There are two tools that every 2015 onwards Mustang has hidden away, do you know what they are? A short fuel funnel tube and an emergency towing bolt are found tucked in the spare tyre well.
Most owners never spot them until they are in there fitting a proper spare wheel kit for the first time. Let’s talk you through the uses of these two hands tools.
If you have installed your Pony Parts Australia DriveSava Spare Wheel Kit, chances are you have already come across both of these items without realising what they were for. Ford tucks them away deep in the factory tyre well, which is exactly why so many Mustang owners drive around for years without ever knowing they are there.
The short funnel tube is stowed in the spare tyre well at the rear left side, almost hidden from view. Since your Mustang has a fuel cap built into the fuel door rather than a traditional flap, pouring fuel straight from a jerry can is not exactly straightforward in an emergency. That is where the funnel comes in, giving you a clean way to get fuel from the can into the tank if you ever run dry somewhere without a servo nearby.
It is one of those items you hope you never need, but it is worth keeping stowed correctly all the same. Running out of fuel on a country stretch of road is a lot less stressful when you already know exactly where the funnel is.
The second item is the emergency towing bolt, and it is located inside the big foam block in the centre of the tyre well, the same block you need to remove when fitting your DriveSava Spare Wheel Kit. You might wonder why a car needs a separate bolt just for towing. The answer comes down to modern bumper design.
Almost every new car, Mustangs included, has a plastic front bumper with no obvious towing point that will not risk damage. Look closely at the driver side front bumper and you will find a small plastic button, roughly 50 millimetres across, that pops out to reveal a threaded hole. Remove the button and screw in the emergency towing bolt, and you have a proper attachment point that keeps your Mustang from picking up unwanted scrapes or cracks if you are ever towed.
If you find yourself in any of the following situations and need to be towed, keep your emergency towing bolt in-reach!
It is tempting to clear everything out of the tyre well and toss anything that looks like factory packaging you do not need, especially once you have a genuine spare wheel kit fitted. Resist that urge! A mechanical failure or a flat battery can leave you needing a tow at the worst possible time, and that little bolt is the difference between a clean recovery and a bill for bumper damage.
Most Mustangs leave the factory without a real spare tyre at all, just a tyre mobility kit that is next to useless if you pick up a sidewall puncture or a full blowout. That is exactly the gap the DriveSava Spare Wheel Kit was built to close, giving Mustang owners a genuine full size spare that fits neatly under the boot floor without crowding out the rest of the factory contents, funnel tube and towing bolt included.
Where is the towing bolt kept on a Mustang? It sits inside the foam block in the centre of the tyre well, the same block most owners remove once when fitting a proper spare wheel kit.
Do I still need the factory funnel tube once I have a full size spare? Yes. The funnel deals with refuelling from a jerry can, not with tyre issues, so it is still worth keeping on board regardless of what spare you are running.
Can I buy a replacement if mine has gone missing? Both items are genuine Ford parts, so your local Ford dealer or a wrecker should be able to source a replacement if either has been lost or thrown out over the years.
Don’t make your Mustang wait, get your DriveSava Spare Wheel Kit and be ready for all the summer cruising that’s just around the corner.
