People on social media have been left gobsmacked after finding out the true meaning of this very common symbol – and knowing what it means could save you a lot of trouble
Those of us who drive will spend time on each journey checking out the dashboard to see if there are any new warning lights illuminated, indicating that there could be an issue with the vehicle.
But aside from pointing out any potential problems, the dashboard symbols can tell you a lot about the car itself.
And according to experts on social media, there’s one ‘genius’ sign that many people don’t know the meaning of, but being in the know could save you a lot of trouble – especially if it’s a new car you’re driving.
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The helpful tip was shared on TikTok by the consumer experts at Which?, who often set out to help people get the most out of their cars, money and homes with valuable pieces of advice.
And their most recent video, showcasing a very common symbol on car dashboards, could end up saving you some times when it comes to filling up with fuel. Captions across the screen read: “I was today years old when I learned what this car dashboard symbol meant.”
The symbol in question is the fuel pump sign with the arrow either on the left or right side. Hailing whoever invented it as a ‘genius’, the expert said: “Just a really simple tip for anyone driving a new or different car.
“This arrow, by the fuel pump on the dashboard, indicates which side of the car the fuel cap is on. That means no more driving around the petrol station looking like an idiot.”
This symbol may only have been invented in 1986, but is an ultra-handy feature if you want to avoid pulling up at the wrong side of the fuel pumps – especially if you’re in a rush. It was thought up by Ford engineer Jim Moylan, inspired by his experience getting drenched by the rain while trying to find the fuel cap.
The expert added: “Contrary to popular belief, the side that the nozzle is on has nothing to do with the side of the fuel cap. In fact, it’s almost always pictured on the right.
However, the pros pointed out that this symbol does not appear in every vehicle – urging automakers to ‘sort it out’. In the video’s comments, people were amazed after finding this out, with many saying they’ll keep an eye out for it from now on.
One person said: “No! I didn’t know this. This will help on hire cars. All these years.”
Another added: “I thought it meant what side of the pump to park on originally and kept getting it wrong. Ashamed to admit how many times I did it.”
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