ever go to the wrong side of the gas pump?
02-11-15, 03:30 PM
#1
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
iTrader: (20)
ever go to the wrong side of the gas pump?
apparently this woman had trouble figuring it out. 
02-11-15, 05:11 PM
#5
Lexus Fanatic
Most American motorists, for convenience (and to make it easier to line the car up at the pumps), prefer the gas-filler system on the left (driver's) side of the car. But, for a number of reasons, some vehicles have the flller on the right (passenger's side). Although it can lower the cost and complexity of production in vehicles destined for certain right-hand or left-hand drive markets, the usual reason given by auto manufacturers for having the filler-pipe on the opposite side of the driver is safety. The assumption is that, in a sideswiping-accident, because of typical traffic patterns, a car is more likely to be sideswiped on the drivers' side than the passengers' side, therefore increasing the chances of the impact rupturing the pipe or causing other damage that leads to a fuel leak and fire.
And either side, IMO, beats the old system, decades ago, on American cars with the old chrome bumpers, of hiding the filler-pipe behind a hinged rear license-plate that you pulled down against a loaded-spring. (Bob......I'm sure you'll remember those)
Not only did the almost horizontal tail pipe spit gas back out at you (I got a gas-soaked shirt or pants more than once when I worked in a gas station in high school), but you had to fill up some big cars with 25 gallons....and that took time getting it all in without half of it ending up on the pavement or your clothes.
And either side, IMO, beats the old system, decades ago, on American cars with the old chrome bumpers, of hiding the filler-pipe behind a hinged rear license-plate that you pulled down against a loaded-spring. (Bob......I'm sure you'll remember those)
Not only did the almost horizontal tail pipe spit gas back out at you (I got a gas-soaked shirt or pants more than once when I worked in a gas station in high school), but you had to fill up some big cars with 25 gallons....and that took time getting it all in without half of it ending up on the pavement or your clothes.
Last edited by mmarshall; 02-11-15 at 05:23 PM.
02-11-15, 05:29 PM
#7
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
iTrader: (20)
). now a standard that said it's either on the SAME or OPPOSITE side might make sense.
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02-11-15, 05:32 PM
#8
Check for an arrow by the gas pump icon on the IP
02-11-15, 05:41 PM
#10
Most American motorists, for convenience (and to make it easier to line the car up at the pumps), prefer the gas-filler system on the left (driver's) side of the car. But, for a number of reasons, some vehicles have the flller on the right (passenger's side). Although it can lower the cost and complexity of production in vehicles destined for certain right-hand or left-hand drive markets, the usual reason given by auto manufacturers for having the filler-pipe on the opposite side of the driver is safety. The assumption is that, in a sideswiping-accident, because of typical traffic patterns, a car is more likely to be sideswiped on the drivers' side than the passengers' side, therefore increasing the chances of the impact rupturing the pipe or causing other damage that leads to a fuel leak and fire.
And either side, IMO, beats the old system, decades ago, on American cars with the old chrome bumpers, of hiding the filler-pipe behind a hinged rear license-plate that you pulled down against a loaded-spring. (Bob......I'm sure you'll remember those) Not only did the almost horizontal tail pipe spit gas back out at you (I got a gas-soaked shirt or pants more than once when I worked in a gas station in high school), but you had to fill up some big cars with 25 gallons....and that took time getting it all in without half of it ending up on the pavement or your clothes.
And either side, IMO, beats the old system, decades ago, on American cars with the old chrome bumpers, of hiding the filler-pipe behind a hinged rear license-plate that you pulled down against a loaded-spring. (Bob......I'm sure you'll remember those)
Not only did the almost horizontal tail pipe spit gas back out at you (I got a gas-soaked shirt or pants more than once when I worked in a gas station in high school), but you had to fill up some big cars with 25 gallons....and that took time getting it all in without half of it ending up on the pavement or your clothes. 
My 71 Cutlass had the spring loaded license plate...miss it.
02-11-15, 05:53 PM
#11
Lexus Fanatic
Probably for better safety in rear-impacts. Although a sturdy '71 Cutlass is not a flimsy Pinto by any means, the 70s-vintage Ford Pinto taught a painful lesson in what happens when gas tanks and filler-pipes are placed in risky locations behind the rear protective frame-rails.
Last edited by mmarshall; 02-11-15 at 05:58 PM.
02-11-15, 08:18 PM
#12
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I dont think it really matters which side its on, and you can still pull into a gas station to fill up that side regardless of LHD or RHD. What really bothers me is the same make having different models on different sides...Im looking at your MB
02-11-15, 08:43 PM
#14
Lexus Champion
She just does not have the geometrical mindset to figure out how to get the gas cap on the side facing the pumps. I once worked with someone like that (in engineering, no less!). The person just could not figure out, when parallel parked next to a fence, how to turn the steering wheel to get out of the spot. The person may have been a good artist but not a very good engineer.
Toyotas all have the gas caps on the left-hand side (which happens to be the driver's side here in North America). I believe that Hondas are the same. This is likely, then, to be on the passenger side on their Japanese models (which would fit with what mmarshall stated about keeping the gas cap on the passenger side for safety reasons).
But I have noticed that Mazdas (at least Mazda3s) have the gas cap on the passenger (right-hand) side here in North America. Does anyone know if Japanese model Mazdas also have their gas caps on the right-hand side in Japan or did they change sides when they localized their cars for left-hand drive countries?
I remembered to do that when I went to fill up the rental car prior to returning it last week. Otherwise, I could have been the subject of a similar video.
02-11-15, 09:40 PM
#15
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my (now ex) ford explorer had it on passenger side. my jeep grand cherokee has it on driver's side. i also love that my jeep has no gas cap! 