Ford's "Easy Fuel" capless fuel filler?
CWLee
I just learned that the 2010 (and perhaps earlier) Ford
Explorers, and other Ford models, have what Ford calls
"Easy Fuel" capless fuel fillers. As near as I can
tell, instead of unscrewing a cap, one inserts the gas
pump nozzle into an opening which automatically moves
aside for fueling, and immediately closes when the
nozzle is withdrawn. So far, no problems.
I also learned that one can buy a locking cover, to
protect your gas tank from someone siphoning gas out.
However, Ford says on one of its websites that it is
almost impossible to siphon gas out, due to a second
"one-way valve" on the tank where the filler attaches.
That sounds OK to me too.
Here is the potential problem I'm wondering if any of
you have faced. The website also suggests that gas can
be placed into your tank ONLY with a properly sized
nozzle from a gas pump. Suppose you run out of gas,
and need to add gas from a plastic 2- or 5-gallon gas
can? Can one do it, or does that second "one-way
valve" deep into the filler keep the gas from entering
the tank?
Has anyone here been successful in adding gas (other
than at a gas station) to a Ford which is equipped with
this relatively new device?
Thanks.
--
----------
CWLee
Former slayer of dragons; practice now limited to
sacred
cows. Believing we should hire for quality, not
quotas, and
promote for performance, not preferences.
cuh...@webtv.net
I don't think Ford's ''Easy Fuel'' capless thingy is such a ''Bright''
idea.Suppose some creeps want to put whatever kinds of crap into those
capless fuel tanks?
Pouring fuel from a small gasoline container into capless fuel tanks
should work ok.If not, Ford has screwed up!
cuhulin
Mike Romain
>
> Here is the potential problem I'm wondering if any of you have faced.
> The website also suggests that gas can be placed into your tank ONLY
> with a properly sized nozzle from a gas pump.
Gas pump nozzles have been like that for years, ever since unleaded gas
came in. The pump nozzle for unleaded gas is smaller than one for
leaded gas so you can't put leaded in by mistake.
They also make gas cans nozzles 'unleaded' size and gravity gets by the
internal 'valve' I have even seen those one way anti siphon 'valves' as
a simple coil spring inside the tube.
Mike
2000 Cherokee Sport
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG AT's, 'glass nose to tail in '00
'New' frame and everything else in '09. Some Canadian Bush Trip and
Build Photos: http://mikeromainjeeptrips.shutterfly.com
ChrisCoaster
I see this "capless filler" as a GOOD example of NASCAR making it's
way too far into public life.
And something else enters my mind when I think about Ford's new
innovation - it starts with the letter "f" and ends in smoke...
-CC
aarcuda69062
cuh...@webtv.net wrote:
> I have locking gas caps on both of my Dodge vans.
> I don't think Ford's ''Easy Fuel'' capless thingy is such a ''Bright''
> idea.
I'll bet that their P04XX EVAP code warranty claims drop considerably.
> Suppose some creeps want to put whatever kinds of crap into those
> capless fuel tanks?
It would make no difference than if they had a conventional gas cap.
(duh)
However, most fuel doors have inside release mechanisms, so as long as
the vehicle is locked, it wouldn't be that easy.
dsi1
> CWLee wrote:
>>
>
>> Here is the potential problem I'm wondering if any of you have faced.
>> The website also suggests that gas can be placed into your tank ONLY
>> with a properly sized nozzle from a gas pump.
>
> Gas pump nozzles have been like that for years, ever since unleaded gas
> came in. The pump nozzle for unleaded gas is smaller than one for
> leaded gas so you can't put leaded in by mistake.
>
> They also make gas cans nozzles 'unleaded' size and gravity gets by the
> internal 'valve' I have even seen those one way anti siphon 'valves' as
> a simple coil spring inside the tube.
My 67 Barracuda had a quick-fill chrome cap that you opened by pressing
on the release on the side and flipped it open. That was certainly "
"boss." My mother 70 Barracuda had the filler located behind the spring
loaded license plate holder. That was "not too cool." I'm glad that
they're trying to make gimmicky gas fillers again.
Scott Dorsey
>
>My 67 Barracuda had a quick-fill chrome cap that you opened by pressing
>on the release on the side and flipped it open. That was certainly "
>"boss." My mother 70 Barracuda had the filler located behind the spring
>loaded license plate holder. That was "not too cool." I'm glad that
>they're trying to make gimmicky gas fillers again.
Agreed. The current Ford system is definitely "far out." Since the
current generation of gas cans has a nozzle specifically designed to
fit like the filler nozzle on the pump, I don't see that it would be
any issue. "Totally wicked" quick-fill systems should function in a
"groovy way" with the modern cans.
There are some old cans out there that don't have a long nozzle on
them, just a short spout. Those would work with cars designed for
leaded gas, but when unleaded came along the modern narrow nozzle
standard came out specifically to prevent "hodads" from pouring
leaded gas into a car designed only for unleaded.
--scott
>
>>
>> Mike
>> 2000 Cherokee Sport
>> 86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG AT's, 'glass nose to tail in '00
>> 'New' frame and everything else in '09. Some Canadian Bush Trip and
>> Build Photos: http://mikeromainjeeptrips.shutterfly.com
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."
dsi1
>
> Agreed. The current Ford system is definitely "far out." Since the
> current generation of gas cans has a nozzle specifically designed to
> fit like the filler nozzle on the pump, I don't see that it would be
> any issue. "Totally wicked" quick-fill systems should function in a
> "groovy way" with the modern cans.
>
> There are some old cans out there that don't have a long nozzle on
> them, just a short spout. Those would work with cars designed for
> leaded gas, but when unleaded came along the modern narrow nozzle
> standard came out specifically to prevent "hodads" from pouring
> leaded gas into a car designed only for unleaded.
> --scott
That's "bitchin!" The truth is that people are going to think they're
really cool by not having to remove that gas cap and placing it on the
trunk or holding it like the rest of us "gremmies."
Do people still have those old gas cans? Do we still have to worry about
pouring leaded gas into cars designed only for unleaded? What a
"bummer." :-)
CWLee
speculation. Let me try to focus the responses a bit.
First, I don't think the diameter of the gas pump
nozzle or the gas can nozzle is the issue - the problem
I'm concerned about is the length. The Ford website I
consulted implied that the gas pump nozzle goes
sufficiently far/deep into the filler tube to
engage/open the inner valve - and that ordinary gas can
nozzles or funnels are not long enough to allow gas to
flow.
Second, I'm mostly interested in hearing from people
who have actually added gas from other than a gas pump
into a recent model Ford that has one of these new
devices. Speculation is interesting, but I'd really
like to hear about some first-hand experience.
Again, I do appreciate what has been posted so far, so
please don't take offense at my desire to redirect the
flow more pointedly.
Thanks.
cuh...@webtv.net
them for lawn more gas, because I like them better than the plastic gas
cans.I am old fashioned.
cuhulin
Mike Romain
It is 'very' unlikely that your interpretation of 'size' is right.
Size of fuel fillers is the diameter, not the length.
Give us the link to the page you were reading please.
Mike
Scott Dorsey
>
>First, I don't think the diameter of the gas pump
>nozzle or the gas can nozzle is the issue - the problem
>I'm concerned about is the length. The Ford website I
>consulted implied that the gas pump nozzle goes
>sufficiently far/deep into the filler tube to
>engage/open the inner valve - and that ordinary gas can
>nozzles or funnels are not long enough to allow gas to
>flow.
The ones I have here (from Ace Hardware) have flexible nozzles about
nine inches long. The long nozzle is required to open the "gate" on
all modern gas fillers anyway.
If yours does not have a long enough nozzle, cut a foot of garden hose
and clamp it on.
>Second, I'm mostly interested in hearing from people
>who have actually added gas from other than a gas pump
>into a recent model Ford that has one of these new
>devices. Speculation is interesting, but I'd really
>like to hear about some first-hand experience.
I haven't yet, but ask me after the Potomac Celtic Festival, when my
crew will have serviced a couple dozen people who will run out gas on
site (and at least twice that many who will have dead batteries and
need jump starts).
--scott
cuh...@webtv.net
had grabbed the gas pump nozzle.It is a good thing that diesel fuel pump
nozzle wouldn't fit into my van's gas filler pipe.I would have messed up
for sure!
cuhulin
CWLee
"Mike Romain" <rom...@nospam.live.com> wrote:
> Well then Ford would have totally screwed up wouldn't they
> have.
>
> It is 'very' unlikely that your interpretation of 'size'
> is right.
>
> Size of fuel fillers is the diameter, not the length.
>
> Give us the link to the page you were reading please.
I've supplied several below, and I'm not sure which one is
the one where I got my information. Some of those links
also contain other links, and I don't remember just where I
went. However, I have since found a statement in one of
those which sheds more light on this issue of filling from a
non-gas-pump source.
"Easy Fuel also has a patented mis-fueling inhibitor to
reduce improper fueling and siphoning.
The inhibitor consists of a fuel nozzle detector that guides
the nozzle to the opening. If a nozzle or foreign tube of a
different size - a diesel nozzle or plastic hose, for
example - is placed in the filler neck of a gasoline-powered
vehicle, the latches will not release. For a diesel-powered
vehicle, the inhibitor will keep out the smaller gasoline
nozzles.
To protect the fuel filler neck from dirt, dust and debris,
Easy Fuel relies on a flexible rubber seal in the body
housing. The system also comes with a handy plastic funnel,
which is stored with a vehicle's tire changing kit, in case
someone runs out of fuel and needs to add a gallon or two
from a portable container.
Because fuel cans are not standardized in terms of their
nozzle, we needed to make sure customers could easily get
fuel into the system if they ran out, said Aitken. The
funnel is the same diameter as an unleaded fuel pump nozzle
for a gasoline-powered vehicle."
http://www.leftlanenews.com/ford-to-deploy-capless-fuel-filler-across-model-line.html
http://ford.digitalsnippets.com/2008/05/05/easyfuel-capless-fuel-filler-system/
http://media.ford.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=28320
Again, I'd like to hear from someone with actual, hands-on
experience with this Ford device, not just similar items
elsewhere.
Thanks.
C. E. White
"aarcuda69062" <none...@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
news:nonelson-C59971...@news.eternal-september.org...
> In article <1573-4B0...@storefull-3173.bay.webtv.net>,
> cuh...@webtv.net wrote:
>
>> I have locking gas caps on both of my Dodge vans.
>> I don't think Ford's ''Easy Fuel'' capless thingy is such a
>> ''Bright''
>> idea.
It seems to work Ok. I always feel weird when I fill up my F150. I
just open the fuel door and stick in the nozzle. When I am finished I
just pull the nozzle out and close the door. It is fast and efficient
and I never spill any gass.
> I'll bet that their P04XX EVAP code warranty claims drop
> considerably.
>
>> Suppose some creeps want to put whatever kinds of crap into those
>> capless fuel tanks?
You can worry about everythig. I've never had this happen in 40 years
of driving.
> It would make no difference than if they had a conventional gas cap.
> (duh)
> However, most fuel doors have inside release mechanisms, so as long
> as
> the vehicle is locked, it wouldn't be that easy.
Ford has mostly quit building cars with inside fule release levers.
>> Pouring fuel from a small gasoline container into capless fuel
>> tanks
>> should work ok.If not, Ford has screwed up!
Most gas cans you buy have poperly sized nozzles (at least all the
ones we own do).
http://blogs.consumerreports.org/cars/2009/04/fords-capless-fuel-fillers-save-aggravation.html
Ed
cuh...@webtv.net
doubt those handy dandy funnels that Ford supplies with Easy Fuel
vehicles will stay with most of those Easy Fuel vehicles for a long
while.Funnels and other thingys have a habit of getting lost.
cuhulin
C. E. White
<cuh...@webtv.net> wrote in message
news:17946-4B0...@storefull-3171.bay.webtv.net...
I hear what you are saying. I didn't know what the funnel was for. It
was in with the tire changing equipment (jack, crank, wrench,etc.).
Shortly afer I got the F150 I ran over something on the highway and
had to change a tire by the side of the road. I thought the funnel was
some sort of device to help you guide the jack crank into the winch
that lets you lower the spare tire. I stuck the funnel into the hole
where you insert the crank shaft thinking it would better align the
shaft. It did a poor job of this! Only later when I actually looked
through the Owner's Guide did I find out what it really was. Ford
should have label the thing for us idiots.
Ed
Mike Romain
If a nozzle or foreign tube of a
> different size - a diesel nozzle or plastic hose, for
> example - is placed in the filler neck of a gasoline-powered
> vehicle, the latches will not release.
The system also comes with a handy plastic funnel,
> which is stored with a vehicle's tire changing kit, in case
> someone runs out of fuel and needs to add a gallon or two
> from a portable container.
>
Well, there you go, they 'did' screw up to the point of having to supply
a special funnel to make it work.
