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Mechanic warns drivers over fuel feature that could cost a fortune to replace

Mechanic warns drivers over fuel feature that could cost a fortune to replace

Daily Mirror22-05-2025
Scotty Kilmer, who has been a mechanic for over 52 years, has warned drivers about the capless fuel-filling systems that are increasingly being used in popular vehicles
A leading mechanic has shed light on the potential drawbacks of capless fuel-filling systems found in many modern vehicles. Capless technology is designed to prevent motorists from mistakenly filling their car with the incorrect fuel, as the nozzle will only fit its specific design.
However, Scotty Kilmer has warned drivers that a malfunctioning system could lead to a hefty bill, posing a significant financial hit for some petrol and diesel vehicle owners. The expert mechanic highlighted that repair costs could be up to twenty times higher than replacing a traditional fuel cap.

In a video on his YouTube channel, Scotty said: "Today I'm going to talk about these crazy capless gas filling systems."

He continued: "It looks like somebody forgot to put the cap on but no this is a capless system. Why the heck are they doing this? Basically, because they can."
Scotty noted the origins of the innovation, saying: "It was a great innovation in race cars; they could put the gas in faster and go without having to wait to put the cap on. But really you're not driving a race car."
He pointed out the inconvenience of repairs, stating: "Now unlike a gas cap, if it goes bad you can just go and buy another one and put it on. With these, you have to replace these assemblies.
"It isn't just that they cost a lot of money, it's that you have to take a lot of it apart to access and replace them," he added.
Scotty concluded with a stark comparison, "Then in some cars... you have to buy the whole assembly and it's going to cost you 300-500 bucks instead of buying a $15 gas cap."
YouTube users were quick to rally behind Scotty's opinion, many voicing their dissatisfaction with the system, reports the Express. @asimpson164 wrote: "Just another system of siphoning customer money back to the dealership."
@heroknaderi shared: "Hi Scotty I absolutely agree with you. This is definitely a silly design. I just stick with the standard gas cap." @matthewnelson1420 noted: "Exactly why vehicles keep getting more and more ridiculously expensive."
However, there was also a contingent that spoke up in favour of the capless fuel filler, shedding light on the advantages of the innovation. @busa89 stated: "I don't know anyone who has had an issue with this lol."
@richards6431 commented: "Capless tank is designed to prevent people from siphoning off gas. You need to use a special funnel to fill up from the gas can."
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