Knowledge Post: Why are some of the fuel tank ports on the left and some on the right?

Text/Guo Wenjin

aboutcartankI believe that many car owners have this question: Why are the positions of the fuel tank ports inconsistent? Generally speaking, the fuel tank port for German cars is on the right, and Japanese and Korean cars are on the left. So why should the fuel filler be divided into two types when the overall structure of the car is basically the same? What factors determine the location of the fuel tank port? The following editor will give you a detailed interpretation.

1,StablizeBody balance

Countries such as Germany and Japan, which are more rigorous in industrial manufacturing technology, strive for perfection in product manufacturing, so a balance point will be reached in the counterweight of the body.As we all know, the front engine plussteering systemIt will make the front of the car very heavy, so most cars use rear-mounted fuel tanks, which is placed in the rear.Seatnearby. At this time, if the driver's weight is added to the front side of the car, the fuel tank must be used to balance the weight difference. So generally the fuel tank is placed on the diagonal of the driver. So there is a left front driver's seat in European countries, and the fuel tank is placed at the rear right, and Japanese cars have a front right driver's seat and the fuel tank at the rear left.

2,National driving direction influence

In Germany and Sweden, vehicles drive on the right.Benz,BMW, Audi,public, Volvo's models are all on the right; in Japan, vehicles drive on the left, Honda and Toyota models, the fuel is on the left. However, not all models conform to this rule. For example, South Korea is a country that drives on the right, but some Korean cars have the fuel filler on the left. Someone explained that this is because Korean cars started off by imitating Japanese cars, and they followed suit when they learned. Even the position of the fuel port was also imitated, and they were not modified according to their own domestic conditions.

3.Issues left over from history

In the early days when gas stations were not fully promoted, the drivers usually need to carry the oil drum to solve the problem by themselves. If the fuel tank port is located on the same side of the driver's seat, it will increase the hidden danger of roadside parking and refueling.

4.How to judge the position of the fuel tank port?

So is there a simple and effective way to quickly know where your car’s fuel tank is? In fact, the designer has already thought of this problem for us, and it is clear at a glance only by observing the dashboard.Auto MeterThe fuel gauge area of ​​the pan will have an arrow indicating the location of the fuel tank port, and the arrow to the right indicates that the fuel tank port is on the right side of the vehicle, and vice versa.