Bye bye gas cap

[nickel]

Posted on Thu, Aug. 10, 2006

Ford announces plans to ditch gas caps
Automaker will replace them with flaps that open with help from the fuel nozzle

The Associated Press

The gas cap, long left sitting on trunk lids or dangling from cars as they leave gas stations, will become a thing of the past on many Ford models in the coming years.

The company announced Wednesday that the venerable cap will disappear on its new 2008 Lincoln MKS full-sized car model, and eventually all Ford models will be without them.

Replacing the caps will be a flap that opens under pressure from the gas pump nozzle. The flap will fit snugly to the nozzle to stop fumes from escaping, company officials said.

“It eliminates the inconvenience of forgetting to put your gas cap back on after refueling,” said Mark Fields, Ford executive vice president and president of the Americas.

The new cap came from Ford’s NASCAR racing experience and has been used on the Ford GT sports car, Fields said.

Eventually, Ford will get rid of the caps on all of its vehicles, although it has no timetable to do that, said Said Deep, a company spokesman.

The change likely will be made when models are updated, but it could be retrofitted onto existing models, Deep said.
http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/business/15238606.htm

Pic of new fuel hole and door:

http://www.raymondkwan.com/uploader2/files/652/20060809.jpg

Gonna take some getting used to, and I can positively say I have never lost a gas cap before.

[mcs328]

I've forgotten to screw it back on and drove off. Then I came back and found it on the ground like 15 minutes later.

[mechmike0034]

Done correctly, this'll cut down on HC emissions and evaporative emissions system-related Check Engine lights as well.

[ShawnLee]

Doesn't this risk malicious people stuffing crap down your gas tank? A la sugar water?
Or is this a flap that's only inside a separate and locked gas compartment opening?

[Paniolo]

I've never "left off/lost" a gas cap.
One of my current vehicles has a tether attached to the gas cap, within the compartment.
If someone wants to "mess" with your gas/tank, nothing will really stop them.
This sounds like a very good idea, especially with what 'MM0034' has posted.

[InfiniteNothing]

Doesn't this risk malicious people stuffing crap down your gas tank? A la sugar water?
Or is this a flap that's only inside a separate and locked gas compartment opening?

Yeah, I can't imagine this would replace the gas door if not just for aesthetics.

[guiseppewv]

Yeah, I can't imagine this would replace the gas door if not just for aesthetics.

And noise/aerodynamics.

[BigJon]

My gas cap was actually stolen on my car one time. I think some loser left his at a gas station and stole mine to replace his.

[Jcranmer]

Done correctly, this'll cut down on HC emissions and evaporative emissions system-related Check Engine lights as well.


My mom's check engine light is on at least once a month because either she isn't locking the thing down as tight as it should be, or she needs a new one.

Actually she took it back to the dealer today and had them install a new cap. Oddly enought they changed the design of the cap, so maybe it's not been her fault all along.

[Jcranmer]

Doesn't this risk malicious people stuffing crap down your gas tank? A la sugar water?
Or is this a flap that's only inside a separate and locked gas compartment opening?


Hopefully it locks either with a key or a release from the inside of the car. :)

[guiseppewv]

My mom's check engine light is on at least once a month because either she isn't locking the thing down as tight as it should be, or she needs a new one.

Actually she took it back to the dealer today and had them install a new cap. Oddly enought they changed the design of the cap, so maybe it's not been her fault all along.

I have saved quite a few people some $$$ by telling them to check to see if their gas caps are on tight before taking their vehicle into the shop b/c their check engine light is on.

[nickel]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jcranmer
My mom's check engine light is on at least once a month because either she isn't locking the thing down as tight as it should be, or she needs a new one.

Actually she took it back to the dealer today and had them install a new cap. Oddly enought they changed the design of the cap, so maybe it's not been her fault all along.


I have saved quite a few people some $$$ by telling them to check their gas before taking their vehicle into the shop b/c their check engine light is on.
that is great information, thanks.