OK, why didn't you guys TELL me this???

[NMDemDist2]

I have been driving (legally) for over thirty years. One would think I
would have noticed the little secret on my dash that was staring me
right in the face the whole time. I wonder if you have?

Quick question, on what side of your car is your gas tank? Since I've
owned my vehicle for more than three years, I know it's on the left
(driver's side). If I'm in a strange car, I have uncomfortably stuck my
head out the window, strained my neck and looked (or pulled up to the
wrong side at the gas station).

I'm going to share with you a secret so you will no longer look like Ace
Ventura on your way to the gas station or put your neck at risk of
injury.

If you look at your gas gauge, you will see a small icon of a gas pump.
The handle of the gas 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
below). It is that simple! I don't know how you feel right now but when
I found out this morning I felt DUMB!

Why don't the dealers share such important information with car buyers?
I
don't understand why this isn't in the drivers education manual (yes, I
looked). I don't get why any mechanic I have ever been to or know has
even thought of mentioning this to me. Can the only possible
explanation can be that all these people don't know!

Go out and share a best kept auto secret with your friends, and IF you
KNEW this, why didn't you tell me??!!

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. I just found that out myself when renting an unfamiliar car.

My own is so old it doesn't have that feature.

[NMDemDist2]

2. so logical, but a well kept secret eh? n/t

[madeline_con]

10. Funny, I remeber someone (?) who couldn't find it, because

the car they were using was so old, it was behind the license plate. :P

[KitchenWitch]

3. Geez, woman, now you are going to make me go look!

:rofl:

[NMDemDist2]

4. me too, I have to head into town and I'm gonna check it out! n/t

[KitchenWitch]

6. I just looked - my gas tank is on the driver's side

The graphic in the car has the pump handle on the passenger side, but to the left of the pump there is a little arrow.

Why does no one ever tell you this?

[NMDemDist2]

15. mine has the arrow thingie too, under the icon

:bounce:

learn something new every day!

[qnr]

5. But what did they show for the older cars with the opening in the rear, behind

the license plate?

[NMDemDist2]

7. i'm pretty sure older cars didn't have an icon n/t

[krispos42]

27. My '89 Olds doesn't

This came to light a few weeks ago and, like you, I went "Duh!" and smacked myself in the forehead!

[AlCzervik]

8. huh, i just checked, there is an arrow next to the little gas pimp icon pointing right

i never noticed that one any car i've ever owned.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

12. "The little gas pimp icon"?

:rofl: I guess you could call George Bush a little gas pimp..

[AlCzervik]

14. oops, i'm not changing it.

Gas pimp yo.

:o

[madeline_con]

9. OMG

I actually pulled up to the pump wrong, in my OWN CAR yesterday. Hubby's truck is opposite. I hate that.

Thanks for the cools head's up!

[NMDemDist2]

22. spread the word!! n/t

[CreekDog]

11. I have an arrow (Subaru)

I'll have to look at the pump thingy.

[FloridaJudy]

13. Nice to know

Mine's on the right, but this will come in handy if I ever have to borrow or rent a car again.

Thanks for posting this.

[graywarrior]

16. Thanks! You just saved me hours of getting out of my car---and I've been

driving the same car for three years.

[NMDemDist2]

20. ha!

:sarcasm: does not suit you GW

oh wait!......

maybe it does.....


yes, yes it definitely does suit you!

:rofl:

[graywarrior]

29. I learned it from you!

:rofl:

[NMDemDist2]

30. sistahs of a different mother eh?

:hi:

:rofl:

[graywarrior]

33. Our dad got around.

[Rabrrrrrr]

17. So, mine just has a picture of my ass - what does that mean?

:P

[KitchenWitch]

18. How do YOU know what your ass looks like?

:spray:

[NMDemDist2]

19. cuz your car runs on a different kind of 'gas'??

:yoiks:

[Gonzo Gardener]

21. Ha ha, that's great.

We just got a new vehicle. The first time at the pump I had to guess which side to pull up on.

After reading your OP I had to check it. Sure enough, it has an arrow! Underneath the gauge... <FUEL

I feel kinda STOOPID now. :blush:

THANKS!!!

:rofl:

[AwakeAtLast]

23. My Toyota Camry's picture doesn't do that

My tank is on the left but the handle on the picture is on the right. :shrug:

[NMDemDist2]

24. does it have an arrow just below? that's what my car has n/t

[AwakeAtLast]

25. Next time I drive, I will check

Considering it is about 5 degrees, I'm not going out to check right now! :D

[Ediacara]

26. Mine is a lot less secret

It says:

FUEL DOOR -->

Right under the gas gauge.

[laylah]

28. I found it out the hard way

running out of gas on Monarch Pass on my way to Telluride. My omnipotent hubby informed me that "e" does not mean "enough"...ass :rofl:

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

31. Is there a secret to finding the gas filler door opener?

They seem to be well-hidden. Especially on rental cars.

[some guy]

34. I think the secret is to ask

either the dealer or the car rental person.

The first ime I encountered one of those, I was in a rental. I stopped to get gas, and couldn't get the little door open. I decided to go back to my hotel and call the rental place. :blush: I got all the way back to the hotel, and as I was driving through the parking lot, I saw another car with someone inside eating lunch or something; their car had the same kind of little door thingy, so I asked them. :blush: :blush:

I would guess those things are all next to the driver seat on the floor, at least that's where I've always (so far) found them since.

:hi:

[Jamastiene]

32. It's ok. Some of us still have an old fashioned

gauge with a needle on it and no picture of a gas pump at all. We have to careen and strain our necks. My neck still pops during cold weather from throwing it out of joint looking for the damn thing until I got used to it. Either that or all that head banging I did in high school. :P

[Kajsa]

35. I never knew this, AZDem!

NO ONE told me this, either!

How can something so simple and helpful
go unnoticed and unadvertised?

Thanks so much!

:pals:

[Breeze54]

36. My car tells me when windows are open too and I need that because...

... I have a hard top convertible :rofl:

Seriously! It lights up to tell me the obvious! :P

But my gas tank lever/opener is under the drivers seat, so I always knew it was there.

I'll have to see if I have that gas gauge icon though. Thanks! Good tip! :hi: