Worlds Best Kept Auto Secret

[PianoMan]

I have been driving for over 5 decades. One would think I would have noticed the little secret on my dash that was staring me right in the face the whole time. I didn't and I bet you probably haven't either.

Quick question, what side of your car is your gas tank?

If you look at your gas gauge, you will see a small icon of a gas pump. The handle of the gas pump will extend out on either the left or right side of the pump. If your tank is on the left, the handle will be on the left. If your tank is on the right, the handle will be on the right . It is that simple!

How many times have you had to get out of your rental car or a car you've borrowed, to look for the gas tank?

 

[Sidecar Flip]

Dave:

I have to honestly say I've never had that problem. If you read any owners manual it will alert you to the arrow/indicator. Never a problem on the bike.....the cap is in the center

 

[PianoMan]

Rtfm

I knew I should have excluded you from the list of people who didn't know! I was always under the impression that it was against "The Laws of Testosterone" to ever read a manual first. Of course, I'm speaking for us non mechanical types who just buy stuff from time to time and ride, use, (and in Jacks case.....sheer) without worrying about how it works or how we're going to fix it. That's why the location of a gas cap had such little value in my book of knowledge.

I will say I must be getting smarter as I age gracefully. My hypothesis consists of the belief that as you continue gaining knowledge, it fills the brain. When there is no more room but you continue to learn, the brain distributes the excess to different parts of the body for storage. This is especially true of stomachs, lower abdomens, butts, thighs and the under side of arms.

Every day I look in the mirror ( it's quite large..... you know ) and say to myself, " By golly, by the looks of that body you are one of the smartest people around.

I'm off to tinkle the ivories for a few hours ...... Happy New Year

 

[Gunshots]

Now we know what turns the piano keys yellow

 

[Sidecar Flip]

I always read owners manuals and get shop manuals if I think I need one. The first Bridgeport I bought was used, I bought it in Cleveland and trucked it home in my pickup truck. Before I even assembled it in the shop I called Bridgeport Machine and got the books. Engineers compile all sorts of good things in books....even the cryptic owners manual that comes with the Rocket.

Some years ago I bought a really old (like 1940's era) South Bend 9" back geared benchtop lathe with a quick change gearbox. It came in a couple of boxes, covered with grease and grime. Thanks to the good graces of the South Bend Lathe Company in South Bend, Indania, I was provided with copies of proprietary prints as well as a vintage owners manual. I took me 3 years to completely rebuild the machine. I had to cut gears, scrape and true the bed, replace the plain bearings in the headstock and many more time consuming tasks. If it wasn't for the manual and the blue prints and specifications the company provided I couldn't have rebuilt the machine, a machine I use all the time. Sadly, a year or so ago, the South Bend Lathe Company went bankrupt, their assets bought by LeBlond who liquidated all that was left. That's made the machine very collectable and intrinsic parts very expensive. Sometime, go to flea-bay and type in 'South Bend Lathe'....you'll see what I'm talking about.

There I go, rambling again....................

 

[Hero Blob]

 

[Molinoman]

By the "gas tank" do you mean the gas fill cap?
Dennis

 

[Sidecar Flip]

By the "gas tank" do you mean the gas fill cap?
Dennis

Oftentimes, the gas tank is sitting on the seat........least that's what my wife says.

 

[HeR3tic]

Now we know what turns the piano keys yellow

He had me thinking along those lines as well.
Confucius say: Panties not best thing in world but next to best thing!
Manuals and instruction sheets, aren't those for confirming whether extra parts were infact included in packaging??

 

[busajack]

Guess that wasen't the way with Model A fords.you just swung out the windshield and could touch the gas cap.Really safe Eh..BJC