Siphoning gas issues

[BroncoB]

So something has bothered me a few days and I'm hoping someone can shed light on the workings of the anti-siphon technology and vents/screens/etc in the fuel filler neck. Things have been really hectic and the other day I came home and interrupted some kids trying to siphon gas out of my Bronco. Luckily no confrontation and I don't think they got any but not knowing exactly how the innards of the filler neck works I have been wondering if they might have damaged anything. All they were using was clear plastic tubing.

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[AK SNO RIDER]

Were they even able to get the hose in? You have to depress the tabs on both sides of the filler hole to get the flap open, which is why Ford includes a gas nozzle sized funnel with the tools.

 

[Jwredneck]

It could be a lot worse. Our tank was drilled in June.

 

[BroncoB]

Yes they had a small hose inside a bigger hose. It was in quite a ways like maybe 5 feet give or take. It was a bitch to get it out i had to hold the flaps open or it bit into the tubing. Thankful they didn’t drill the tank.

 

[BroncoB]

Hey @flip, could you possibly help out with this info?

Also, would you have the torque specs for the underbody shields (or skid plates). The shop manual shows the underbody shields listed at 22lbs/ft under the engine oil change section and 124lbs/ft under the body/paint/front end body. Possibly the 22lb/ft is for the plastic shields and the 124lb/ft is for the skid plates?

 

[flip]

Front skid and front engine shield is 124lb in or roughly 12lb ft. I couldn't find the specific one for steel and assume this is plastic. Here's what the accessory kit shows for the steel plates.

Workshop manual shows....
Shield under the sway bar disco is 26lb ft
Transfer case shield 22lb ft
Fuel tank straps and plate bolts 59lb ft


As far as siphoning....The WSM show the removal of the short rubber hose between the bottom of the filler neck and tank to gain access for draining. I don't have a pic of the capless filler but as others have stated, the tabs need to be depressed equally in order for the door to unlock and allow the filler nozzle to enter. I guess it would be possible to use an emergency filler funnel or hose to unlock it then a smaller hose to get into the tank but not sure how small the inner hose would need to be (outer diameter) for it to get all the way into the tank. We've seen some filling stations with dinged nozzle tips won't open hit the tabs correctly and open the door so they are pretty picky/sensitive about actuation.

Not that I want people hurt but it seems like it's going to take someone getting bbq'd before this crap stops. Ford has an accessory lock for capless systems but it doesn't show it fitting a bronco. https://accessories.ford.com/products/locking-fuel-plug

 

[HBTFD]

There used to be a ball assembly inside the filler tube going into all ford fuel tanks. In case of a rollover the ball would be pulled by gravity to seal the tube preventing fuel from gushing out. I’m not sure if Ford still uses the ball but it would be difficult to get a siphon tube pass the ball assembly.

 

[EgreenBadSquatch]

Front skid and front engine shield is 124lb in or roughly 12lb ft. I couldn't find the specific one for steel and assume this is plastic. Here's what the accessory kit shows for the steel plates.

Workshop manual shows....
Shield under the sway bar disco is 26lb ft
Transfer case shield 22lb ft
Fuel tank straps and plate bolts 59lb ft


As far as siphoning....The WSM show the removal of the short rubber hose between the bottom of the filler neck and tank to gain access for draining. I don't have a pic of the capless filler but as others have stated, the tabs need to be depressed equally in order for the door to unlock and allow the filler nozzle to enter. I guess it would be possible to use an emergency filler funnel or hose to unlock it then a smaller hose to get into the tank but not sure how small the inner hose would need to be (outer diameter) for it to get all the way into the tank. We've seen some filling stations with dinged nozzle tips won't open hit the tabs correctly and open the door so they are pretty picky/sensitive about actuation.

Not that I want people hurt but it seems like it's going to take someone getting bbq'd before this crap stops. Ford has an accessory lock for capless systems but it doesn't show it fitting a bronco. https://accessories.ford.com/products/locking-fuel-plug

So nice to have different torque specs for each part of the skid plates.

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