Well one I encountered yesterday.

 

Going on a 300 mile round trip yesterday, windscreen, rear and side windows cleared of frost, washer bottle topped up, lights checked etc etc.

 

Set off and en route pulled into the petrol station to fill up,,,,,,,,,,couldn't get the bl@@dy locking cap off, frozen!!!

 

Returned home (only 1 mile) and had to de ice the lock to get the key in and turn it.

 

Must be the design of the petrol lid, it allows water to drip over the cap/lock which then freezes.

Well, I don't have this problem. We rarely have negative temps here in Greece, but more importantly my fuel cap does not have a lock cylinder! I didn't even know that others have, since I thought that the flap locking was sufficient security. Maybe fuel theft is more common in the UK?

Heya,

 

never happend to me, and we get some serious negative temperatures here. Would be useful to have a de-frost spray can handy or to cover the cap with a small plastic bag (simply cheap ).

 

All the best!

Well, I don't have this problem. We rarely have negative temps here in Greece, but more importantly my fuel cap does not have a lock cylinder! I didn't even know that others have, since I thought that the flap locking was sufficient security. Maybe fuel theft is more common in the UK?

 

I don't know about the Rapid, but some (if not most) other cars have an additional fuel anti-theft feature that prevent the insertion of a tube to suck the fuel out. Does anybody know if this is the case with the Rapid? 

 

All the best from Timisoara!

My UK Spaceback doesn't have a seperate lock on the fuel filler cap. I have a feeling it was a feature of earlier cars that got changed somewhere along the line. My wife's Panda doesn't even have a fuel filler cap!

Yes, this was a feature of the earlier Rapid / Toledo.  Changed when there were suspension modifications and more elegant aerial amongst others.

 

I've often found that 'pre-icer' is good, if a bit gloopy.

The locking lid I've had on other  cars is better than the locking cap, faffing around with keys.

 

I'll just have to make sure I can get the cap unlocked before I leave home. I don't use de icer, hate the stuff and I rarely go out if the weather is bad, unless I have to of course (retired)

I had a Toledo then Rapid and now Toledo again.The first two cars had the locking filler cap and the present Toledo a locking flap controlled by the central locking.With the first two cars the business of unlocking the cap was so annoying that I just left it unlocked.Fortunately I never had any fuel stolen.

My UK Spaceback doesn't have a seperate lock on the fuel filler cap. I have a feeling it was a feature of earlier cars that got changed somewhere along the line. My wife's Panda doesn't even have a fuel filler cap!

 

Likewise with the V40, no filler flap and with the Spaceback the door acts as the lock.

 

 

TP

Edited 25 November, 201510 yr by The Plumber

I never lock it. its such an awkward design to open and shut otherwise.