This article is part of the GM Authority Mailbag series, where the GM Authority Crew features and replies to your questions, comments, and observations. Write in to the Mailbag here.
This one comes to us from Jeff in Utah:
One of my close friends bought a 2013 Ford Escape that I needed to drive to him (Utah to Washington); apparently, it made more sense to buy it at one of the local dealers here and then have me to drive it to him than to buy it locally from a dealer. In the three days it took me to drive the car up to him, I became very familiar with the Escape; overall, it’s a good car… but one feature caught my eye the most — the capless fuel filler. It’s the most convenient feature of the car and it’s standard on all Fords, as I came to find out.
As the proud owner of three new GM vehicles right now and 12 GMs before that, I have a tough time figuring out why GM hasn’t yet jumped on the capless fuel filler bandwagon. I have no problem with GM not being first to bring the feature (I think that was Ford), but it has been almost a decade since Ford launched the capless system… why does my friend (who bought a Ford!) get more convenience than my wife and her 2013 Equinox that’s a better car overall and was more expensive? What gives, GM? Do I need to buy a Ford now?!
Jeff — we couldn’t agree more. Ford’s Easy Fuel Filler/Capless Fuel Filler may be a small feature, but it’s so convenient that we also have a difficult time understanding why GM hasn’t added the feature, or something similar, to its vehicles. Quite Frankly, we can’t imagine fiddling with gas gaps while Ford-drivin’ fiends get in and get out of the gas station quicker…
Comments
Thumbs up for capless gas tanks.
But what happens when the car gets hit in that spot?
Rocky — good question. I would imagine the little flap covering the “hole” would prevent it from spewing out…
I can’t imagine this actually being something to really complain about. But, welcome to America I guess.
I’d want a capless gas tank because I don’t want the lid dangling on my paint, that’s my reason. Don’t want sratches on the Centennial Z06, now would we?
Also, what happpend to putting the gas cap hidden behind the license plate like on my 1970 GTO RA III? (Obviously it wouldn’t work on say a Cruze, so don’t point this out.)
No filler neck behind the plate is to keep your car from becoming a fire-bomb in a major rear end collision. They a bad habit of bending and releasing fuel. Gas tanks were all moved over the rear axle as well. I thought it was mighty cool in that location though, made the body all sleek! My 1970 Olds Cutlass convertible had it there.
Isn’t America all about convenience?
Just wait for about 90% of GM’s competitors to adopt this feature, then we will get it.
love it on my Ford! DO IT GM! it’s a trifling inconvenience to unscrew your gas cap at every fill-up i know. but when u don’t have to do that task anymore, you wonder why you had to do it at all.
Actually, it’s a wonderful convenience. especially if you’ve ever driven off while leaving your gas cap sitting on top of the pump (I’ve never done that!).
But on that topic, why don’t manufacturers standardize and put fuel fillers on the same side of all cars. I hate walking around to the right side (the ‘wrong” side) of my wife’s Cobalt to pump fuel. My DTS is on the driver’s side and more convenient. Why do little things irk us?
Depends on where the car was designed pretty much.
US cars put it on the left side and Europe cars on the right side.
It has to do with how you drive up to the gas pump. Here in the US way back when we always went to the right side. Now we go to both sides.
Well I have a Ford car and its an 05 and it doesn’t have a capless fuel filler so it definitely has not been over a decade.. But I never knew they had that, and I make a tank of gas last me 3 weeks up to 4 weeks with a 20 gallon tank.. I don’t have a problem with untwisting the cap.. I guess it’s a problem if you make it a problem.. But it’s definitely not a major factor for me if I buy a new car although it is a pretty nice feature..
I think it’s a great Idea!!
I was wondering how come aftermarket companies don’t make a cap that would replace a factory cap with a same design as capless fuel fillers, which you won’t need to untwist anymore when you fill up? That would be a nice feature to add for around 20 bucks (I’m guessing). does that sound like an idea?
Did Ford learn something from the exploding Pinto gas tank or didn’t they? Same question for GM who has settled their share of gas tank related claims. I have to think there’s a risk to this convenience. It can’t just be as simple as replacing the cap in vehicle design.or an after market cap that didn’t have to be removed would sell like hot cakes.
Ford’s cap less filler is a nice feature, and I’d have to assume it’s just as safe as one with a cap. I’ve also had two GM gas caps fail in the past couple of years, and that is a hassle (especially when the dealers argue about covering them under warranty). Also… for the person who never knows what side the gas filler is on… just look at the gas gauge – there is either a small arrow, or a small gas pump symbol with the handle indicating the side your fuel filler is on.
Bill is worring about replacing a gas cap. Wait until one of the capless ones fail. He will have to leave ( who knows how long) the car for it to be fixed. Get a life people. Maybe the mfg could put 500 gallon capless tanks in cars. That way you would not have to get out and fill it as many times.
I would just love this!!!!
@Mikeee… I am not “worrying” about replacing a gas cap. I simply stated that I had two of them fail on relatively new GM vehicles (less than 3 years old), and then had the dealer try to not cover them under warranty. I also own a Ford product with their capless system, and it is a “better idea” (and there is little that could fail with that system). Your “get a life” and 500 gallon tank comment had nothing to do with my statement.
XTS has one.
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2012/04/gm-cadillac-xts-ford-explorer-chrysler-300-dodge-charger-fuel-fill-capless-siphon-smell-hands-emergency-generator-us/1#.UMXxRHdia3o
So important a feature no one knew it here!!
And Ford did not start until 2009. So Yes, GM did copy it 4 years later. That is the amount of time to design/tool/validate.
But there are drawbacks.
While limiting the fuel smell that gets on your hands, capless systems can increase the gas smell coming from the vehicle. If you try to fill the tank even a little bit more after the gas station pump clicks off, you’re likely to get headache-level fuel fumes pouring from the area of the filler neck until you drive awhile. Don’t even consider over-filling the tank and driving right home to park in your garage.
The same anti-siphon feature means you have to carry the (automaker-provided) special funnel for times you run dry and need to refuel from a gas can instead of a pump. Afterward, the funnel smells like gas and you can smell it even in the trunk.
While several other manufacturers are also beginning to adopt capless fuel fillers in their vehicles, the unit in the XTS is designed to offer a distinct advantage over the competition. Since Cadillac’s system uses two flaps that retract when a fuel nozzle is inserted instead of the usual one, the automaker says the system is assured to remain airtight for the life of the vehicle. According to Cadillac, that means it’s a virtual certainty that the XTS’s fuel door will never trigger a check engine light, which could prompt an unnecessary and inconvenient service visit.
The article I posted earlier was incorrect. 2008 MKS was first at Ford
Personally, I hope GM never adopts this idea. Great for city people; crappy for rural people who drive gravel roads, or work oil rig sites, construction sites, etc. I have 3 friends with them on farms and they replace more fuel filters than ever before. Ever open up your gas lid and see dirt, dust and gunk around your cap from muddy/gravel roads? Without the cap all this crap covers that little “flap” that keeps gas from spilling out and as you push the gas bowzer in, it all falls into the tank.
That is why Ford now has an “accessory” through their parts department for a new gas cap for these capless vehicles. Makes you wonder why if it is such a great idea.
For those who say you get less smell of gas on your hands, really?? What exaclty are you holding the gas bowzer with while you fill up?
why not make it this point “why can’t GM make all these things standard across the four brands”? Ford did it, why can’t GM??
or why can’t GM come up with their own innovations (besides voltec) and then make it across their lineup of vehicles?
Aren’t there other things that GM should invest in first, besides this? Like awd for the impala or improving gas mileage in trucks and vans. Pick your battles. I would rather see an improvement in window motors that don’t rip up tint or maybe putting a trunk button in the cruze.
I say do all above and cap less fuel filler, GM shouldn’t take long time to adapt new features, and at the same time come up with its own. GM is big enough to offer everything that compition has and more, but often are caught dragging their feet.
Something as small and as common as a capless fuel filler system shouldn’t even be considered an investment; it’s one of those things that simply need to be done across the entire product range.
AWD for the Impala will have/has a limited market — albeit a market nonetheless.
Ultimately, the goal should be best-in-class across the board; GM is a big enough company with enough resources to do it all, and to do it better than most, if not all.
vic1212……..you want GM to come up with their own innovations instead of copying everyone elses.
What about GM being the first to have auto headlamps in all their vehicles (Spark has auto off)? Huge safety feature. What about GM being the first to have Stabilitrac stability system back in the late 90’s on Cadillac and now have it on every vehicle they make? What about the auto locking rear differential instead of electronic ones or limited slip (it was so good that both Dodge and Ford have gone to lockers)? What about the Autotrac 4×4 system that Dodge and Ford have now gone to? What about the extended cab truck rear door that opens 170 degrees instead of just 90 degrees? What about the safes communication system on the planet called Onstar? With over 3 million subscribers, I’d say it is a huge success and safety item (especially for those who have had to use it to save their lives). And now the Lambda platform SUV’s (Acadia ,Traverse, Enclave) have an industry first front row middle console air bag that comes out on side impacts between the front two people to prevent severe injuries from hitting each other?
I think GM does ok at innovation.
true for some of them that you named (OnStar, center airbag, and the auto headlamps) but the other ones that you named is it well known??
Put a BEV system in every GM vehicle, and the gas cap is history!
You can’t take 4 seconds to unwind the gas cap and hang it on the filler door. Then another 4 seconds to cap it. Man, i understand the inconvenience but like Robert Di Niro said in Goodfellas “What’s the world coming to!”
To be fair, there have been some complaints about the Ford system being slow to react when a nozzle is inserted into the filler neck, leading to splashed gasoline.
For anyone in love with capless fuel filling, do a Google search on problems Ford has with these. Many people now coming out of warranty are seeing $300+ bills to repair the system which has created a small vapor leak, lighting the check engine indicator. GM doesn’t need technology that doesn’t work. Hopefully the XTS version will be good in the long run, but Ford is starting to see they made a mistake going acroos the line, hopefully it won’t trigger a recall, as there are EPA rules for numbers of failures.
I have a 2011 Ford Fusion the Check engine light came on at 83k.Error Code PO456(vapor leak).Also noticed dirt in and around the filler so I had wiped it clean. No warranty to cover.
Its a great convenience if you rent the vehicle and don’t have to have it inspected or pay for the repair but it is high maintenance for the owner. Keeps you coming in for service.
I hope nobody else adopts this worthless, inconvenient feature. What ape can’t remember to put the gas cap back on? I’m not trolling, I really do hate this lazy man’s feature. My reasoning behind this is that it makes maintenance inconvenient or adding fuel via a can or funnel more difficult – it almost requires three hands. You need long, narrow spreaders to depress the two ears on the inner walls of the filler neck, then ram the funnel in while the flap tries to push it out and the spring tension on the ears tries to push your spreaders away.