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Mr. Luddite[_4_]

On 9/29/2018 9:55 PM, wrote:
On Sat, 29 Sep 2018 19:54:50 -0400, "Mr. Luddite"
wrote:

Another surprise I found after reading some the manual today. My truck
doesn't have a removable gas cap. To refuel you open the little gas
door and there's an inlet with a permanently mounted flapper valve. You
insert the gas nozzle against the flapper valve causing it to open which
allows the nozzle to go into the fill tube in the truck.

A while back I had tried adding some older gas from a small, portable (2
gal) gas can just to use it up and found it impossible to fill
from the gas can without spilling gas all over the place. I gave up
and assumed you just can't do it.

Today, in the manual, I came across a section that describes a "cap
funnel". It warns to "always use the cap funnel (located in the
vehicle) when adding fuel from a portable gas container, otherwise
spillage will occur."

I never knew this "cap funnel" even existed and have no idea where it is
in the truck. Tomorrow I'll see if I can find it.

Ah "progress". I am guessing that was done to avoid that "loose gas
cap" throwing a code thing.
It will be fine until the seal on that flapper fails and you find out
you have to replace the whole tank or something. I would be careful
that you don't damage the seal and find out.
I have seen that on other new cars tho. Some don't even have a door
over it, just a port you poke the nozzle in.
This is the type of thing you notice when you are filling 10 gas cans
every 6-7 weeks ;-)
Usually several cars come and go while I am there. I get all sorts of
questions "do you have a lawn service", "is there a hurricane coming",
"are you a prepper".
Every once in a while some old redneck will ask me what kind of boat I
have.

I've taken a good look at the "flapper" on the gas inlet. There's no
way it forms a seal. I think the actual seal is further down in the
gas refill line. A gas station nozzle is probably long enough and is
shaped to open whatever the seal is. A portable gas can's plastic
nozzle isn't so it results in gas filling up the space between the
flapper and whatever the actual seal is with resulting spillage.

I'll bet when I find this "cap funnel" it will be shaped more like
a gas station pump nozzle.