I've received one of those 'did you know' emails that crop up from time to time. It reckons that the fuel pump symbol on the fuel gauge shows which side of the car the fuel filler is on depending on which side the nozzle is depicted. This is supposed to be for new drivers and hire car users convenience when entering fuel stations.
True or False?
Edited by Pugugly {P} on 05/01/2008 at 11:15
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My X-trail has an arrow pointing to the near side
Nice & handy reminder
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On my 98 Mondeo the symbol and fuel filler are on the right.
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On the left or right of what?
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>>On the left or right of what?
As per (on the left)
www.americasmpg.com/fuel_gauge.jpg
or left
tinyurl.com/24gwjq
or both examples - note the nozzle :-
www.carblog.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/petro...g
The best one I have seen is
www.steeleworld.net/HomePage.htm
Happy pumping in 2008
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>>On the left or right of what? As per (on the left) www.americasmpg.com/fuel_gauge.jpg
This instantly disproves the myth, since the filler hose on the picture is on the right, but the arrow points left.
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Not the nozzle, but the arrow next to pump symbol.
I don't think it is something that one should be reminded at.
Even for hired cars, I check all the sides (for everything) before stepping on pedals.
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No, that's an old tale. Its pretty random. I like it when they have a proper reminder on the gauge "Fuel filler --->" - like on Subarus. I even forget on vehicles I've driven for years, let alone hire cars.
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>>>My X-trail has an arrow pointing to the near side
Ditto my Mazda6, though I?ve not noticed it in over five years.
Clk Sec
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>>>My X-trail has an arrow pointing to the near side Ditto my Mazda6 though I?ve not noticed it in over five years. Clk Sec
Ditto my Merc C-class (facelift - the pre-facelifts didn't have this IIRC).
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So what does the icon on a Series 3 Jaguar XJ6 look like??
Edited by OldSock on 04/01/2008 at 14:40
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My recent Totota Avensis had an direction arrow next to the fuel fill symbol which indicated which side of the vehicle the filler nozzle is. I thought it was a simple, effective and thoughtful touch which should be universally applied. My new Skoda has no such arrow, but I will check out the theory you put forward. Thanks Concrete
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My Mondeo III had and Mazda6 has the arrow pointing to the side the filler is on. I thought most cars had this now. Seems to be right on all the cars I have used recently including hire cars.
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I've searched in vain for the previous megapost on this. Anyway. MKV golf has a helpful arrow as has a MK2 Focus I hired recently and the Skoda offers no such help, the gauge being in the middle of the pod.
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My Skoda now has a sticky label with an arrow on it stuck to the lower door trim next to the flap release switch. There is also a vinyl glove behind the fuel flap wedged above the filler cap.
Cars are now so boringly similar, it's only the reminders you stick on which do any good.
(There's another one on the oil filler cap detailing the correct oil specifiction).
659.
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My Subaru Outback has an arrow on the fuel gauge symbol showing which side - it's probably one of these dumbo requirements from across the pond.
Older Vauxhalls used to have the oil grade on the oil filler cap.
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>MKV golf has a helpful arrow
Does it?
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American cars used to have the fuel filler hidden behind the rear number plate. But since in most cars these days the filler cap or its covering flap is clearly visible, why does this constitute a subject?
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Yes....it does. Pooh I'll have to go for a drive in it now to find out !
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This:
www.volkswagen.co.uk/new_cars/golf/gallery/interior
Would seem to show they don't. Cannot say I recall if the two Passat's, Golf and two Audi A4's did or didn't.
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I'm pretty sure my Golf doesn't...
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i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj166/Pugugly_bucket/D...g
Hope the photo is clear enough. Got thrashed at Karting too fat.
Yes its clear enough.
Edited by Pugugly {P} on 05/01/2008 at 19:51
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That seems to have an "arrow" pointing to the right. The one of the VW website for the Golf Interior does not.
I am pretty sure all of the European cars I have had/driven had the fuel flap on the right (driver) side of the car. Japanese cars seem to the opposite.
It's not difficult to know where it is but nice to think some makers give an indication, especially useful if you drive lots of cars.
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It does have an arrow - the auto focus was struggling in the dark ! I'll do it again tomorrow daylight.
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Ka fills on near side, and yes it has an arrow thingy.
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Certainly there - thanks! It must be unique to the GTI.
Edited by Avant on 05/01/2008 at 20:31
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Ooh....I don't have an arrow like that PU!
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i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj166/Pugugly_bucket/D...g
Daylight photo for all the doubting Thomas' !
Yes the car needs a clean, yes that's a tankful of Shell Vrooooooooom, no she doesn't reset that trip (she uses the other one) and yes she's done that little mileage this year. And yes I wasn't wearing a seat belt when I took it !
Edited by Pugugly {P} on 06/01/2008 at 12:57
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I still don't have the arrow. ;-)
That poor car's not even run in yet - want to give it to me for a few weeks?
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How about having in in English ( well sort of - American)
auto.howstuffworks.com/fuel-gauge.htm
& Know the way of the "gas cap"
tinyurl.com/yrm359
A thread on another forum on the same subject but in San Diego.
( it has a very very familiar feeling to this site. I like it.)
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D'yknow - I've just worked out that I must have spent over 6000 hours driving my car and its identical predecessor, and having just nipped out to check had never noticed that it had a wee arrow pointing me in the correct direction for the filler cap. Fortunately, I had previously managed to find it unaided by this, and astonishingly managed to remember. ;-)
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I've yet to own or drive a car where it can't be filled up from whichever side of the pump I pull up to. If the filler is on the other side of the car, I just pull the hose out a bit further.
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Not on my Passat. On opposite side.
No probs filling up either side as most pumps allow the hose to be yanked out against a counterweight or a spring. Never released the break valve either before you ask.
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>MKV golf has a helpful arrow Does it?
Where?? Mine doesn't but there again when would this show? Always fill up when I get to 1/4 full.
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Can't see it on my Mark V Golf. Maybe only on the GTI? Never mind - I know which side it is.
I suppose it could be useful on a hire or loan car, but as DD implies just pull up close enough to the pump.
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my fto has the icon on the correct side
my hrv has the icon on the wrong side
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Well, I've had Foci for seven years and I've never spotted the little "arrow" adjacent to the pump symbol before I looked today on purpose to check! It points to the correct side.
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Definitely on the Mrs P's 07 GTi (Took it for a blast yesterday to check)
Skoda the fuel gauge is on the opposite side to the filler.
Edited by Pugugly {P} on 05/01/2008 at 11:16
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Whereabouts is it? Actually on the fuel gauge?
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On the gauge ! honest !
I'll upload a snapshot later, been tasked with looking after two 13 year old lads from the extended family, going karting, I am so going to thrash them (in a racing sense) Secret weapon 30 years of driving rear wheel drive cars will make up for their power to weight advantage !
Edited by Pugugly {P} on 05/01/2008 at 11:58
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Good luck karting! Last time I did it - being a high-mileage motorist with perhaps too much sense of self-preservation) I achieved what everyone else did (start to start) in 10 laps whene the others all did 12. I thought this was much more efficient and also saved fuel - but was deemed to have come last.
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Were they Special Edition models for the rural Lincolnshire market, L?escargot ?
Clk Sec
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Just returned from a Christmas/New Year break and found this thread, together with another on the order the pumps are in at filling stations.
Sheeeeesh.
It's enough to make you want a Prius...
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Wasn't it Alan Partridge who said that you would have to be seriously saaaad not to know which side the fuel filler was on a Ford Focus?
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Were they Special Edition models for the rural Lincolnshire market L?escargot ?
Yep ~ Woodland Green colour to blend in with the countryside and extra deep poachers pockets in the doors.
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Can't recall what it displayed, when I owned one or 2 of these...
www.caloghiris.co.uk/interactive/images/Spitfire/t...g
VB
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William Shakespere on Common rail and refueling,
Prospero, (the worried common rail diesel)
"Every third pump shall be my grave"
Edited by oilrag on 06/01/2008 at 08:17
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lol
There you go, anyone can make a mistake...
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my jags got a fuel filler on both sides !!!
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The Honda IMAs we have as pool cars in work - just plain bizzare. The filler is on the nearside and its a huge flap, totally out of proportion to the rest of the car's quite svelt lines. The horrid gauge's electronic display is on the nearside but no arrow. To release the flap you pull the lever down by the side of the driver's seat - why make it that complicated.
Edited by Pugugly {P} on 06/01/2008 at 15:31
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99 Yaris has a vertical electronic themometer type indicator with the icon on the right with the hose on the right but the fuel flap is on the left and the trigger on the right of the driver seat.
So useless at reminding me cos the Mondeo and Focus have it properly indicated.
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My Mondeo has it
Mrs B's Panda doesn't
Bandit doesn't have a fuel gauge and the filler's right in front of you anyway :-)
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Remember that lovely Hillman Imp with the fuel tank filler under the bonnnet lid, where the radiator in a 'normal' car would be.
What a dreadful design the whole of that car was. Ever tried to change the contact breaker points?
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Yes, and succeeded with a few skinned knuckles.
Cleaning the clag from in front of the radiator was as bad.
It may not have been the world's greatest design but it sure was a hoot to drive - the only car I've ever had where I never bothered with the clutch once on the move.
It dated from the days when new cars were often innovative rather than just loaded with tuppenny-halfpenny gadgets - remember those, l'Escargot?
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