What is the working principle of the left and right fuel tanks in the BMW X5?
1 Answers
The working principle is to utilize the siphon effect for operation. Below are the specific reasons affecting the placement of the fuel tank filler on the left or right side: 1. Vehicle Weight Distribution: Adding a steering system to the front engine makes the front of the vehicle relatively heavier. Therefore, most sedans adopt a rear-mounted fuel tank configuration, meaning the fuel tank is placed under the rear seats. Combined with the driver's weight, the fuel tank can help balance the weight difference, so the fuel tank and the driver are positioned diagonally, typically on the right side of the vehicle. 2. Driving Direction: The location of the fuel tank filler is also closely related to the driving direction in different countries. In Germany and Sweden, where vehicles drive on the right side of the road, models from brands like Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi, Volkswagen, and Volvo have their fuel fillers on the right side. In Japan, where vehicles drive on the left side of the road, models from Honda and Toyota have their fuel fillers on the left side. 3. Road Safety: Refueling while standing on the driver's side would obviously be very dangerous, so automotive designers placed the fuel filler on the opposite side of the steering wheel, i.e., closer to the curb. This practice has been maintained to this day.
