Capless fuel tanks... is the idea as dumb as it seems?

[Jim Nelson]

This whole thing has the stench of EPA all over it, I am more happy than ever to be an old phart and my truck will out last me.

 

[k0ua]

My guess is that the move to capless fuel fillers is due in part to the number of fault codes from vacuum issues when people fail to secure the caps. The average person probably makes "reliability complaints" that might be impacting the vehicle reliability ratings. When the problem is due to idiots, you have to find a way to remove the idiot from the equation.

There is your answer right there. An effort by the manufacture to make the auto more idiot proof. An impossible task, but they have to try. 10's of thousands of warranty complaints are due to the fuel cap not screwed on. The capless fuel scheme is NOT to save the manufacture money in the form of the hardware it is to save the manufacture money from the idiot complaints. People are idiots. Anyone that has ever dealt with service calls of any kind knows that.

 

[Oldoak]

There is your answer right there. An effort by the manufacture to make the auto more idiot proof. An impossible task, but they have to try. 10's of thousands of warranty complaints are due to the fuel cap not screwed on. The capless fuel scheme is NOT to save the manufacture money in the form of the hardware it is to save the manufacture money from the idiot complaints. People are idiots. Anyone that has ever dealt with service calls of any kind knows that.

Is that the same reason SCUT and CUT manufacturers build in all the interlocks and safety switches on all their tractors. To idiot proof them?

 

[k0ua]

Is that the same reason SCUT and CUT manufacturers build in all the interlocks and safety switches on all their tractors. To idiot proof them?

Sure, to help deflect lawsuits that cost them big.

 

[xring100]

The hard start long crank is a standard feature on on the gm gasser DI motors especially the 5.3 and 6.2 my 2014 with conventional gas cap always had an extended crank. There are TSB's saying this is normal. One of the first times my wife rode in it my wife said whats wrong with this truck it sounds like an old da-da-dodge

I just took over a 2017 (?) Chevy pickup with this. The first time that I bought fuel I thought "What a way to let dust into the tank." I've had it about 4 weeks and it starts hard, like the fuel pump is going; a couple of times I didn't think that it was going to start. (the first time would have meant a 12 mile walk to phone coverage... in the pouring rain.) Has anybody had any problems with these, such as dirt or water in the tank?

 

[Oaktree]

the Taco Wagon came with a screw in cap on a tether. It also has a manual activated 4WD shift lever. Some of the old ways are still better.

What makes a manual 4WD lever better? Just another mechanical linkage to get in the way or become rusty and bind or have something stupid happen like a retaining clip fall out (had that happen on an old Jeep...had to drive 10 mi in 4lo to a garage where they could pop it back in enough to get it back into 2wd...I didn't have any tools with me at the time). Sheesh, my '02 Dakota has an electronic transfer case and it's never given me a bit of trouble.
Curiously, why do you call your truck the taco wagon?

 

[Streetcar]

Taco wagon was assembled in Mexico

 

[newbury]

<snip>had to drive 10 mi in 4lo to a garage where they could pop it back in enough to get it back into 2wd...I didn't have any tools with me at the time). <snip>

Well that is just wrong for starters!

 

[ruffdog]

This whole thing has the stench of EPA all over it, I am more happy than ever to be an old phart and my truck will out last me.

....maybe because so many people forgot to tighten their fuel caps? (or even install them) I can't believe how many people still ignore their tire pressures even with TPMS light on the dash. Duh.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I'm guessing the switch activated 4WD adds a thousand bucks to the repair cost of the system. Saw a Andrew Camaratta video where a customers expensive (electronic) p/u would not perform in off road conditions on account of the dash mounted system. Don't fully understand what that was about, but Camaratta who uses his truck for work day in and day out will have no part of the electronic junk.