Why do some cars have their cas tank on the right (passenger) side?

In most situations the gas tank is on the opposite side of the car as the exhaust pipe. Why that is, I couldn’t tell you.

It’s there to drive you nutz! I hav noticed on all cars there is an arrow on the fuel gauge that tells you where it is. On my Taurus is was on the right, on my Edge it’s on the left. Both are Fords, so I can’t say that it is a manufacture thing.

because typically, people who drive those cars are lazy, and they make their friends get out and pump the gas. the car industry is trying to help those dear folks out a bit.

If all the tanks were on the same side the lazy folks who will not drive around to the other side of the gas pumps will have to sit in a long line to get gas.

Thus they stagger the sides- to be sure the lines at gas stations do not go out into the streets and block traffic.

It’s more difficult to negotiate the pumps on that side, therefore there is an increased chance of colliding with the pump and causing a catastrophic explosion destroying the car. This creates more sales opportunities for the car manufacturer.

You watch and see! As the economy worsens, more and more cars will have right-hand fill tanks.

I’ve had a couple of cars where it was in the back, behind the tag. That made the most sence to me. Although, it is a pain in the butt to keep the tag from flipping back up on you while you are filling the tank.

Many foreign cars had the gas tank on the passenger side.

@Skippy I was going to say the same thing about makes. I have a Taurus with the cap on the right and a Windstar with the cap on the left. I have seen vehicles without a sign to tell you which sign the tank is on though.

I have no idea really, but I think it’s possibly so you don’t accidentally nail the gas pump with your door when you open it? It actually makes far more sense if this is, in fact, the case.

@dragonflyfaith- That’s funny. I have a Sable (same thing as a Taurus) and a Windstar. Notice where the exhaust pipe is. It’s on the left on the Sable/Taurus and on the right on the Windstar.

OK then I guess I should have two! The Edge has “Duel Exhaust” hahahaha

Yeah, my dad had a car with the filler under the back license plate. Great location. Nice and low, so the hose doesn’t get in your way when you walk around the vehicle to check the tires, wash the windows.

@Skippy- Most cars follow the fuel tank/exhaust pipe rule. I think Honda might be the exception. Some older cars fuel up from the back. Mercedes Benz and some others have dual exhaust.

Actually most cars have it on the right (at least out of the ones I’ve driven). I’ve only seen a few that don’t. I suppose it has to do with which side of the pump you want to stop when you’re at the gas station.

My assumption (and I have no proof of that) is that the first gas stations would only have one lane through which the cars would pass. And probably only one pump, with one type of petrol. So cars that drive on the right (as in the US) would drive in and have the pump on the right (with the shop on the other side of the pump). Or even have grass on the other side of the pump. Which of course does not apply nowadays, with several pumps operating simultaneously on several lanes in most gas stations.

@AstroChuck Could it have something to do with the age of the vehicle? My Taurus is a 2001 and the Windstar is a 1998. Maybe after a certain year Ford started putting them on the other side?

I prefer the pump on the right. Whenever I put gas in my van I have a hard time parking where I’ll be able to open my door (the big ole door hits that concrete barrier everytime) and being close enough to the pump.