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Original poster

To wonder how many people know about this? (car related)

72 replies

CrohnicallyCold · 04/02/2015 13:12

I found this out yesterday and couldn't believe that I never knew about it before!

Do you ever drive into a petrol station and forget which side your petrol cap is on? Maybe you just bought it, or are borrowing a car for some reason and didn't think to check.

If you look at the fuel gauge, there is a picture of a petrol pump and next to it there's an arrow. The arrow shows you which side your fuel cap is on. Simples!

Am I the only person in the world that didn't know that, and it was all a conspiracy to keep it from me and laugh when I pull up on the wrong side of the pump? Or is it a little known fact?

OP posts:
HappyAgainOneDay · 04/02/2015 15:36
HappyAgainOneDay · 04/02/2015 15:40

Well, I have no arrow as such but, just inside the petrol gauge, I have a little petrol pump with the hose on the right and my refuelling side is the right (offside). It's possible that the manufacturers think I'm a thicko and have to be told that it's a petrol gauge. It's a VW Golf.

Blatherskite · 04/02/2015 21:32

For some reason the toaster number being minutes thing has been bothering me all day. It makes no sense as a minute is a long time for toast if if it were true, level 1/2 toast would be just fine while level 3 toast would be burnt and 4 onwards would be carbon!

Then the same thing popped up on my Facebook feed and someone has helpfully linked to a test showing it to be all bollocks

Phew! I can now sleep tonight Wink

gingerbreadmam · 04/02/2015 21:42

i learnt this on an amazing mn tips thread which i think is in classics. no matter how many times i tell my dp in amazement about this useful feature he never remembers.

richthegreatcornholio · 04/02/2015 21:50

I get pissed off with people who cause queues by refusing to do something really easy

Some of us don't want to drag dirty, gritty hoses over our paintwork. Frankly I couldn't give a toss whether you have to wait 60 seconds longer. I'd rather wait longer than risk damage to my paint.

NollaigShona · 04/02/2015 22:03

My last car, a Kia, showed the petrol pump nozzle on the other side so I'm afraid this is not true in every case.

BiteySwan · 04/02/2015 22:30

I want to know about the envelope necks (or, actually, given the mention of poo, do I?)!

WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes · 04/02/2015 22:57

That's so when your baby 's nappy leaks shit all over their vest you can take it off downwards instead of over their head.

Tobyjugg · 05/02/2015 00:31

Some of us don't want to drag dirty, gritty hoses over our paintwork.

A hose won't damage paintwork.

DropYourSword · 05/02/2015 01:56

For the people who asked, I live in QLD, Australia. When I was in England it was no problem to fill from opposite side, never had a problem with hoses stretching. But I tried to do it here the other day and it bloody wouldn't!! Hadn't tried for years, now I remember why!

sashh · 05/02/2015 06:01

Er, so what did you think the arrow next to the petrol sign was for? (obviously only for if your car has this).

RealHousewifeOfSheffield · 05/02/2015 08:14

sashh I've no idea what the arrow means but it doesn't point to the side of the car with the petrol cap! As many people have said, it's not true in their car. My car - arrow points one side, diesel cap is t'other side

londonrach · 05/02/2015 08:18

Theres no wrong or right side as the pump hose stretches to both sides very easier ly. I dont choose sides just empty spots so i can fill up quick, get on my way so next person can do the same

Tanith · 05/02/2015 08:41

Am I the only one who searched in vain on the petrol pump for this magical arrow that could sense the position of my petrol tank? BlushBlush

DropYourSword · 05/02/2015 08:48

I think I can safely say...yes, you might be the only one tanith!!

darlingfascistbullyboy · 05/02/2015 08:52

all petrol stations have extra long hoses now not they?

SquirrelledAway · 05/02/2015 10:18

No, not all hoses reach around to the far side of large cars. Our local Sainsbury's recently had new pumps fitted with shorter hoses and drivers of large 4wds were told not to try to stretch the hoses as they won't reach.

My car has the petrol flap arrow, DH's doesn't, and is further complicated by the petrol flap being on the front wing. I always get that wrong.

And toaster settings aren't minutes, they are arbitrary.

richthegreatcornholio · 05/02/2015 11:04

A hose won't damage paintwork

It certainly will if there is any dirt on the hose or on the paintwork.

skylark2 · 05/02/2015 11:12

If you park a bit further forward, the hose doesn't need to touch your paintwork whichever side of the car your filler is on.

I always assumed the envelope necks were for babies with big heads, like mine.

Ilovehamabeads · 05/02/2015 11:21

I did know about the arrow in the car. Only found out about the toaster and envelope neck things from MN, and also only discovered recently that my car's rear view mirror has a switch for nighttime use. I've been driving 20 years squinting at dazzling headlights.

KindleFancy · 05/02/2015 11:33

I definitely did NOT know this. I just nipped out to the car and, yes, it is there Grin

We have two cars that we swap depending on who's doing what (one small car that's economic for long distances, one big that's fab for sticking the kids bikes in the boot but guzzles petrol).

The petrol tanks are on different sides and I can never, ever remember which is which so frequently get it wrong. I also hate dragging the hose around to the other side. Won't have to now!

LadyFairfaxSake · 05/02/2015 11:45

I've read that the fuel tank is usually on the opposite side of the car to the driver. This is why European cars tanks are on the right, because the driver would normally sit on the left. When European made cars are sold in the UK they are converted to right hand drive but the bodyshell is not changed, that's why the filler cap is on the "wrong" side.

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