for it and do as much damage as possible. He shouldn't be stealing, this would be a great lesson to learn. Who knows, but he might learn his lesson so well that he gives up stealing and he will never go to prison. You could be helping him out.

 

[Quiksilvr]

Actually it was probably more like $20 worth of gas. Less than 5 gallons at $4/gallon (probably even older than that- it may have even been $2.50 a gallon)

I'm not sure how I could get into trouble if someone stole something- used it and it wasn't what they thought it was.

I think you can't see how you could get in trouble because you're not thinking about this the way a judge or a prosecutor does. They don't care that your property was stolen. All they'll see is that you put sugar in a gas can intending for a kid to steal it and put it in his car. What if he got in a car accident and died? You could be prosecuted for negligent homicide in a number of states. It has nothing to do with how violated you felt or the fact that the kid stole something. You'd probably be interested to know that in several states you can be prosecuted for shooting a burglar in your house who hasn't threatened you with harm or tried to hurt you. It may not make sense but it's the law.

I'm a lawyer. I'm giving you the lawyer's perspective on this. If this kid got seriously hurt as a result of your actions and I was the D.A. I'd prosecute the heck out of you and I'd win (assuming you used something traceable like sugar and I could trace the bad gas back to your gascan). We don't want to encourage people to do stuff like this because they feel violated. That's what the legal system is there for.

 

[ihearttink]

I can understand wanting revenge, but to actually do it is just wrong. Put your gas can where no one can steal it. This thread needs to be closed.

 

[Quiksilvr]

Why would she get into trouble for putting sugar in her gas can? She didn't put it in his car, so they shouldn't get into any trouble.

I say go for it and do as much damage as possible. He shouldn't be stealing, this would be a great lesson to learn. Who knows, but he might learn his lesson so well that he gives up stealing and he will never go to prison. You could be helping him out.

Again, you're talking about what you think should or should not get someone in trouble. That is not what makes someone criminally or civilly liable for their actions. What I worry about is the OP not understanding that her actions could end up with her in prison just as easily as the kid. All the prosecutor has to do is prove that it was her sugared gas that caused the car to go bad, that she intended for the kid to take the gas to "teach him a lesson", and that he took it. Open, shut, guilty.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

I don't see how they would get into trouble....it is THEIR gas can....If they wanted to fill it up with cooking oil they could!! It is not their fault that it is being stolen and used for someones car!!

I agree, but with the way some courts and judges are, who knows.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Gas Tank Watch 2008

I'll have to say that normally I would be shocked that someone was going to sabotage someones gas tank, but this punk deserves it and he's only doing it to himself.

I do understand that legally this isn't such a good idea, though.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

This reminds me of the time when I was in college, and my roommate was always "borrowing" my stuff. Once I had unlabeled laundry detergent that had bleach in it, she stole it, not knowing their was bleach in it, and her clothes were all spotty afterwards.

 

[gottaluvPluto]

I think you can't see how you could get in trouble because you're not thinking about this the way a judge or a prosecutor does. They don't care that your property was stolen. All they'll see is that you put sugar in a gas can intending for a kid to steal it and put it in his car. What if he got in a car accident and died? You could be prosecuted for negligent homicide in a number of states. It has nothing to do with how violated you felt or the fact that the kid stole something. You'd probably be interested to know that in several states you can be prosecuted for shooting a burglar in your house who hasn't threatened you with harm or tried to hurt you. It may not make sense but it's the law.

I'm a lawyer. I'm giving you the lawyer's perspective on this. If this kid got seriously hurt as a result of your actions and I was the D.A. I'd prosecute the heck out of you and I'd win (assuming you used something traceable like sugar and I could trace the bad gas back to your gascan). We don't want to encourage people to do stuff like this because they feel violated. That's what the legal system is there for.

Are you serious??? She puts sugar in HER gas can. He steals it and she will get in trouble? He didn't have to steal the can and his car wouldn't be broken if he didn't steal it.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

I would go with water if you did decide to do this, just since then it could of just rained, or maybe you washed your car, and some water got into the can.

 

[In a hurry]

If i choose to put any number of things into a gas can, how would I be liable were it stolen and used?

We have kerosene in a can in the garage. If some rotten thief steals it and drinks it, would I be liable?

And, why or why not? I am really curious.

 

[EmmersIsTheMommy]

what if she labled it and put 'this gascan contains 80 percent water' and he steals it and uses it

Can it REALLY get HER in trouble? I can get it the way you put it but if she has it on her property with a label?