Regardless of how frequently you use your vehicle, we bet you don’t give the gas cap much thought. The problem is that a gas cap does a lot more than just seal off your vehicle’s filler neck when you’ve finished filling it up. The gas cap on your car is part of a complicated emissions control system that helps avoid pollution that can harm the environment. The gas cap, in particular, protects the gas tank of your car or truck from leaking gasoline fumes.
Do you know how the gas cap produces a clicking sound when you turn it clockwise to close the tank? That’s the sound of the cap’s seal engaging; if your vehicle’s present gas cap doesn’t make that sound, it’s possible that it’s a bad one.
If you’re looking for a replacement gas cap, check out our list of the top 10 best gas caps available today.
#1 Gates Fuel Tank Cap (31838)
Brand: Gates Fuel Tank Cap
Gates is a household name in the aftermarket auto parts sector, owing to the company’s success in producing components for a diverse range of popular automobiles. This replacement gas cap (31838) is one of them. It is a direct-fit item for Chrysler, Dodge, and Jeep vehicles, as well as some Nissan, Mitsubishi, and Subaru cars and SUVs.
#2 ACDelco GM OE Fuel Tank Cap (GT261)
Brand: ACDelco
Despite the diversity of the GM vehicle range, there is a lot of part commonality among models that appear to be very distinct. That’s how you get a replacement gas cap that fits over 700 distinct GM vehicles (if you count different model years) constructed from the late 1990s to the mid-2000s.
ACDelco specializes in replacement components for General Motors vehicles, so they understand how your vehicle works almost as well as GM. The ACDelco GT261 is a threaded plastic gas cap that fits beneath your vehicle’s gas door. It contains a rubber gasket to keep water and dust out of your fuel filler neck and a check valve to manage air pressure in your gas tank.
#3 MotoRad Tethered Fuel Cap (MGC-817T)
Brand: MotoRad
Finding replacement parts for an aging European car might be one of the most difficult aspects of driving one. If you find yourself in this pecuilar predicament often, the MotoRad gas cap might be just what you need. According to the company, this cap is intended to be a replacement for automobiles manufactured by practically every manufacturer in North America today, as well as some manufacturers that have long since vanished from the continent. Daewoo, Daihatsu, Lancia, Renault, and Suzuki are among the now-defunct automakers.
#4 Stant Fuel Cap (10817)
Brand: Stant
The Stant 10817 is a simple replacement cap that does not include a tether. Despite that omission, this is a well-reviewed gas cap that should serve you well as a low-cost replacement for the warning light on your vehicle’s dashboard or if you misplaced your factory cap.
This non-locking gas cap is constructed of the usual textured black plastic used for this item. Despite being intended as a direct replacement, this cap is slightly smaller than the OEM part on some vehicles. You may have better luck using this one if you have an aftermarket fuel door that conflicts with your OEM gas cap.
#5 Gates Gas Cap (31832)
Brand: Gates
The Cadillac CTS luxury sedan, the Chevrolet Malibu and Honda Accord family vehicles, the Lexus RX 350 premium SUV, Chevrolet’s Volt plug-in hybrid, the Toyota Avalon and Camry sedans, and the Honda Insight and Toyota Prius hybrid cars are among the fitments Gates recommends for this gas cap. The Honda CR-V and Element SUVs, Subaru’s Forester crossover, and even the Subaru STI fast sedan have all had this gas cap successfully installed.
#6 Allmotorparts Gas Cap (AMP140)
Brand: Allmotorparts
Jeep has been manufacturing the Wrangler for many years and has redesigned it multiple times. Allmotorparts’ gas cap, on the other hand, suits a wide range of model years. If you drive a Wrangler TJ from 2003 to 2007, this cap works with the emissions control system on the four- and inline-six-cylinder engines under the hood. It is also compatible with the 3.6- and 3.8-liter V6 engines used in the 2007-2017 JK generation. This cap, however, is incompatible with the JL generation introduced in 2018.
#7 Gates Locking Fuel Tank Cap (31778)
Brand: Gates
Jeep has been manufacturing the Wrangler for many years and has redesigned it multiple times. Allmotorparts’ gas cap, on the other hand, suits a wide range of model years. If you drive a Wrangler TJ from 2003 to 2007, this cap works with the emissions control system on the four- and inline-six-cylinder engines under the hood. It is also compatible with the 3.6- and 3.8-liter V6 engines used in the 2007-2017 JK generation. This cap, however, is incompatible with the JL generation introduced in 2018.
#8 ROVIKE Gas Cap
Brand: ROVIKE
According to ROVIKE, this gas cap fits most BMW and MINI cars from the early 2000s until 2018. The Cooper, Clubman, and Countryman hatchbacks and SUVs, as well as practically every BMW model line from that era, are among such vehicles.
The MINI models employ 1.6-liter turbocharged and naturally aspirated engines, whereas relevant BMW cars may have turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engines, six-cylinder engines with and without turbocharging, and high-end performance luxury models with turbocharged V8 and V12 powertrains.
#9 YCT Gas Cap (YCT1406)
Brand: YCT
This gas cap is compatible with a wide range of automobiles, each with its own engine and emissions control system. These include the 1.8-liter four-cylinder in Corolla sedans and Matrix hatchbacks, four-cylinder or V6 engines in Camry family cars, RAV4, 4Runner, and Highlander SUVs, and 1.5-liter Yaris hatchbacks. If you drive a Lexus, this cap will fit the IS and ES sedans, as well as the LS full-size luxury car and the GX, RX, and LX SUV models.
#10 POWER WORKS Gas Cap (GT330)
Brand: POWER WORKS
This gas cap is compatible with a wide range of automobiles, each with its own engine and emissions control system. These include the 1.8-liter four-cylinder in Corolla sedans and Matrix hatchbacks, four-cylinder or V6 engines in Camry family cars, RAV4, 4Runner, and Highlander SUVs, and 1.5-liter Yaris hatchbacks. If you drive a Lexus, this cap will fit the IS and ES sedans, as well as the LS full-size luxury car and the GX, RX, and LX SUV models.
Essential Information About Gas Caps
The gas cap is a component of a car’s evaporative emissions control system. It seals the vehicle’s fuel system and prevents diesel or gasoline vapors from escaping into the environment. When your gas cap fails, the smell of fuel will be very noticeable near your car. Another indication is when the cap also fails to click when you try to tighten it. If your gas cap fails, it can trigger the “check engine” warning light on your car. Some vehicles feature a dedicated warning light that tells when a gas cap fails or if it’s not fully tightened.
If you think you own a faulty gas cap, bring it to a repair shop that performs car smog tests. They can check it there and attach the gas cap to a device that can test if the cap can provide an adequate seal or not. If it fails, you will immediately need a gas cap replacement. You can look back on our list from above to choose among the best options.
Black, Green, or Yellow Gas Caps
Most vehicles have black gas caps, but some have green or yellow versions. A black gas cap is an indication that the vehicle is engineered to run on gasoline with less than 10% of ethanol content. A green gas cap indicates that it runs on diesel. A yellow cap indicates that the vehicle runs on gasoline with 15-85% ethanol content.