Frozen flaps

B0bbyEwing

Fuel flaps that is. 

That time of year again & I'm wondering if any experienced folk here have a fix for this situation (that doesn't involve owning a house with a garage).

Last year I nearly got caught out when I went to fuel my car. Unlike the last car which you pulled on the fuel flap & it had a portion of it where you do just that with your finger, this current car has a flush flap. You pull a lever by the drivers seat to pop the flap open but when it's frozen, there isn't much popping open going on.

I had to leave the [diesel] station & hope it thawed out throughout the day - which it did thankfully.

With temperatures dropping and a long drive ahead, I'm wanting to avoid that situation this year if possible. Any tips?

SergeantBaker

B0bbyEwing said:

Fuel flaps that is. 

That time of year again & I'm wondering if any experienced folk here have a fix for this situation (that doesn't involve owning a house with a garage).

Last year I nearly got caught out when I went to fuel my car. Unlike the last car which you pulled on the fuel flap & it had a portion of it where you do just that with your finger, this current car has a flush flap. You pull a lever by the drivers seat to pop the flap open but when it's frozen, there isn't much popping open going on.

I had to leave the [diesel] station & hope it thawed out throughout the day - which it did thankfully.

With temperatures dropping and a long drive ahead, I'm wanting to avoid that situation this year if possible. Any tips?

Plan ahead, make sure you fill up the day before and not the frozen morning of the drive. 

superstylin

I'm sure the service station would've allowed you a cup of warm water to pour over said flap. 

superstylin

Or lube your flap 👍 petroleum jelly?

Car_54

Open the flap the night before?

Bigwheels1111

I see 3 steps ahead.
1 lube up the catch / release pin.
2 get a locking fuel cap and leave the flap open.
3 fill up every warm day and keep it full.

I had an issue with my old Vectra, came out to the car with a temp of -10.
Used the fob to unlock the doors, to doors unlocked but would not open.
Stuck fast, all of them. Ended up getting the boot open and climbed through and forced the door from inside.
Fix was a length of string around the inner door grip and left it hanging outside the door overnight.
So could give a pull in the morning. Not ideal but worked.
The fix for me was dry silicone spray, sprayed a cloth with it and wiped it all round the door rubbers.
Worked a treat.
Did it to my car yesterday as was a block of ice, washers frozen.
Changed screen-wash to Halfords -10 berry. 
Covered front and rear screens with the silver protectors.
Pumped up tyres so TPMS was happy.

400ixl

Get some low temperature spray grease and spray it into the mechanism in the flap and if you can on any other exposed moving parts on the cable run.

Car_54

Bigwheels1111 said:

I see 3 steps ahead.
1 lube up the catch / release pin.
2 get a locking fuel cap and leave the flap open.
3 fill up every warm day and keep it full.

If you do (3), you won't need (1) or (2).

If you really need to refuel in the morning, you probably don't need (2).

Mutton_Geoff

I reckon some water has run into the bowden cable (ie like a cycle brake cable) from the filler cap end. Once it warms up again and the cable is dry, squirt some silicone spray lubricant down the cable between core and sheath.

A lubricated sheath is essential to fix sticking flaps.

This gives an idea of what needs doing ..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQnMdOL09uY

B0bbyEwing

Thanks for the replies. 

Is this a needing a pit kind of job or can you do it without that? 

I don't usually let it get to the dregs. Tend to fill up with about 1/4 left but there's always that one time. 

Speaking of the doors, I have in the past put some protectant on the rubber seals which helped with the doors sticking. A windscreen sheet trapped inside the doors also helped, but door rubbers are right in front of you & therefore easily accessible. Not sure where this cable is hiding at. I'd need to have a look but problem is the only time I'm seeing daylight these days is when I'm at work. 

Bonniepurple

Mutton_Geoff said:

I reckon some water has run into the bowden cable (ie like a cycle brake cable) from the filler cap end. Once it warms up again and the cable is dry, squirt some silicone spray lubricant down the cable between core and sheath.

A lubricated sheath is essential to fix sticking flaps.

This gives an idea of what needs doing ..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQnMdOL09uY

Did you mean to add the innuendo or is it just how my mind works?