Topic: Why locked gas cap isnt standard?

[random006]

Interesting reading.

After reading through the posts, I thought back on the cars I have owned.  I realized that none of my cars had either a locking gas cap or a remote release - present car included.  There might have been a few rentals with a remote release but I'm not sure on that one either.  Certainly none of them had a locking gas cap.

As far as freezing hinges goes, the only hinged or locked object that ever froze were driver and passenger doors.

[safristi]

..NON issue por moi.............Mazda has the cable release lock thingy....only one time issue with it...(oiled the flap cover hinges..bingo fine)   Ranger has non locked flap.......wot's the BIG DEAL.............folk actually suck gas these daze...most containers are wot 10 LITRES.................never happened in 30 years all over Canada and the US...Mexico and Caribbean holidays..................PUT in a fake filler opening and hide the REAL ONE if ya are losing $100 of GAS PER WEEK.............

[blur911]

A mustang I had had a locking cap, no flap.  I had to pick it apart piece by piece with a pair of vice grips one winter day when it froze up.  I was 300km away from home at a gas station in Montreal cursing and beating on it.  Drove home with a rag stuffed in the hole.

Never again.  The flaps with inside release aren't so bad, none frozen so far.

[Zoo]

I think it's a cost cuttng thing. My Grand Prix's gas tank door can be opened with your finger. Same with our 2000 Grand AM and my old '66 Beaumont (push the license plate down).

However, it doesn't bother me. If someone really wants to get at the fuel, all they need is a crowbar, jimmy or hammer and they'll get to it.

I'm glad I don't have it. On my dad's 2005 Civic, the cable broke and you couldn't get access to fill the car with gasoline. Cost $200 to fix.

One less thing that can go wrong in my opinion.

aha!I knew I was not the only one with an issue with a Civic and that darned fuel release cable! I had mine go 3 times!!! One time under warranty, another time I only paid for the part, and the third time I got dinged for the entire amount. There is a design flaw with the 7'th gen Civics and that cable...

[dr_spock]

All my cars had locking gas doors.   I never had a problem of the gas door not opening in hot or freezing temperatures.  Even the cable release on my 02 Civic works well for the gas door.  Unfortunately I wish I can say the same for the trunk.  It'll release the trunk but then the trunk can't stay closed...

[vdk]

This is the first car I've owned where I've been disappointed the gas flap isn't locked and there's that little lip to put your finger into to open (not the cleanest look). That was until I realized there's a mechanism that only allows it open when the doors are unlocked. Pretty smart.

Takes a while to realize if you're not familiar with the car. Looks really sketchy when 3 guys are looking around the car trying to find the fuel cap release button at a gas station in Scarborough in the middle of the night.  

[Schmengie]

My Versa's gas door has a cable release mounted on the dash. The door is spring-loaded so it pops open a couple of inches when it's released, no finger lip needed. It only iced up on me once and I was able to open it with a popsicle stick I keep in the glove box. I use it to get rid of the ice without damaging the paint or the door, a lot easier than fighting with a broken locking filler cap. That's an experience I don't care to repeat.

[carsncars]

The MINI's cap has a finger lip but has a pin that slides in place to lock it when the car is locked. Granted, it could easily be overcome with a crowbar (or some similarly useful implement), but I guess it's mostly a deterrent. I.E., if the theif finds it's locked, he/she moves onto a vehicle that doesn't have a locking gas cap.

[safristi]

...................WARNING REMOVE SLOWLY!!!...good choice of CAR............

[Marko]

The gas cap should be rigged to the battery and if some punk tries to steal your gas, ZAP!!!

[dorin]

The gas cap should be rigged to the battery and if some punk tries to steal your gas, ZAP!!!

Zap then BOOM!!!