Many people do not know the true meaning of the red arrow on the dashboard – the function of this tool is surprising.

Arrow in the dashboard

When you drive a car, you must not only carefully respect all the rules of the road code but also know every aspect of the car. The systems inside the vehicle are in fact very important to allow us to drive safely and with maximum comfort. An aspect that can be more complicated with more modern cars, which have more complex instrumentation that is not immediately understandable, especially for those who are used to slightly older cars. Among the many things that it is good to know perfectly there are also the signs and warning lights that appear on the dashboard of the car.

The arrow on the dashboard, what does it mean? The reason will surprise you

In particular, there is an arrow on the dashboard that has a particular function that not everyone knows. However, before delving into this topic, it is good to remember that despite the many technological evolutions, which have also affected the automotive sector, the dashboard remains a fundamental component for safe driving.

Car dashboard

Today, cars can count on electric motors, assisted driving and many other innovative features that make driving more and more comfortable and enjoyable.

However, aspects such as the petrol level, the odometer and the tachometer never seem to go out of fashion and it is no coincidence that we still see them well present on the dashboards of cars.

Focusing on the petrol (or diesel) level indicator, this signal is very useful for informing us when we need to refuel. This indicator, in fact, allows us to always know what level the fuel is at thanks to the float.

The vast majority of cars have this indicator on the dashboard, characterized by the upper part with Full writing and the lower one with Empty writing (or with the initials F and E).

When the arrow is on Full (or F) it means that the tank is full and we can travel without worries for quite some time. As you consume fuel, the arrow begins to descend, until you reach Empty (or E).

When the arrow touches the last notch, it means that we have entered the reserve and we must therefore go to the nearest petrol station so as not to risk being left on foot.

With the red arrow you can refuel more easily – here’s why

Although technological progress has provided cars with more and more innovative tools, the system with the arrow that allows you to know how much petrol or diesel there is in the car has remained unchanged. The reason is soon said.

Fuel level

In fact, not everyone knows the secondary function that the red arrow in the dashboard has. Thanks to this tool, in fact, we can refuel much more easily.

In the past, you had to rely on the pump attendant to get petrol, but drivers have been accustomed to self-service for several decades now. Today people prefer to refuel independently, also because the service costs much more (on average about 30 cents more per liter).

The red arrow on the dashboard is used precisely to understand where the gas cap is. Depending on where the arrow points – left or right – we will immediately understand where to refuel. A very useful aspect especially when driving a car that is not our own.