Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchWindows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallJim Moylan, the Ford engineer credited with proposing the small arrow beside a fuel gauge, died on December 11, 2025, at age 80, according to a report citing his family’s obituary. The arrow’s job is simple: it tells a driver which side of the vehicle has the fuel door.
What the arrow beside the fuel gauge means
The small arrow beside the fuel-pump icon points to the side of the vehicle where the fuel door is located. Ford’s owner information manual explains: “A small arrow next to the petrol pump symbol in the fuel gauge shows you the side of the vehicle on which the tank flap is located.” In US usage, “fuel door” is the familiar term for the manual’s “tank flap.”
That cue can save a driver from having to remember which side to pull up to a pump, especially when driving an unfamiliar vehicle. It is a small piece of dashboard information, not an indication of how much fuel remains.
How Jim Moylan proposed the idea
A 2026 report by Ben Cohen in The Wall Street Journal recounts that Moylan, then a Ford engineer, had struggled with the uncertainty of which side to park on when refueling in the rain. The report says he submitted an internal memo in 1986 proposing a small dashboard indicator for Ford’s passenger cars and trucks.
#1 Best Overall
Cohen reproduces Moylan’s memo as saying, “Based on personal experience,” the indicator would remove the guesswork about which side to park on, and concludes: “For the minor investment involved on the company’s part, I think it would be a worthwhile convenience.” These are quotations as reproduced in the report; the original memo was not independently available for inspection.
When Ford planned to add the indicator
The same report says Ford’s director of interior design responded positively and that the company planned to put the indicator on 1989 model-year instrument panels. It also notes the arrow appeared in a brochure for the 1989 Thunderbird. Those details mark a reported development timeline, but they do not establish which specific production model was first to receive the feature.
Rank #2
- Universal Adaptation: Fuel gauge for car is suitable for 12V vehicles, seamlessly replacement of damaged or aged gauges on most cars, SUVs, trucks, motorcycles, RVs, boats, solve problem of "inaccurate gauge" or "gauge not moving", compatible with 240-33 ohm sensors, check compatibility before buying
- E-1/2-F Clear Scale: Gas gauge for car adopts universal classic scale: E (empty)-1/2(half tank)-F (full), clear scale with a pointer, this clear and intuitive design, so that you can instantly grasp the remaining fuel level at a glance while driving, to enhance convenience and safety of driving
- Oil Check: Boat fuel gauge built-in ultra-sensitive mechanical movement, extremely responsive and smooth, and the pointer moves smoothly without any stuttering or shaking, the gauge can accurately reflect changes in the oil level in the tank in real time, helpe you to effectively plan for refueling
- Selected Materials: Gas gauge for car made of selected ABS and iron materials, with high strength and toughness, sturdy and stable structure, long-term resistance to scratches, vibration and high temperature, still maintain stable performance, not easy to rust and aging, long service life
- Complete Kit: You will receive a 1pc gas gauge, 1pc bracket, 6pcs washers, 3pcs nuts, complete installation kit, dismantle dashboard, make a note of how old gauge was wired, pass new gauge through dashboard holes, install washers and nuts, securely fasten them, then wire the gauge in the same way
The indicator later became familiar well beyond its reported Ford origins. The available account describes its widespread use and Moylan’s eventual recognition, but does not establish a precise industry-wide adoption timeline.
Moylan’s Ford career and later recognition
According to Cohen’s report, Moylan joined Ford in 1968 as a draftsman, worked there for 35 years, and retired in 2003 as a product engineering design supervisor. The article also describes a 2018 interview on the Every Little Thing podcast as his first public recognition for the arrow.
Rank #3
- Includes backlite bulbs
Ford CEO Jim Farley, quoted by Cohen, called Moylan “an equally compelling kind of disrupter: an engineer in a large company who insisted on making our daily lives better,” contrasting that kind of contribution with the better-known story of founders who build companies.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What is known about Moylan’s death
A report published December 30, 2025, says Moylan died on December 11, 2025, at age 80, citing a family obituary. The obituary itself was not directly available in the reporting reviewed here, so no further personal details are established here.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Replacement for 1961-1977 Ford F-100 Pickup Truck - See below Description for Specific Fitments
- Includes Float and gasket
Rank #4
- Specs: Voltage: 12
- Compatible with/Replacement for FORD: 310949
- 1-year warranty protects you after your purchase
- 100% New aftermarket Gauge built to meet OEM specifications
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
