Someone go pop their gas cap off for me.

[E.B. Cornburner]

This has been bothering me since I bought this Explorer...Is there some sort of little flapper door on the filler neck restrictor, or is it just an open hole? I'd like to think the latter is true, and there's not a flapper door and spring laying on the bottom of the gas tank somewhere!

If it's true that there's no metal flapper door on there, that brings up the next dumb question...Why not? It would be the first vehicle I've owned (with the exception of the diesels and pre-unleaded gas ones) that didn't have this little flapper door on the filler neck.

I'll sleep better at night once I finally put this issue to rest. (No pun intended...That did sound funny though.)

 

[Stic-o]

there is a little metal flapper on my '99 so I would the newer would be as such as well

 

[abarkl]

There's one in my '03.

 

[mr. Charles]

. . . . . . just went out and checked for ya = on my 96 XLT, it DOES have this little Round_spring-loaded type flapper door in it's Unleaded_fuel opening under the stock twist_clicker cap........:

mr. Charles

 

[Turdle]

I would sleep sound-
Even if the piece did work it's way to the pickup area-I doubt it would get sucked up-being metal.
Now, even if it did, I doubt it would clog the whole sock (filter at base of in tank fuel pump). It definitely will not make it past it.
Then there is a fine mesh screen after the sock, further protecting the pump.
If it is riding in the tank, I'll bet it is there for a good long time.

 

[jkirkpa]

I'm almost positive there isn't one on my 05. Maybe a common problem?

 

[E.B. Cornburner]

I'm almost positive there isn't one on my 05. Maybe a common problem?

Either that, or a new design. My '04 is a relatively late model (06/2004) so maybe it's something that was changed on the latest versions.

I'll call my friends at the Ford dealer today and see if anyone can confirm one way or another.

 

[Gadget X]

There is one on my '94.

 

[Curtis]

My 96 has one, but my 04, manufactured in 01/04 does not have the "flapper"

 

[E.B. Cornburner]

my 04, manufactured in 01/04 does not have the "flapper"

That's the answer I was looking for!

I wonder why not?

(Yes, I get a bit obsessive-compulsive about little things like this.)

 

[High_Order1]

I went out and looked in an 05 - no flapper. No clue why it was deleted...


-Shawn

 

[Doug]

Conspiracy?

 

[Gator Jeff]

Flapper, check!

2000 Sport manufactured 10/99. Flapper is there.

 

[misconceived]

My 04 has no flapper. I too always wondered... why?

 

[E.B. Cornburner]

Ya know, the more I think about it, the more pointless I see that flapper door being in the first place. What purpose does it really serve? As long as there's a restrictor in the filler neck so someone couldn't put leaded gasoline or diesel fuel or something other than unleaded or E85 in it, the little hinged flapper door is really unimportant.

Maybe Ford felt the same way and deleted it to save those extra couple cents on each unit.*shrug*

 

[ntrpriz]

Back in the day before your dash would tell you your gas cap was open, it probably kept fuel from spilling when you forgot to replace the cap and drove away. Just a guess though.

 

[Studious]

That cap is a safeguard. My old man seems to think it was a regulation for sometime which may have ended earlier in the decade with better fuel tank construction.

Otherwise it could be a stupid attempt to save some money at the cost of added safety.


meh...

 

[FilLaB0NGo7]

my 96 XLT' has one.

 

[High_Order1]

One purpose I have been told that it was for was to discourage the occasional street-level petroleum distributor from making a withdrawal with a flexible hose. (shrugs shoulders)

-Shawn

A thought occurs: wonder if it was a feature to slow a fuel spill from an overturned vehicle??

 

[misconceived]

High order.... Good thunkin