Video: Ford introduces capless Direct Fill System on 2008 Explorer
For 2008 Ford is introducing a new capless fuel filling system dubbed Direct Fill System (DFS) on the Explorer and Mariner SUVs. At some point we've all been in a rush and driven away from a gas station having forgotten to screw the gas cap back on. People with arthritic hands also often have a difficult time screwing and unscrewing gas caps securely.
While this is certainly an annoyance especially when the cap is left hanging and banging against the paint on the side of your car, it also leads to evaporation loss of your fuel. The DFS system automatically seals the filler neck when you remove the nozzle and swivels out of the way when you insert it greatly reducing evaporative emissions during fueling. The DFS system will be rolled out to all Ford Motor Company vehicles over the next couple of years. There's a short demonstration video after the jump.
[Source: Ford]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
ug 5:29PM (6/30/2007)
Great. They can make it that much easier for us to blow hundreds of dollars filling the tanks of SUVs instead of running on electricity.
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Chris K. 4:48AM (7/01/2007)
I noticed that on my Escape Hybrid and wondered what it was. Now I know!
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dygituljunky 2:51PM (7/01/2007)
Georgia currently tests the gas caps during emissions inspections ... without a cap to test, I'm guessing that we'll run into another issue like the Prius (which fails Georgia emissions because the ICE shuts down when idling).
I wonder ...
dygituljunky
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MikeW 9:56PM (7/01/2007)
If Ford was going to implement such a system, shouldn't it be behind locking fuel doors.
I though 1/4 turn caps was enough for people with osteoarthritis.
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Don 3:53PM (7/02/2007)
Uh, what's fantastic about that...except the fantastic ability for someone to siphon gas out of your tank for put in a tablespoon of sugar?
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RObert 3:16PM (8/29/2008)
The siphoning is a concern, but the sugar in the tank has been proven to not be a problem to the fuel system.
Looks like a neat idea, but unless there is a locking outer door, the punks that steal gas from cars will have an easy time!
charles 8:28PM (1/13/2008)
Dont these num-skulls konw that dirt and water will get inside the fuel door,then into the fuel.They need to come out into the real world or should I say the working mans world and see how some of these 3rd grader inspired ideas really work..This won't last 1 year til its dumped,and any body with one will have to shell out big bucks for repairs and then buy a Gas Cap!!!!DUHH
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mo 9:04AM (6/12/2009)
Where is the locking cover door? How do you prevent someone from putting water in the gas tank? hmmmmmmmm Ford?
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