Why is the fuel filler on the opposite side of the car?

[mcbeee]

Ever wondered why lots of cars do this?

Our Chief Electrical Engineer for Shell Canada told us why.
Static Electricity.... Yep, if the filler is on the other side then it stops people from sliding into the drivers seat to get stuff or look at stuff while filling with fuel, the static from rubbing on the seat can be enough to ignite the possible vapour cloud.

[enzed4]

Ever wondered why lots of cars do this?

Our Chief Electrical Engineer for Shell Canada told us why.
Static Electricity.... Yep, if the filler is on the other side then it stops people from sliding into the drivers seat to get stuff or look at stuff while filling with fuel, the static from rubbing on the seat can be enough to ignite the possible vapour cloud.

Which is not good news for people in markets who the car wasn't designed for - e.g. BMW in England, NZ, Australia etc, and Japanese car owners in US, Canada etc.
BZZZZT.....

[jamie_z4]

Ever wondered why lots of cars do this?

Our Chief Electrical Engineer for Shell Canada told us why.
Static Electricity.... Yep, if the filler is on the other side then it stops people from sliding into the drivers seat to get stuff or look at stuff while filling with fuel, the static from rubbing on the seat can be enough to ignite the possible vapour cloud.

yea we all have the filler right next to the drivers seat over here

[mcbeee]

German engineering at its best, American cars put it on the left, then they started ripping the detent levers off the pump nozzles so you had to hold the handle , some stations are putting them back on ...
I have to remember when I drive the Toyota that its on the left ... aargh!

[bz4kev]

If you look at the petrol pump sign on dash there is a arrow pointing to which side filler is on

[RickRob]

I had assumed that the car manufacturers had some sort of agreement on this, so that an approximately equal number of cars could use each side of the pumps. My Discovery and Zed fill on the right, the Mini on the left.

[TonyP]

I guess it's down to cost but wouldn't it be great if cars had fuel filler's on both sides..

[Gaffa22]

Some of tho old Jag's did they had a fuel tank and filler each side

[mmm-five]

Most places have uses last night enough to reach over most cars, so I just go to the first available pump I see.

[Smartbear]

Some of tho old Jag's did they had a fuel tank and filler each side

My old mini Cooper replica had twin fuel tanks with a filler cap both sides
Rob

[Gaffa22]

with a mini being so small you could reach them both from the same side though

[ben g]

Most places have uses last night enough to reach over most cars, so I just go to the first available pump I see.

Done that before, ended up with a big black mark on my tailgate from the rubber hose being caked in filth.

Never again.

My main gripe with petrol stations are the idiots who fill up their car, then go in and do a weeks shopping without moving their car first

I usually use the costco fuel station now for this exact reason. It's pay at pump only and has no shop to spend ages in.

[Gaffa22]

Most places have uses last night enough to reach over most cars, so I just go to the first available pump I see.

Done that before, ended up with a big black mark on my tailgate from the rubber hose being caked in filth.

Never again.

My main gripe with petrol stations are the idiots who fill up their car, then go in and do a weeks shopping without moving their car first
.

Yes i'd never stretch the pipe across my paintwork.

[mcbeee]

If you look at the petrol pump sign on dash there is a arrow pointing to which side filler is on

Only on my Highlander, not in the 911 and the M roadster. but I know where it is on them, the next trick is remembering where the button is to open the filler flap.

[Mr Tidy]

My old Cortina MK2 had it on the back panel - it wasn't in the middle but you could easily fill it from either side.