Fuel pump hack: Drivers can save time when filling up at a forecourt with this simple tip

Fuel caps are located on different sides on each vehicle and road users could be caught out if they cannot remember which side theirs is located. But drivers could follow this little known secret which will help them avoid any embarrassing petrol station incidents and save time. 

Howard Cox, Director at FairFuel UK said drivers often wasted “several millimetres” negotiating where to fill up a car. 

 He has also urged users to look at the arrow to help them better position their vehicle when approaching a forecourt.

 Mr Cox told Express.co.uk: “The number of times we see drivers pulling up to pumps on the wrong side of their car’s filler cap, wasting several millilitres negotiating the correct place to safely fill up. 

 “We can all be forgetful, but just look at your little fuel pump icon on your dashboard. 

“There’s an arrow pointing to the side you should position your car best on the forecourt.”

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Instead of a small arrow located next to a pump, some vehicles may decide to position the fuel nozzle on either side of the pump.

However, some experts have warned that fuel pump icons may be positioned in random areas due to the design of the car. 

This means in some cases it is not always possible to tell where a filler cap is located simply by looking at the dashboard alone. 

A spokesperson for Scrap Comparison said it was “not strictly true” that a symbol on one side of a dashboard indicated where a filler cap was positioned. 

They said: “Most of the modern cars will have the little arrow to the side of the pump, which is your answer.

“We still see people at the fuel garages straining their necks and there’s no need for it.

“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.

“But it is not strictly true that if the fuel symbol is on the right or left of your dashboard dial that this indicates the side of the fuel cap on your car.”

The simple tip is likely to reduce the time spent at a forecourt which will help reduce confrontations. 

According to a survey from LeaseCar, using the wrong side of a petrol station is one of motorists’ biggest pet hates when filling up. 

A spokesperson for the firm said: “Feathers are often ruffled when an inconsiderate driver blocks the pumps as they do their shopping or check-in on social media.

“When Brits go to fill up their cars with fuel, they’re not doing it for pleasure and don’t want to take any longer out of their day than necessary.”

source: express.co.uk