I think I was robbed

[Royk]

I picked up my truck from the body shop yesterday afternoon (another story I don't have time for now). They did a great job. The assistant manager was great and worked with me, even cutting me a good deal saving me about $200. After I left I took the truck for fuel since I'm leaving for Maine tomorrow night with my boat for a two week vacation on the coast. Call me anal, but I keep a log book where I've recorded my miles, gallons, MPG, date, where I purchased the fuel, oil changes, etc. After filling-up yesterday, my calculated mileage was 15. 8 MPG. WTF?! I recalculated: same thing. My console said I was getting 19. 8 ( I know alot of you don't believe that thing but mine is always . 2 to . 5 over actual calculated [I write the computer mileage in next to my calculated in the log book]) and my last four tanks were 19. 6, 19. 9, 19. 3 and 18. 7, the forth one was towing. Only once since I've owned the truck had I ever had a tank in the 15's, and that was towing in February. I think someone siphoned some fuel from me!



When I got home I did the math and calculated how much fuel it would take to cause a 4 MPG drop for the number of miles driven/gallons pumped. Lo and Behold it came out to be right about five gallons, the size of a gas can!



The reason I selected this shop was because it is fenced in, in a rural area away from the low-lifes, and otherwise very professional. I really am not so concerned about the approximately $10 worth of fuel, but the fact that it occurred in the first place.



My truck is either at home in the country with me, at the end of a half mile driveway and a free running Doberman, or at work in an admistrative parking lot where it is in plain view of many people. I don't think my fuel disappeared at either of these places.



At the body shop I know at least one guy drives a diesel (a CTD). I think he is the manager of the place and we've talked about how much we love our trucks. It seems pretty pathetic that anyone would need to steal 5 gallons of diesel, but I know my truck isn't getting 15. 8 MPG and it seems pretty ironic that I lost it the one week the truck was away from my sight.



What do you guys think? I couldn't call to complain today as I was out of town on business. If I'm going to say anything, I need to do it before they close tomorrow afternoon since I'm leaving for two weeks. How would you handle this? Do you think they did it?



Roy





P. S. Sorry for the long post, but I wanted to give you all the details in case I'm missing something.

 

[GFritsch]

The thief may be the fueling station. I once filled a jerry can with 7 gallons (5 gallon can). The station employee got very defensive very quick.

 

[MikeKelley]

Originally posted by GFritsch

The thief may be the fueling station. I once filled a jerry can with 7 gallons (5 gallon can). The station employee got very defensive very quick.

GFritsch, I see you are in the Jackson area. Was the fuel station thief a local that owns most of the stations in the area? I have had trouble with them in the past. I always get worse mileage when I buy from them. I now buy fuel out of town.

MK

 

[GFritsch]

You must mean the Trading Post chain--No it wasn't those guys, it was a small station on the downhill dropping into Jackson on 88--don't remember the name.

 

[98rammer]

where in Maine are ya heading to?

 

[y-knot]

I wouldn't call you anal, but I would say FORGET ABOUT IT. Go on your vacation and have a good time. If by chance someone really did it you for 5 gallons of diesel fuel, they must have needed it pretty badly. Look at it like a friend in need and go on with your life, maybe times are tougher for other.

 

[GFritsch]

Definetely wouldn't acuse anyone of stealing unless I had proof. Calling someone a thief is about as low an insult as exists. No reason to insult someone who may very well be innocent.



Enjoy your trip.

Greg

 

[MikeKelley]

Originally posted by GFritsch

You must mean the Trading Post chain.

Those are the ones. I have found at least 3 of their stations to have inaccurate pumps. The only station in my town of West Point is also inaccurate. I once put 8 gallons in a 6 gallon motorcycle tank. I buy my fuel in Minden since I am in that area almost every weekend.

 

[Diesel Nut]

I once put 45 gallons into my truck at a truck stop (shady one, at that) and the fuel light wasn't even on yet. Maybe someone sneaked under my truck while I was at work and installed that areo tank I wanted!

 

[MikeKelley]

Originally posted by Diesel Nut

I once put 45 gallons into my truck at a truck stop (shady one, at that) and the fuel light wasn't even on yet. Maybe someone sneaked under my truck while I was at work and installed that areo tank I wanted!

What are you supposed to do when you know you have been taken by an unscrupulous fuel dealer? I have tried to tell them and they just get defensive. I pay the bill and call weights and measures, but I think that does no good.

MK

 

[Big_Daddy_T]

I saw a special on the boob about bad stations. They had it set up to where they could pass the weights and measures but would rip you off bad. They had it set up to be dead on at 5 and 10 gallons. The thing they said to watch for was how fast the machine counted. It should count at a constant speed. If it counts slow then fast. Then its stealing. They said at 10 gallons though its almost always accurate, for suprise inspection purposes. Might take two five gallon jugs down to test it out.

 

[Royk]

Thanks for the replies. I feel much more mellow about it now. I just won't be going back there I think (hopefully I shouldn't have to!). I'm too busy getting ready to leave to worry about it.





98 rammer,



I'm staying south of Waldoboro on Back Cove.



Roy



P. S. If any of you Maina's are in the Waldoboro area, look for the blue and tan 19' boat with the PA registration or the almond colored CTD with TDR emblems on the front and sides. You may also see me in the Pemaquid/John's Bay/Damariscotta River area (my usual place except for this year).

 

[Casey Ray]

Sounds like you like the shop and they give you a pretty good deal to boot. I'd just get a locking fuel cap and not give them the key (unless necessary) next time. When they take the mileage from the odometer, have them note the amount of fuel in the tank.





cul,



Casey

 

[scootergmc]

Originally posted by GFritsch

You must mean the Trading Post chain--No it wasn't those guys, it was a small station on the downhill dropping into Jackson on 88--don't remember the name.

You're talking about the former Beacon station which is now a Valero.



edit: the receipts say Valero, but the new sign says Beacon. Guess they're owned by Valero. It was just remodeled.

 

[todt061458]

If you think the pump is wrong call the state weights and measures tell them. they might do something have all your friends call too. power in numbers. I did that to two stations in illinois they closed the station until the problem was corrected and state certified .

 

[Dieselrod]

maybe they reset the odometer for one reason or another

 

[dpuckett]

That's exactly why I have a locking cap on my fuel tank. They'll steal anything around here just to do it.



I had a station give me less fuel than the pump said- I put 33 gal in my 30 gal tank. I cornered the manager, and she gave me a free pop or something crappy like that. Never did call W&M, though. Figured it to be like most other Govt agencies- waste of time. They werent in business long after that, though.



Daniel

 

[RThompson]

Tough call, but I would say forget it. I had a full roll of quarters stolen at the Dodge dealership. They were in the ashtray when I checked about 10 minutes from pulling into the dealership for warranty work. I picked the truck up a couple of hours later after spending some time in the dentist chair. Anyhow, twenty miles down the road on the way home I checked the ashtray and the roll was gone. I should have checked when I got into the truck or never left them there. Thought that one over for a while before I decided to write it off. Shop people can do a ton of damage to your truck should they ever have the chance if they think they have been falsely accused.

 

[DennyDay]

Poor Fuel Mileage

I think if you all will check your mileage, you will find it is down some. The last couple of months the quality of fuel we are having to buy is poor and dirty. Check your fuel filter bowl and I think you will have trash when you never had it before.



Denny

 

[supersonic]

Could the body work they did to your truck involve removing the fuel tank or bed? If so they probably drained some out to make it lighter and later forgot to put it back in or it got used for something else around the shop like the lawnmower? Prbably something simple, I wouldn't sweat it though.