# L vs R side for gas cap on cars in US **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 1, 2009, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/l-vs-r-side-for-gas-cap-on-cars-in-us/479421 "2009-01-01T00:21:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2014, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/l-vs-r-side-for-gas-cap-on-cars-in-us/479421/61 "2014-11-18T17:28:36Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > Okay, so WHY is the tailpipe on the left on some models, and on the right on others? Because of the placement of the gas cap. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2014, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/l-vs-r-side-for-gas-cap-on-cars-in-us/479421/62 "2014-11-18T17:45:36Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Because of the placement of the gas cap. We can do this all night … ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2014, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/l-vs-r-side-for-gas-cap-on-cars-in-us/479421/63 "2014-11-18T17:51:05Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > We can do this all night … Nah-Only until I run out of gas. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2014, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/l-vs-r-side-for-gas-cap-on-cars-in-us/479421/64 "2014-11-18T18:39:01Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > The operative word, of course, being “drive”, which you’d do in 15-minute increments between repairs. To borrow a Harley joke, 95% of Trabants manufactured are still on the road. The other 5% made it home. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2014, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/l-vs-r-side-for-gas-cap-on-cars-in-us/479421/65 "2014-11-19T11:58:02Z")
There’s actually a reason most gas caps are on the driver’s side. It’s because of the internal release mechanism for the cover of the gas cap. The little release handle is always somewhere near the driver’s seat, and has to be connected to the gas cap cover. It’s cheaper, easier to manufacture, and less prone to breakage if the distance between that handle and the gas cap cover is minimized. So pretty much all cars with that feature (which is almost all of them) have the gas cap on the driver’s side, except if mandated by law to be otherwise. I seem to remember learning this here at the SDMB, although obviously not from this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2014, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/l-vs-r-side-for-gas-cap-on-cars-in-us/479421/66 "2014-11-19T12:12:46Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > There’s actually a reason most gas caps are on the driver’s side. A lot of cars are built for different car markets and have left and right hand drive models, so I don’t think that’s really it. Here are some reasons supplied by manufacturers: [http://articles.courant.com/2011-10-26/news/hc-cl-macpherson1026\_1\_fuel-tank-exhaust-car-ends](http://articles.courant.com/2011-10-26/news/hc-cl-macpherson1026_1_fuel-tank-exhaust-car-ends) ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2014, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/l-vs-r-side-for-gas-cap-on-cars-in-us/479421/67 "2014-11-19T15:01:25Z")
[Poll on the board from awhile back which addressed this.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=623492) 67% had the on the left. ---
**Author:** ![robert\_columbia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2014, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/l-vs-r-side-for-gas-cap-on-cars-in-us/479421/68 "2014-11-19T15:24:49Z")
How do manufacturers handle this when cars are sold in markets where they drive on the other side of the road? For example, all, or nearly all, Subarus that are sold in the US have the gas cap on the right/passenger side. However, Subarus are Japanese, and they drive on the left in Japan. If I rent a Subaru Forester in Hokkaido, will it have the gas cap on the right like in the US or will it be on the left to preserve the Subaru=gas cap on the passenger’s side thing? How about UK or Australian market models? ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2014, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/l-vs-r-side-for-gas-cap-on-cars-in-us/479421/69 "2014-11-19T15:28:03Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > There’s actually a reason most gas caps are on the driver’s side. It’s because of the internal release mechanism for the cover of the gas cap. The little release handle is always somewhere near the driver’s seat, and has to be connected to the gas cap cover. It’s cheaper, easier to manufacture, and less prone to breakage if the distance between that handle and the gas cap cover is minimized. So pretty much all cars with that feature (which is almost all of them) have the gas cap on the driver’s side, except if mandated by law to be otherwise. > > I seem to remember learning this here at the SDMB, although obviously not from this thread. My car’s gas cap is on the right rear fender. The release for the cover is next to the driver’s seat (left hand side). ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2014, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/l-vs-r-side-for-gas-cap-on-cars-in-us/479421/70 "2014-11-19T15:39:39Z")
> [@robert\_columbia](#): > > How do manufacturers handle this when cars are sold in markets where they drive on the other side of the road? For example, all, or nearly all, Subarus that are sold in the US have the gas cap on the right/passenger side. However, Subarus are Japanese, and they drive on the left in Japan. If I rent a Subaru Forester in Hokkaido, will it have the gas cap on the right like in the US or will it be on the left to preserve the Subaru=gas cap on the passenger’s side thing? How about UK or Australian market models? Here’s the first image I found of an Impreza in Japan - it has the gas cap on the right side of the car, same side as in the US even though the steering wheel is reversed. [![](http://ipocars.com/imgs/a/e/c/x/z/subaru__sti_vers_4_japan_version_1998_1_lgw.jpg) ](http://ipocars.com/imgs/a/e/c/x/z/subaru__sti_vers_4_japan_version_1998_1_lgw.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![GreasyJack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df705f/32.png) [@GreasyJack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreasyJack)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2014, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/l-vs-r-side-for-gas-cap-on-cars-in-us/479421/71 "2014-11-19T16:03:00Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > There’s actually a reason most gas caps are on the driver’s side. It’s because of the internal release mechanism for the cover of the gas cap. The little release handle is always somewhere near the driver’s seat, and has to be connected to the gas cap cover. It’s cheaper, easier to manufacture, and less prone to breakage if the distance between that handle and the gas cap cover is minimized. So pretty much all cars with that feature (which is almost all of them) have the gas cap on the driver’s side, except if mandated by law to be otherwise. I think you’ll find most Japanese cars have the filler on the right. I actually don’t think your rationale is wrong, it’s just that it’s not worth re-engineering for different markets and so they decided to make the gas filler cable shorter on the RHD domestic market cars instead of the export LHD ones. Which is maybe a little silly since these days they sell a whole lot more cars in the US than they do in Japan, but I guess they’ve always done it that way. ---
**Author:** ![OttoDaFe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ottodafe/32/356_2.png) [@OttoDaFe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OttoDaFe)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2014, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/l-vs-r-side-for-gas-cap-on-cars-in-us/479421/72 "2014-11-19T16:21:23Z")
> [@CurtC](#): > > > [@Tuckerfan](#): > > > > Personally, I like what they did on a number of models in the 60s & 70s, where the gas cap was behind the rear license plate. That way there was no futzing around with making sure you’d pulled up to the pump on the right side. > > I remember when I was a kid, my dad brought home a new car and challenged us kids to find the gas cap. We never did find it, so he showed us: behind the rear license plate. That was so cool! One of the more interesting designs I’ve come across was on a [1954 Cadillac](http://www.misterw.com/Cadillac/54Cad4Dr09.html) my father bought many moons (obviously) ago. Pushing the little round reflector on the left tail fin released the taillight assembly, which pivoted up to reveal the gas filler. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2014, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/l-vs-r-side-for-gas-cap-on-cars-in-us/479421/73 "2014-11-19T16:39:30Z")
> [@GreasyJack](#): > > I think you’ll find most Japanese cars have the filler on the right. I actually don’t think your rationale is wrong, it’s just that it’s not worth re-engineering for different markets and so they decided to make the gas filler cable shorter on the RHD domestic market cars instead of the export LHD ones. Which is maybe a little silly since these days they sell a whole lot more cars in the US than they do in Japan, but I guess they’ve always done it that way. I wonder what the percentage breakdown actually is. Both my Mazda3 and my wife’s Ford Focus has the cap on the passenger side. I’ll have to make an informal survey when I’m out and about, but I’d guess it’s probably something like 70-30 driver v passenger. ---
**Author:** ![SpeedwayRyan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@SpeedwayRyan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpeedwayRyan)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2014, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/l-vs-r-side-for-gas-cap-on-cars-in-us/479421/74 "2014-11-19T17:32:12Z")
I think a big part of this is the fact that carmakers may sell RHD and LHD versions for different markets. They’re not going to route the exhaust differently for RHD models, nor will they have entirely fueling sytems…they want to have all the left quarter panels be the same, no matter if the car goes to the UK or the US. So a car that has the filler neck on the passenger side in the US might be on the driver’s side in Japan, but it’s always on the right side of the car. Standardization of parts saves money. I’m just glad my old car (BMW M3), my current car (Subaru WRX), and my wife’s car (VW Jetta TDI Sportwagen) all have the filler neck on the passenger side, so I never have to think about it. All I have to remember is to put diesel in the VW. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Thin\_Ice](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/aeb1de/32.png) [@Thin\_Ice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thin_Ice)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2014, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/l-vs-r-side-for-gas-cap-on-cars-in-us/479421/75 "2014-11-19T17:58:42Z")
“One of the more interesting designs I’ve come across was on a 1954 Cadillac my father bought many moons (obviously) ago. Pushing the little round reflector on the left tail fin released the taillight assembly, which pivoted up to reveal the gas filler.” OttoDaFe '57 Chevys had a similar arrangement with the fill tube hidden in the left tailfin about 8 inches or so above the taillight. A portion of the fin was hinged to swing right to reveal the cap. ---
**Author:** ![SmellMyWort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SmellMyWort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmellMyWort)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2014, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/l-vs-r-side-for-gas-cap-on-cars-in-us/479421/76 "2014-11-19T17:59:13Z")
> [@pjdaoust](#): > > The reason, that Click and Clack offered in a puzzler years ago was that the gas cap was always on the opposite side from the tail pipe, unless you had dual exhaust, then it was where ever the single exhaust model had the gas cap. 🙂 And what if there’s no single exhaust model? ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2014, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/l-vs-r-side-for-gas-cap-on-cars-in-us/479421/77 "2014-11-19T19:23:03Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > There’s actually a reason most gas caps are on the driver’s side. It’s because of the internal release mechanism for the cover of the gas cap. The little release handle is always somewhere near the driver’s seat, and has to be connected to the gas cap cover. It’s cheaper, easier to manufacture, and less prone to breakage if the distance between that handle and the gas cap cover is minimized. So pretty much all cars with that feature (which is almost all of them) have the gas cap on the driver’s side, except if mandated by law to be otherwise. When I was at Bell Labs our center had a fleet of Ford Tiempos (I think) - cheaper versions of the Taurus, with gas caps on the right. The release button was in the glove compartment. Confused the hell out of people the first time they needed to get gas for the stupid thing. To respond to a comment from five years ago, most of the gas stations I go to are more or less one way. When we had a Grand Am with the cap on the right it was easier to get a pump without having to turn around or make the hose reach over the car. ---
**Author:** ![tonyfop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/85f322/32.png) [@tonyfop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tonyfop)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2014, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/l-vs-r-side-for-gas-cap-on-cars-in-us/479421/78 "2014-11-19T19:47:25Z")
All four of the cars that I have owned (1 Dodge, 3 Chevy’s) have had it on the right side. I always thought that it had to do with the side that the steering wheel was on in the car’s country of origin, so that fueling was always on the opposite side from traffic in the country of design. So right side cap for American and German cars, left side cap for UK and Japanese. I am probably dead wrong, however. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2014, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/l-vs-r-side-for-gas-cap-on-cars-in-us/479421/79 "2014-11-19T20:01:31Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > There’s actually a reason most gas caps are on the driver’s side. It’s because of the internal release mechanism for the cover of the gas cap. The little release handle is always somewhere near the driver’s seat, and has to be connected to the gas cap cover. It’s cheaper, easier to manufacture, and less prone to breakage if the distance between that handle and the gas cap cover is minimized. So pretty much all cars with that feature (which is almost all of them) have the gas cap on the driver’s side, except if mandated by law to be otherwise. > > I seem to remember learning this here at the SDMB, although obviously not from this thread. What percentage of cars on the road actually have an interior release mechanism? In my experience, it isn’t the majority. ---
**Author:** ![CC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2014, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/l-vs-r-side-for-gas-cap-on-cars-in-us/479421/80 "2014-11-20T00:52:36Z")
I’m surprised no one’s mentioned a Cadillac of several years ago - mid to late '60’s? that had the gas cap under the tail light. I don’t remember which side it was on, but the point still remains that it seems to be a crapshoot as to what side the filler is on. Personally, I prefer the driver’s side because it’s easier to get closer to the tank island when it’s on your side. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/l-vs-r-side-for-gas-cap-on-cars-in-us/479421.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/l-vs-r-side-for-gas-cap-on-cars-in-us/479421.md?page=5)