Drivers have been sharing their surprise upon discovering a “handy” symbol on their car dashboards. Regardless of driving tenure, many remain unaware of its use.
The topic surfaced on Reddit where one user sought clarity about the symbol after his girlfriend’s explanation left him puzzled. He expressed his confusion, stating: “Does this symbol indicate when you should fill up?
“Girlfriend says you should fill up when you reach this symbol. I thought it just told you that that gauge indicates fuel, and which side the petrol cap is on.”
His query triggered a diverse range of suggestions, leading to a lively debate among users. Offering a balanced view, one user responded: “I mean, you’re both technically right. I would fill up if you’re that low on gas and yes, it does show which side the cap is on.”
A different user disagreed with the girlfriend’s interpretation, adding: “Indicator for which side the filler neck is on. As for ‘when to fuel up’, I disagree, for two reasons.”
Another participant offered a practical tip, saying: “That symbol just shows you which side the gas cap is on. You should not let your car get that low on gas because you could potentially run the fuel pump dry. I try to fill up when it hits 1/4 tank of gas.”
Explaining further, another added: “The picture of the gas pump is telling you it’s the fuel gauge. Where that is located on the gauge is just a design choice.
“The arrow, if there is one, points to the side of the car with the fuel door. Older cars typically don’t have that.”
What does the symbol signify?
It’s not uncommon for drivers to forget which side their petrol cap is located on, leading to confusion at the petrol station. Whether it’s a momentary lapse, or you’re driving a rental car, there are numerous reasons why we might struggle to recall this detail when refuelling. However, a simple symbol can provide an immediate solution.
Some motorists argue that there’s no correct side for refuelling as long as the fuel line can reach across your vehicle. But this isn’t always applicable, especially for larger vehicles or 4x4s.
Scrapcarcomparison.co.uk suggests a quick method to determine the location of your fuel cap – simply look at the fuel pump icon on your dashboard. If you’re unsure what it looks like, it’s a bold triangular arrow pointing either left or right next to the pump.
This indicates the side where your fuel cap is located. In some vehicles, the pump icon may not include an arrow, but there’s another clever trick you can use to figure it out.
For many drivers, there’s a nifty trick to know on which side of the car the fuel cap is situated. It turns out that in some vehicles, the orientation of the pump handle could be giving you a subtle hint.
Although the icon of a fuel pump on your dashboard doesn’t reliably indicate the position of your fuel cap – with the icon appearing at various locations across different vehicles – there is another feature to look out for.
Speaking to Insurance Edge, a spokesperson from a comparison site shared: “Most of the modern cars will have the little arrow to the side of the pump, which is your quickest answer. Some of the older cars may not have the arrow but another good indication is the side of the pump handle on the fuel symbol – this may be the case in a few of the older cars.”