Fuel tank cap: the most underestimated "black technology carrier" on cars!

When it comes to the technological configuration of cars, most people think of autonomous driving and car screens, but no one pays attention to the fuel tank cap that is only touched when refueling. This small component with a diameter of only a dozen centimeters is no longer a simple tool for "unscrewing and pouring oil" - from the earliest pure mechanical structure to the current intelligent system that can prevent leakage, theft, and even detect oil quality, the evolution history of the fuel tank cap hides the automotive industry's ultimate pursuit of "detail safety".

The fuel tank cap of a car in the 1920s was just an ordinary metal cap without a lock cylinder, screwed onto the fuel tank opening with threads. At that time, thieves often took advantage of the car owner's inattention and pried open the lid to steal oil; What's even more dangerous is that when encountering bumpy roads, the cover is prone to loosen, and the risk of gasoline leakage is extremely high. It was not until the 1950s that the lockable fuel tank cap appeared. Although it was only a simple mechanical lock, it at least solved the basic needs of "anti-theft" and "leak proof". This design has been used for nearly 40 years.

The real transformation began in the 2000s. With the tightening of environmental regulations, "anti evaporation fuel tank caps" have emerged - rubber sealing rings and pressure valves are installed on the inside of the cap to prevent gasoline vapor leakage and reduce air pollution. By 2010, more intelligent "keyless fuel tank caps" had become popular, and car owners did not need to take out their keys. When approaching the vehicle, the fuel tank cap would automatically unlock, and after refueling, it would automatically lock when closed, completely saying goodbye to the trouble of "finding the key to open the fuel tank".

Nowadays, fuel tank caps have already mastered the art. The fuel tank cap of the new 2024 gasoline car is equipped with an oil quality sensor, which can detect the purity and water content of gasoline in real time during refueling. Once inferior fuel is found, the car's system will immediately remind the owner; Some high-end models are also equipped with an "emergency fuel outlet valve". When the vehicle falls into the water, the valve will automatically close to prevent engine failure caused by water entering the fuel tank. A repairman joked, "Repairing a fuel tank cap now is even more complicated than repairing the engine of an old car

However, controversy also followed. Some car owners have reported that the sensor of the smart fuel tank cap is prone to false alarms, and even though it is filled with qualified gasoline, it frequently prompts "abnormal fuel quality"; And the maintenance cost is high, with a fuel tank cap with a sensor costing more than three times more to replace than traditional styles.

From the "unlocked metal cap" to the "intelligent safety guard", the changes in the fuel tank cap may seem small, but they confirm the development logic of the automotive industry: true progress requires not only breakthroughs in engines and transmissions, but also in every easily overlooked detail, to maintain the safety bottom line. Perhaps in the future, with the popularization of new energy vehicles, the fuel tank cap will gradually disappear, but the concept of "detail safety" it carries will never become outdated.