[2018 CX-5] What’s this white plastic in my fuel tank? Prevents refueling at most gas stations

[CoxHazards]

I’m not sure if this piece is supposed to be there or how it even got dislodged like that (don’t think that’s the correct orientation for whatever that is).

Refueling is a pain in the ass, only a few nozzles will work, most will stop because the white piece causes fuel back flow and causes it to shut off.

Can I safely push the white piece into the tank or try pulling it out? See pictures.

 

[wlong01]

If you're under warranty take it to the dealer.
Are you the original owner?
If not it might be something to prevent gas from being siphoned out.

 

[Conrad 16.5]

That's odd.

I'd be VERY tempted to get that thing outta there myself.

 

[CoxHazards]

If you're under warranty take it to the dealer.
Are you the original owner?
If not it might be something to prevent gas from being siphoned out.

Out of warranty, not original owner, bought the car a month ago.

 

[CoxHazards]

That's odd.

I'd be VERY tempted to get that thing outta there myself.

I just want to make sure it's not a critical part of the fuel tank/low pressure fuel pump before I try something.

 

[sm1ke]

Out of warranty, not original owner, bought the car a month ago.

It's possible that the previous owner jammed that in there to prevent people from siphoning their fuel. Definitely doesn't look like its by design. You could try taking it to an independent shop for a second opinion, but if it's loose enough, I would try fishing it out with a grabber tool or a pick of some kind.

 

[murky]

If it's an original part and came from lower down, its broken and probably can't be fixed from the outside. If it's meant to connect in that hole, you should be able to pull it up. If it's not tethered, and not broken, you should be able to get it back to where it is now.

I would try pulling up with moderate force and see if it comes up easily, and take it out. I wouldn't jam the gas nozzle in there for fear of pushing it in to where it is difficult to get out.

If it ruins your car, oops.

 

[paris1]

I just want to make sure it's not a critical part of the fuel tank/low pressure fuel pump before I try something.

So why not just have your dealer take a look at it?

 

[CoxHazards]

So why not just have your dealer take a look at it?

Because that costs money.

 

[murky]

I'm pretty sure my 2018 doesn't have anything like that visible.

I just checked, nothing but smooth metal. I'd get some needle nose pliers or forceps and pull it out.

 

[paris1]

Because that costs money.

I can't imagine not being able to "sweet talk" a service writer or even a service manager into taking a quick look down your car's filler neck and getting his opinion on whether you should be concerned or not.

 

[CX5Nut]

Has it been like this since you bought the car, or something new?

 

[CX5Nut]

Just looked at our 2018...no plastic down the filler hole. But the back of the gas cap is made of white plastic. Is the backside of your gas cap intact?

 

[CoxHazards]

Just looked at our 2018...no plastic down the filler hole. But the back of the gas cap is made of white plastic. Is the backside of your gas cap intact?

I don't see any white part on the gas cap, do you have a picture of yours?

 

[CX5Nut]

Sure....just went into the garage and took it. The back is made of white plastic as you can see:

 

[CX5Nut]

Is the white plastic missing from your cap??

 

[Conrad 16.5]

Thanks guys, you just made me have to go out to check my gas cap, and it's raining.

My cap looks exactly like CX5Nut's cap.

Looking back at the OP's pics, it doesn't look like what's under the cap at all to me, but we can't see the entire piece.

 

[CoxHazards]

Is the white plastic missing from your cap??

Never mind, that white part was not missing from the cap.

UPDATE: I fished out the white piece from the fuel filler neck, refueled without any issues (previously wouldn’t refuel easily).

Now the mystery is finding out what this piece is and why it was dislodged in there, I’m wondering if it’s part of anything inside the fuel tank. Here are some pictures:

 

[N7turbo]

It's possible that the previous owner jammed that in there to prevent people from siphoning their fuel. Definitely doesn't look like its by design. You could try taking it to an independent shop for a second opinion, but if it's loose enough, I would try fishing it out with a grabber tool or a pick of some kind.

I am pretty sure this is a foreign object, whether placed there by the previous owner, their child, etc...

 

[Kedis82ZE8]

That looks to me like the stopper mechanism on some kind of portable fuel container. Assume spring loaded and seals off on the end with the black gasket.