Always puzzeled me about exhaust exit rear of cars - Page 2

dogfish · 24-12-2011, 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cobramania

Unless it has dual exhaust, the fuel filler will be on the opposite side to the exhaust for safety, (fuel spill & splash onto hot exhaust). Exhaust side depends on the way the engine is configured.

Xd,s and HQ on wards sedans had the fuel filler at the rear which would drop on to the exhaust so this doesn't seem a likely reason to me.

Wunzie · 24-12-2011, 10:45 PM

I prefer the fuel filler to be on the passenger side of the vehicle , for the simple reason that if you've ran out of fuel, you are filling up with a fuel can, on the side that is further from the traffic.

Gavin Thomas · 24-12-2011, 10:55 PM

And just to set the record straight of the fuel filler being in the middle of the rear pannel - the Good old original Falcon was the first to have this great idea = The XK Falcon, and then obviously also the XL, XM & XP's as well.

Then it was a returned feature on the XD, XE & XF - with the up-graded and improved addition of having the filler neck & cap neatly hidden behind the number plate. But the ease of not needing to pull up in any direction or side of the car is still the best / main feature.

Anyway, just adding a little bit more useless info to this topic, lol....

Cheers.

2011G6E · 24-12-2011, 11:25 PM

A mate of mine many years ago used to have a '56 Chev four door, and in the days of full-service petrol stations (where the attendant comes out and fills it up for you) used to have endless fun just sitting there and saying to the guy "fill 'er up mate"...and then watch the guy try and find the filler...

Which was hiding behind one of the taillights...

**Jastel** · 25-12-2011, 12:36 AM

I have seen people having "endless fun" trying to figure out how to open the fuel filler (or boot) in a FG, normally rental cars. I walk over and press it open, dont they spew about how stupid Ford is to remove the buttons from inside.

I have to say I agree with them, though I am used to my FG now.

GULL · 25-12-2011, 12:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by In Focus

This must be a Holden Focus, right?

image

Smarty Pants

madwag · 25-12-2011, 01:47 AM

hard to see, but a filler cap on both sides. Smart!

madwag · 25-12-2011, 01:49 AM

bit easier here to see
http://www.flickr.com/photos/80637533@N00/4858023190/

XF Falcon · 25-12-2011, 03:09 AM

Love filling up my XE/XF at the Petrol Station! Just rock up to any one and fill er up, no worrying about what side its on.

chevypower · 25-12-2011, 03:18 AM

US Fords and Chevys all have the fuel filler on the left (drivers side) and the exhaust exits on the right side.

K10wN · 25-12-2011, 04:30 AM

Both the exhaust exit and the fuel filler are on the driver's side in the Cougar. Cortina has the fuel filler on driver's side and exhaust on passenger. And the Escort has the fuel filler under the number plate like XD-XE Falcon and exhaust on the passenger side. I don't thin there's any pattern at all and more a case of where it fits.

Trevor 57 · 25-12-2011, 06:02 AM

The side of the exhaust probably has a bit to do with engine design, exhaust manifold on left or on right of heads. See pics below, yeah I know that Holdens are now V6, but it is just probably tradition now

Dual exhausts on a 4 cylinder is just w@nk factor

351ciofgrunt · 25-12-2011, 08:37 AM

I don't see why the filler would be on the opposite side to the exhaust for safety reasons because a hot exhaust won't set petrol on fire. You can stub out a cigarette in a pool of petrol and it won't set on fire. It needs to be a spark or flame.

cobramania · 25-12-2011, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 351ciofgrunt

I don't see why the filler would be on the opposite side to the exhaust for safety reasons because a hot exhaust won't set petrol on fire. You can stub out a cigarette in a pool of petrol and it won't set on fire. It needs to be a spark or flame.

No it doesn't, go heat up your exhaust & spray some petrol on it (only joking unless you have a death wish).
It depends on the air/fuel vapour ratio & ignition temperature. (A lit cigarette isn't hot enough, & there's too much fuel/liquid, & not enough air in a pool of petrol). When you throw petrol on a fire, it's not the liquid that burns/ignites, it's the evaporating vapour that burns. You can pour metho onto your hand & set it alight but won't burn your skin, because it's the vapour above your skin that's on fire, not the liquid on your hand.
Most car fires are started by broken hoses/lines, spraying fuel (petrol) or oil onto the hot exhaust, (or brake fluid onto hot brake discs). There's normally no flame or spark outside the engine combustion chamber.

351ciofgrunt · 25-12-2011, 10:37 AM

I know it's the vapour and not the liquid that burns, everyone knows that. I'm saying that a hot exhaust pipe is not hot enough to ignite petrol.

Im not talking about extractors, we're talking about the rear of the car where the filler is.

Lukeyson · 25-12-2011, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Unless it has dual exhaust, the fuel filler will be on the opposite side to the exhaust for safety

So the VE Omega should have probably been removed from the the market as the fuel filler and exhaust exit on the drivers side?

TheyDontWantMus · 25-12-2011, 10:58 AM

my VL wagon had the petrol tank, and battery both on the drivers side...

as a result, the drivers side had sagged about an inch more than the passenger side.

stupid idea.

even for weight distribution when driving, Id much rather the battery was on the passenger side, and the petrol tank was centred...

**DJM83** · 25-12-2011, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Trev

Dual exhausts on a 4 cylinder is just w@nk factor

As is with any car its just not needed but it looks good. (I couldnt picture my XR5 with a single tail pipe now, the dual exhaust looks fantastic.)
Cars with a transverse engine could probably have an exhaust exit on either side ie left or right.

TC200six · 25-12-2011, 11:41 AM

The old Cortinas (mark 3 at least) have the exhaust manifold on the driver's side of the car on the 2.0L and six cylinder models, yet the exhaust pipe comes out on the left. This is to avoid the fuel tank which is on the right hand side

cobramania · 25-12-2011, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 351ciofgrunt

I know it's the vapour and not the liquid that burns, everyone knows that. I'm saying that a hot exhaust pipe is not hot enough to ignite petrol.

Im not talking about extractors, we're talking about the rear of the car where the filler is.

Actually the tail pipe is hot enough to ignite petrol. Petrol auto-ignition occurs at about 245 degrees C, exhaust gasses leaving the engine are about 700-750 degrees C (so are the extractors), the gasses & pipes cool as they get further back but only by about half (around 300-350 degrees as they leave the tail pipe), still hot enough to auto-ignite petrol.
Have you ever seen a flame shoot out the end of an exhaust? That is caused by raw unburnt liquid fuel (petrol), traveling all the way through the exhaust system, & right at the end of the tail pipe where the fuel/air ratio & oxygen content is right, it ignites the petrol vapours & spits out a flame. The flame doesn't ignite further up the pipe & travel all the way out, it ignites right at the end of the pipe. If it ignites further up the pipe, the car will backfire & you will hear the bang/explosion, but no flame will exit the tail pipe, it will be extinguished before it gets there.

EgoFG · 25-12-2011, 02:07 PM

IMHO the petrol filler should be on the passengers side so that you never need to stand in the traffic with a jerrycan.

But I am OK if the Odd Commodore driver gets a scare - at least it keeps them off my side of the bowser at Caltex

prydey · 25-12-2011, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EgoFG

IMHO the petrol filler should be on the passengers side so that you never need to stand in the traffic with a jerrycan.

don't run out of fuel!

SumoDog68 · 25-12-2011, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davez104

And the fuel filler location should never be a mystery, as far as I know all newer cars have a little arrow on the fuel gauge pointing to the side the filler is located.

On Mitsubishi Magnas arrow is pointing the opposite way to where fuel filler is - arrow pointing right filler on the left. Due to instrument panel being designed for japanese market i think.

FPV GTHO · 25-12-2011, 05:24 PM

Or possibly American, where they sold them as a Diamante and probably moved the most units there.

Venomous1 · 25-12-2011, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJM83

Umm its not a myth
image
Filler on RHS
image
Filler on left

Seriously MIND BLOWN! always wondered what it was for.

K10wN · 25-12-2011, 06:08 PM

Mitsubishi Lancer CE2 (son's car) and Pajero wagon (family mover) don't have the little arrow on the dash.

The Cougar has it. Had never noticed it was there before.

**GasoLane** · 25-12-2011, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by madwag

image

hard to see, but a filler cap on both sides. Smart!

With only one filler cap you'd only fill one tank

malazn mafia · 25-12-2011, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 351@GT

i always figured the sides of the filler/exhaust were due to the origins on the cars.

holden RHD, so filler on drivers side & exhaust under passengers feet.
ford origins were LHD so vice versa.

BMW is original LHD, but fuel filler on RHS??

madwag · 25-12-2011, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GasOLane

With only one filler cap you'd only fill one tank

Oh does it have 2 tanks or something?

irpacaus · 26-12-2011, 07:49 AM

I believe the full tank filler position was originally to do with the fact that the original service stations were on the kerb side and that you could only pull up in the gutter in the correct direction of travel. So in Australia the filler would have been on the left side and in LHD country's the filler is on the right. The large service stations with multiple bowsers with filling from both sides is fairly recent thing. Last 50 years in more built up areas. But when a car was exports else where they didn't change the filler position. Maybe I am wrong but it seems plausible to me. Although not sure if the xw falcon in aid had the filler on the opposite side to the USA versions or not.