Which side is your gas cap on?

[moribundman]

Originally Posted By: lpcmidst128
Most cars have it on the left, same side as driver. German cars seem to have it on the right side, opposite of the driver. This makes the pit stop a little longer since you have to walk around. A few times I stopped on the wrong side of the gas pump.

I believe some trucks and buses have the filler on both sides (or 2 on one side) so they can fill up faster.


Generally, the fuel port is opposite of the driver and the exhaust is on the driver's side. That's because we silly Euros don't want to directly blow exhaust at cyclists and pedestrians. Obviously you wouldn't want the filler on the same side as a hot exhaust pipe.

Also, in the case of left-hand-drive cars there used to be the concern that in tight right curves, which outnumber tight left turns, a leaking gas cap would allow fuel to spill onto the road. This is not an issue any more, because now all cars have that additional spring-loaded flap in the filler opening.

 

[Jonny Z]

I like the exhaust to be on the right. Less chance of me smelling it if I opened my window.

fuel door on the driver side makes it easier to park it right in front of the pump. Not a big deal since it is not like the pump hose is super short.

 

[Towel_Rail]

Originally Posted By: javacontour
How about the original VW Bug, with the tank up front

One reason of many why it's fun to drive an early Bug.

- Scott

 

[crinkles]

By rights it should be on the passenger side of the car.

Toyota: Made in Japan where they drive on the left hand side of the road. Pumps likely on the side of the road or island in the petrol station. therefore gas flap on the left side.

VW: made in Germany (originally) where they drive on the right hand side. Therefore gas tank is on the right so it is on the passenger side, towards the kerb.

Now take a VW and export it to Australia, the driver's side changes to the right hand side of the car but the flap is still on the right hand side, which in australia is not the kerb side of the road but the middle of the road.

That's my rule I work with and it always works out. --- gas cap on the kerb side of the country where the vehicle was designed.

In america therefore Toyota's Will have the gas cap on the left hand side, where the driver is, and on the side away from the kerb.

 

[Shannow]

crinkles, my Nissan is a Japanese design driver's side fuel flap. My 4 Runner (1990) was on the driver's side. E30 BMW on the driver's side, neighbour's commodore driver's side.

My Toranas were dead centre of the rear...that was easy.

 

[moribundman]

Originally Posted By: Shannow
E30 BMW on the driver's side


Because you have one with a right-hand steering?

http://www.fahrcar.com/bmw-e30-m3-side2.jpg
http://www.m-99.co.uk/Car_Bodykits/BMW_E30_3_Series/3_series_breyton2.jpg

 

[crinkles]

Originally Posted By: Shannow
crinkles, my Nissan is a Japanese design driver's side fuel flap. My 4 Runner (1990) was on the driver's side. E30 BMW on the driver's side, neighbour's commodore driver's side.

My Toranas were dead centre of the rear...that was easy.


guess only the E30 BMW works with the rule then

i've pulled up many times to thwe last spot avilable at the servo and all you do if it's on the "wrong" side is take the hose over your boot and it reaches fine...

 

[crinkles]

Originally Posted By: moribundman
Originally Posted By: Shannow
E30 BMW on the driver's side


Because you have one with a right-hand steering?

http://www.fahrcar.com/bmw-e30-m3-side2.jpg


yes because we drive on the left in Australia.

my father in law got hit head on a couple of years ago by an american tourist in the bush who forgot which side of the road to drive on, because he was in whoop whoop and hadn't seen another car in hours...

 

[moribundman]

Originally Posted By: crinkles
if it's on the "wrong" side is take the hose over your boot and it reaches fine...

... only to get sideswiped by some careless driver. I don't like being between rows of gasoline pumps.

 

[moribundman]

Originally Posted By: crinkles
Originally Posted By: moribundman
Originally Posted By: Shannow
E30 BMW on the driver's side


Because you have one with a right-hand steering?

http://www.fahrcar.com/bmw-e30-m3-side2.jpg


yes because we drive on the left in Australia.


I didn't remember if your BMW had left or right-hand steering, but the location of your fuel port was a clear indication. I doubt that driving a car with left-hand steering is illegal. Remember, in Japan it's tres chic to drive a car with left-hand steering!

 

[crinkles]

Originally Posted By: moribundman
Originally Posted By: crinkles
Originally Posted By: moribundman
Originally Posted By: Shannow
E30 BMW on the driver's side


Because you have one with a right-hand steering?

http://www.fahrcar.com/bmw-e30-m3-side2.jpg


yes because we drive on the left in Australia.


I didn't remember if your BMW had left or right-hand steering, but the location of your fuel port was a clear indication. I doubt that driving a car with left-hand steering is illegal. Remember, in Japan it's tres chic to drive a car with left-hand steering!


that's right it might be perfectly legal.. it would be difficult though... I break out in cold sweats when I think about driving on the right hand side of the road, I have never done it and don't know if I'll cope if I visited somewhere where I needed to!

 

[moribundman]

Passing gets tricky. You'll need a reliable navigator in the passenger seat!

 

[Kestas]

Automobile designers state that having the fuel fill opposite the driver side is the safest place to put it. It is sometimes placed on the driver's side as a luxury to the driver who doesn't have to "walk all that way" to the other side to fill up.

This also explains why Mercedes has it on the opposite side, since a lot of their designs stem from their safety-first culture.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Can someone explain to me again how having the fuel door on the opposite side of the driver contributes to safety? I'm drawing a blank...

 

[Benzadmiral]

After reading this, I took a good look at my Buick Park Avenue's instrument panel.

The fuel icon has the pump handle on the right . . . but the fuel filler door is on the left (driver's) side of the car. Nope.

 

[97tbird]

wife's Elantra: driver side
my Tbird: passenger side
an old Caprice Classic (88) I used for a few months: below the rear license plate in the back!

 

[Kestas]

In case of an accident the fuel filler neck can get sheared off or broken, resulting in fuel spillage and a potential fire. You want that hazard to be as far away from the driver as possible. Tha's probably why you don't see it behind the license plate anymore.

 

[wapacz]

Originally Posted By: Benzadmiral
After reading this, I took a good look at my Buick Park Avenue's instrument panel.

The fuel icon has the pump handle on the right . . . but the fuel filler door is on the left (driver's) side of the car. Nope.


there is a small arrow that will tell you the side on, atleast gm cars. its right by the gas gauge.

 

[XS650]

Originally Posted By: crinkles


That's my rule I work with and it always works out. --- gas cap on the kerb side of the country where the vehicle was designed.

In america therefore Toyota's Will have the gas cap on the left hand side, where the driver is, and on the side away from the kerb.


The rule I go by is 100% accurate.

Rule: It is where it is.

 

[Shannow]

Originally Posted By: moribundman
I didn't remember if your BMW had left or right-hand steering, but the location of your fuel port was a clear indication. I doubt that driving a car with left-hand steering is illegal. Remember, in Japan it's tres chic to drive a car with left-hand steering!


LHD is legal, but you must have a big (ugly) yellow sign front and rear proclaiming it. A guy I went to school with had a Ford Maverick LHD. Playing "co-pilot" was scary, in that you never knew the car's capabilities, how it would respond, or how hard the pilot was going to press the pedal when you called for a maneuver.

The BMW certainly WAS designed for the LHD market, what with it's engine slant etc.

My brake master cylinder is on the passenger side, with a "cross shaft" running along the firewall to transfer the motion. Explains the funny brake feel somewhat.