Can't open petrol cap

[DBedford]

It’s incredible that an almost $50k car has such a terrible refuelling system it’s

Isn’t it, as I have read else where on this format, to comply with vapour recovery legislation in the US?

 

[Cafeg]

It’s incredible that an almost $50k car has such a terrible refuelling system

I wonder if there is anything we can put on the cap rubber seal to stop it binding like that, perhaps vaseline ? I just tried mine yesterday after 800kms since the last fill and I had to use the 8 inch shifting spanner again to get it to release the first bit again.

I just showed the petrol cap to the dealer and they are ordering a replacement fuel cap and the service dept will check it to see if it fixes it.
This has only been since the car software was updated recently, perhaps it isnt releasing enough pressure ?

 

[djenson]

Isn’t it, as I have read else where on this format, to comply with vapour recovery legislation in the US?

No, it's so air does not mix with the ethanol in the fuel causing water to get in the fuel. This is done as many can use the phev without touching the ICE for months at a time.

 

[Cafeg]

No, it's so air does not mix with the ethanol in the fuel causing water to get in the fuel. This is done as many can use the phev without touching the ICE for months at a time.

The ICE has to be used for charging the 12 volt system battery though doesnt it? That battery doesnt charge off the main drive battery system does it or does it trickle charge when driving. So eventually the ICE will have to startup for that ? It should and should charge when plugged in but does it ? I remember when I first bought it it was coming up with 12V system battery low - charging - for a couple of days on startup. What I normally do now is let the ICE run for about 3 - 5 mins at the start of the day then go into EV mode after that. My heater temp is set to 19 - 20 deg and the ICE motor never cuts in now and I stay in EV all day. If it does cut in I just lower the heater Temp 1 deg and the ICE turns off. I'm trying to see how far I can go on one fill up, I'm at 1050 km since last fill now and still have 4 bars of fuel ( half tank ) left

 

[djenson]

The ICE has to be used for charging the 12 volt system battery though doesnt it? That battery doesnt charge off the main drive battery system does it or does it trickle charge when driving. So eventually the ICE will have to startup for that ? It should and should charge when plugged in but does it ? I remember when I first bought it it was coming up with 12v system battery low - charging - for a couple of days on startup. What I normally do now is let the ICE run for about 3 - 5 mins at the start of the day then go into EV mode after that. My heater temp is set to 19 - 20 deg and the ICE motor never cuts in now and I stay in EV all day. If it does cut in I just lower the heater Temp 1 deg and the ICE turns off. I'm trying to see how far I can go on one fill up, I'm at 1050 Kms since last fill now and still have 4 bars of fuel ( half tank ) left

The MG HS has a DC-DC converter and can charge the 12V with the HV battery. This is easy to test, While moving your seat forwards/backwards, power up the vehicle. You will notice the seat moves faster as the DC-DC converter turns on.

Your 12V battery low is more likely to do with the vehicle sitting for a long time before being delivered to you.

The ICE is needed for cabin heat, as the HS PHEV does not contain a electrical heater or heat pump, so it needs to use engine heat for cabin heating. This means when the target temp is higher than the internal temp and the solar heating (it measures the light intensity from the sun) then the engine will be started.

 

[Cafeg]

MG dealer replaced my petrol cap today and its coming off a lot better now

 

[New to MG]

Got my MY23 MG HS + EV in Sydney a few days ago. Have not driven it much, perhaps 80 km.: as we still have our previous car. Drives well.
Slowly going through the usual 'new' car routine, seat position, look at options in the MG Pilot system, go through the home charging routine, tutor my wife with whatever I learn in various useful online videos etc. etc., .
So, far so good. This vehicle was a used demo with 950 km on the odometer. (I think it was being used in the MG Australia H.O., or so I was told). That’s good in some ways as any ‘new car issues’ are hopefully taken care of by MG, and some sensible settings put in on this Computerised Whiz Kid (which ALL brands of new cars are now!!).
So FINALLY, we came to let's-try-out-the-petrol-flap-and-cap. The flap ALWAYS opened after the green light 'signal', but the cap we had no luck with I was not successful opening the cap and neither was my wife. Tried 3-4 times over two days. Luckily all this was in the privacy of our garage - not in public at the pump!
Finally read all the comments here on the petrol fill issues. Yes Cafeg, I did reach for a spanner but luckily the one in the garage was tiny and did not grab the cap. Reading between the lines, I applied more brute force and the cap opened!
Crazy. After owning and driving cars for 50 years on three continents of the world we are not used to this drama about nothing!
Will soon let you know if the cap opens EASIER before I have my shower or after I have my shower! Will also check if it responds to different after shave lotions.

 

[Cafeg]

I didnt try any lube on the cap just in case it corrupted the petrol. I just use the spanner everytime now and its easy.

 

[brownlowchair]

Yes, I have experienced this.
First time I refueled my HS phev np, pushed the button under the dash for 2 secs as book said, waited until the green notice came up saying refuel now, opened the cap and filled up, np.
Second time I filled up, followed the same steps but the cap wouldnt release. I tried and a couple of others at the service station did as well but it was stuck tight.
Rung up the dealer he said bring it out and wouldnt you know it he opened the flap twisted the cap and it came straight off and said whats the problem
Now I carry a small 8 inch shifting spanner in the glovebox and if its tight, put the on spanner gently on and with more leverage it comes straight off
I did notice there was a tight bit to get it moving for a start but once it moves, it comes off


Carry a small 8 inch shifting spanner in your glovebox and the extra leverage with that on the cap it comes straight off

 

[ajw1100]

I keep an open ended spanner in the glove box, I am not sure of the size. It sits at a bit if an odd angle but allows more leverage to undo the cap.

 

[New to MG]

Yes. The fuel cap is firm and needs to be with these two :
1. Unscrew the cap slowly.
2. Use a firm / strong hand to unscrew the cap.

Don't know if this helps but I sometimes open the flap and unscrew the petrol cap for 10-15 seconds when I am wiping down and drying the car after a wash / clean.

 

[Cafeg]

I always have to unscrew it using my 8 inch shifting spanner. MG replaced the cap once but it was still the same. When you get old its hard to exert that much twisting pressure on it. when I first got the car standing in the petrol station trying to get it off and the others filling up tried as well and they couldnt do it either. That day I took to the dealer and they unscrewed it straight away... And yes I followed the books instructions to the letter. Its not a problem using the spanner and I only fill up 2 or 3 times a year anyway. I read it was pressurised so the petrol doesnt go stale being a phev and lasts a lot longer than a normal ICE.