Blinker stork and Fuel cap/filler. Left or Right?

[JimNiki]

I'm curious how some cars you put the blinkers on with your right hand, others with your left.
Same with filling up the fuel. Some have the gas cap on the right, some on the left.
What dictates what side the blinker stork and fuel cap/filler go on?
Is it based on manufacturer or intended coutry of sale, etc.

Is there a formula? or do manufacturers change model by model?
eg: have commodores always been the same? What about the new exported holdens? Do they change to suit the intended export country?

cheers...

PS, why don't they put the fuel filler in the middle on the back like the old mustangs, that way you can park on any side and fill up...?

[GS608]

Usually only American cars have indicators on the left, from personal experience anyway. Might be a LHD thing?

btw you can still fill up either side, just drive forward a bit more

[pottery beige]

Whats a gas cap??...

[MAD]

Euro cars have indicators and wipers reversed also. Its an LHD thing. They dont bother redesigning the indicator and wiper stalks for RHD countries.

Fuel filler could have something to do with where the fuel lines and exhaust system run. Though now with most cars having dual exhausts, it could be anything.

[82XD393.3v]

correct euro cars also come out with indicators reversed not sure about high end cars such as mercs,bmw but i have a transit and have drivin a focus both are left hand indicators
the fuel fill question could be a case of more likely hood of large impacts from rear end accidents, taking up usable boot space

[DanielXR8]

Originally Posted by pottery beige

Whats a gas cap??...

Maybe he mean't LPG? ;) lol

[Copie]

Most trucks also have left hand indicators as well, especially if the particular model is exported/imported.

[dave351cid]

i think nearly all cars that are produced in LHD countries have the indicator stalk on the left side of the colum and wipers on the right. they simply use the same steering colum for both LHD and RHD cars. they sell more cars to LHD countries so they get the colum made to suit ( the old majority rules system )

as for fuel fillers, who knows ????? i havent been able to figure out any logic. maybe it just comes down to wether the model designer hangs to the left or the right.

[NudgE^SIKBRO]

Originally Posted by Copie

Most trucks also have left hand indicators as well, especially if the particular model is exported/imported.

Not quite, All jap trucks (Fuso, Hino, UD, Isuzu and that) have the indicator switch on the right, Euro (Daf, Man, Mercedes, Volvo et al) and North American Trucks (Mack, Peterbilt, Kenworth Freightliner) have it on the left, and that includes Kenworth's built here in Bayswater Victoria... Aus built KWs have it on the left because the LHD and RHD Trucks share a common steering column and being American in design, we do it the American way.

[irlewy86]

I always thought it the indicator stalk was opposite to your gear changing hand so you had the least duplication of duties. But as noted when doing conversions they don't bother with changing it. Given so many cars are auto know it doesn't matter any way.

As for the fuel filler I think the traditional engineering philosophy was to place them on the kerb side of the car. Rear feed lines are less common as most of the fuel tanks are mid mounted now anyway. However having owned an XF I think the rear filler cap was definately the most convienant place to put it.

[xr8 utey]

Originally Posted by pottery beige

Whats a gas cap??...

your bum cheeks

[aussie muscle]

my sisters astra had the indicator on the left, kept turning on the wipers to signal going around a corner....doh.
some manuf now put a little arrow on the fuel meter to indicate what side the filler is on. (ie falcon has one pointing to the left)

[Mr Hardware]

Indicator stalk on right, petrol flap on passengers side.
Any other way is completely incorrect.

[Jastel]

Originally Posted by aussie muscle

my sisters astra had the indicator on the left, kept turning on the wipers to signal going around a corner....doh.
some manuf now put a little arrow on the fuel meter to indicate what side the filler is on. (ie falcon has one pointing to the left)

This amazes me how many people dont know what the arrow on the fuel guage is for?

And I always see tourists in rental cars with the wipers going on a sunny day as they turn a corner

It is a habit, it does take some concentration to remember which car you are in, I was doing it after returning from a few months in Europe!

[#Russ#Es#]

Originally Posted by Mr Hardware

Indicator stalk on right, petrol flap on passengers side.
Any other way is completely incorrect.

Different strokes I guess, I'm totally opposite.

Fuel filler on the right so you don't have to walk around the car to fill up (plus the wife isn't as close to the pump, harder for her to see if I'm putting 98 in ), indicator on the left so you always have one hand on the wheel to steer and the other changing gears/indicating/giving the finger/etc...feels more natural to me, but I guess it depends on what you're used to. I did come from a Falcon though.

[NudgE^SIKBRO]

AFAIK the blinker thing comes from back in the OLD Days of Column change cars, the Gear selector was 99% of times fitted too the inboard side of th column therefor leaving the Blinkers to be on the opposite side...

[bathurst77]

Traditionally fuel filler on the kerb side, single exhaust on the away from footpath side, indicator stalk on the "door side" so you can change gears with one hand and indicate with other.
Commodore showed the opel reckord heritage by having fuel filler and exhaust "reversed"

[aussie muscle]

Originally Posted by NudgE^SIKBRO

AFAIK the blinker thing comes from back in the OLD Days of Column change cars,

you mean back in the days when you indicated with your hand?

[chevypower]

Well i think most American cars have the fuel filler on the left (drivers side), so that should put to rest the "kerb-side" theory. As a global design rule anyway.

[NudgE^SIKBRO]

I think the Fuel Filler is just a random thing. I really dont think a whole lot of thought ever went into it. Best place for it is behind the number plate, like in the XD-XF. Aside from things like Mustang, XK-XP and XD-XF HAVE MOST Fords had it on the Passenger side???