Quick question, what side of your car is your fuel tank? If you are anything like me, you probably can't remember right away. If you don't do this in your own car you definetly have done it in a borrowed or rental car.

Well ladies and gentlemen, I'm going to share with you my little secret so you will no longer look like Ace Ventura on your way to the petrol station or put your neck at risk of uncomfort or injury.

If you look at your fuel guage, you will see a small icon of a fuel pump. The handle of the fuel pump will extend out on either the left or right side of the pump. If your tank is on the left, the handle will be on the left. If your tank is on the right, the handle will be on the right (see photo above). It is that simple!

Why don't the dealers share such importnant information with car buyers? I don't understand why this isn't in the drivers manual? I don't get why any mechanic I have ever been to or know has even thought of mentioning this to me? The only possible explantion can be that all these people probably don't even know!

Have a look at the attached picture (zip) for further clarification

ps. I bet you go and look at your car display now as well!!!

Mark

untitled.zip

off the top of my head the mazda has it on the left and the skoda has it on the right i think

Welll spotted! Our Nissan has a little arrow, so did our Discovery.

has this theory been tested on left and right handed skoda's (thinking of new dash pod thats about somewhere)

I have asked everyone at work and quite a few other people I know and apart from the smart ar*e response of "I already knew that", no-one has said that it was wrong for their car.

Mark

I always though the fuel tank was on the opposite side to the exhaust... or is that the fuel filler cap?

Milly, they mean the filler cap anyway, not the literal tank hun

The fuel tank is normally in the middle at the back :P

I did already know this, but I agree most don't know.

if i remember i will check this out on the various vechiles at work tomorrow.

Wrong!! Just checked this on my Missus 2001 Almera and the 'rule' does not apply to this car.

Pump handle is clearly on the right, yet the filler is on the left.

Is correct on my Saab though,

I'm SOOO pleased somebody has found an exception! :P

On the Fabia its on the offside. Most European and American cars are on the offside because in the country they come from that is actually the side next to the kerb for fuelling up. British and Japanese cars will be on the nearside because we drive on the left and this puts the tank filler on the kerb side again.

Good bit of info, but does it matter what side? The pumps reach no matter what side you park providing you can park correctly!!! Drive me made at our local Sainsbury's when I have to queue because some idiot won't use a pump because it's 'on the wrong side!'

off the top of my head the mazda has it on the left and the skoda has it on the right i think

Yep thou art correct!

Thankfully I remember every time I fill my car up which is every 2 or so days. Our Nissans had an arrow pointing to the left of the car and the handle on the fuel pump icon was on the right so it doesn't work for them.

Or Mazda 6's either, the nozzle sticks out on the right with the same arrow pointing to the left.

In fact I don't ever recall seeing the fuel pump icon the other way round on any car.

Notice the left hand icon is a dodgy picture knocked up on a PC? looks a little odd doesn't it?

Coincedence more like. And probably a form of >>>> :bwrspam:

I got this email from the mother in law about 3 weeks ago and though it was crap then

And the final nail in the coffin: Dashboard Fuel Pump Icon "Secret"

Of well, it did seem a bit too good to be true. Busted.

Of well, it did seem a bit too good to be true. Busted.

Sorry to rain down on your parade but I've been trying to convince my pain the *** mother in law it isn't true for the last few weeks so it kinda touches a raw nerve

No hard feelings

Good bit of info, but does it matter what side? The pumps reach no matter what side you park providing you can park correctly!!! Drive me made at our local Sainsbury's when I have to queue because some idiot won't use a pump because it's 'on the wrong side!'

Dont me when i find this at the petrol station it just means i can get straight onto the pump fill up and go while they are still flapping about trying to get onto the pump thats nearest their fuel cap.

Dont me when i find this at the petrol station it just means i can get straight onto the pump fill up and go while they are still flapping about trying to get onto the pump thats nearest their fuel cap.

Why do they do that? Most fuel line will reach both sides of the car if parked correctly

Why do they do that? Most fuel line will reach both sides of the car if parked correctly

I must be cr@p at parking then because the Tesco and Sainsbury fuel lines won't reach the other side of the Mondeo Now I play it safe and queue

Chris

Sorry to rain down on your parade but I've been trying to convince my pain the *** mother in law it isn't true for the last few weeks so it kinda touches a raw nerve

No hard feelings

None taken.

Part of me wishes it was true as it would have been a great thing to know but the other part realises that people wind up gullible people via email all the time:rofl:

My fuel filler is on the right and i do the same at petrol stations... use the pump that no-body is queing for because its not on the right side for their filler and im gone before other people have even got to the pump... i love it... watching their faces when they see that the hose isn't just 3 foot long!!!!

Yeah the pump handle doesn't show it but the little arrow if it has one shows which side it is.

Luckily I always tend to remember What I don't remember is to push the fuel flap release button