Jim Moylan, Engineer Behind the Fuel Gauge Arrow, Dies at 80
The automotive industry is marking the loss of a quiet but influential innovator following the death of longtime Ford engineer Jim Moylan. Moylan died Dec. 11, 2025, in Naples, Florida. He was 80.
Moylan spent more than 30 years as an engineer with Ford, building a career defined not by public recognition, but by practical problem solving. His most enduring contribution was never intended to make headlines, yet it became one of the most universally recognized features in modern vehicles.
The idea was born in 1986 during an everyday inconvenience. After stopping to refuel a company car in poor weather, Moylan found himself on the wrong side of the fuel pump, forcing him to reposition the vehicle. The experience highlighted a small but persistent issue faced by drivers everywhere: uncertainty over which side of the vehicle housed the fuel filler.
Rather than dismissing the moment as trivial, Moylan approached it as an engineering problem. He proposed adding a small triangular arrow next to the fuel pump icon on the dashboard, pointing toward the correct side of the car. The concept required no new technology, added minimal cost, and relied entirely on clear visual communication.
The solution first appeared on the 1989 Ford Escort. Its impact was immediate and lasting.
https://theautowire.com/2025/12/30/jim-moylan-engineer-dies/
Topic: Obituaries for 2026 (Read 573 times)
