Automobile
Did you know your car tells you which side the gas tank is on?
So here we were, my husband and I, driving somewhere when he turns to me and says, “Oh, by the way, I heard somewhere that the gas gauge has an arrow on it telling you which side the tank is on.”
I looked. There it was. The WHOLE TIME I’ve owned the car, and that’s been there!
“STOP THE CAR!”, I practically shouted. “This has GOT to be the scoop of the century!”
(OK, so I didn’t make him stop the car. But I really do believe it IS the scoop of the century.)
Let’s examine Figure A:
While it may be a bit blurry (most likely due to my shaking with excitement at this phenomenal piece of information), you can indeed see that the arrow very clearly points to the left. And, if I exit my car, I can very clearly see that the gas tank is indeed, on the left.
My husband’s car has a tank with the arrow pointing to the right. Guess which side the tank is on?
So there you have it, folks. May I never again be red-cheeked by having to make that embarrassing gas-station U-turn while driving rental cars or when I’ve switched with my husband for the day.
Does anyone’s car NOT have this? What year, make, and model is it? Is there an import vs. domestic thing, or is it merely a convenience decided in each particular auto-maker’s boardroom?
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OK, I have to go check that on my car…. We are considering getting another car and Hubs and I have made a pact to only purchase a car with the tank on the left so we don’t have to remember about the change… So cool.
My car is a 2001 Pontiac Aztek - not the vehicle for everyone, but I love it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pontiac_Aztek
i’ll have to go look to be certain, but i don’t -think- mine even has a picture of a gas tank, let alone the lil arrow. but it might!
LOL! 366K hits:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=how+to+tell+which+side+of+car+gas+tank+is+on&btnG=Search
I’ve always been aware of it; I guess that I just took that little icon for granted.
2001.5 VW Passat. No gas pump picture on the gauge and no arrow.
The switch that unlatches the gas talk cover has a picture, but no arrow.
Tank’s on the right side.
I love the Aztek… it looks like a cool concept car or something.
Greg, the gas pump handle is an urban legend, I think. At least in the pic of my car, it would be totally wrong!
If you aren’t excited about it, you probably haven’t screwed it up and gotten embarrassed about it as many times as I have.
Unbelievable! Even though I’m absolutely exhausted I just ran (literally) out to the garage to check both of our cars. Ours doesn’t have the arrow on the gas pump, but it does have an arrow to the left of the gas pump pointing to the side the tank is on. Both cars the arrow is going the opposite direction as the tanks are on different sides. How cool is that. Like I won’t be checking that out in any car I get into from now on.
This is one for my blog!
No arrow on the 2001 Mazda Miata/MX-5
http://www.flickr.com/photos/89513212@N00/160330343/sizes/o/
I have 2 vehicles, 2007 Dodge Avenger, no arrow…
2001 Ford Focus.. ARROW!, kinda… the icon is of a gas pump, and the handle points to the passenger side… where the tank is.
My husband has a 2004 Mazda 3… he also has an arrow to the right of the tank icon, which is accurate to the side.
Amazing. Such a cool post, Jess. Funny how we miss the “little” things and how a bit of education is so important. Now, if I have a “senior” moment and forget where my gas tank is, I can at least remember this gem. I have a 2006 Subaru Legacy sedan and it’s pointing to the right which is correct. I can see why it’s not that easy to notice. The arrow is squeezed between the gas tank graphic and Low (L) graphic. Maybe not a great UI design?
I used this tip today on a trip to the pump. I went to a gas station I don’t usually go to and it was early in the morning. Brain was not awake yet so I glanced at the pump icon on my dashboard. It worked and I didn’t look like an idiot having to reposition myself.
I have a 2008 honda pilot and there is no arrow and the same for my mom’s 2004 honda civic
Nope, no arrow on our 2003 Pontiac Montana minivan - and I’m jealous that yours does because about 1/4 of the time, I forget and pull in on the wrong side!
good guest page.
thank you.
My car does NOT have an arrow on the tank icon…it has the words “FUEL DOOR” with an arrow! HOW did I never notice that before?
Isn’t that amazing, Kathy? My car had a huge arrow, and my husband’s car has a large, chunky arrow. Now that I know it’s there, it couldn’t be more obvious. I NEVER noticed it before he said anything!
“FUEL DOOR” with the arrow on the Subaru WRX!!! Never noticed it before. I didn’t see anything on the Audi but it has a computerized dashboard… wouldn’t suprise me if they left out this obviously critical feature. Great find.