Reporting bad gas
03-04-23, 03:01 AM
#1
Reporting bad gas
Pretty sure I've gotten bad gas twice from the same station. The first time caused the motor to blow and luckily I had my laptop hooked up to the PFC the second time to see the knock before anything bad happened. Pulled a bunch of timing and burned through that tank -- after filling up at another station the knock disappeared. What is the regulating government agency to report this to? I live in CA in case this is a state thing.
Last edited by mkd; 03-04-23 at 03:20 AM.
03-04-23, 06:30 AM
#2
I'd probably start with whatever CA state agency regulates gas pumps/stations. In MD where I live, all the gas pumps have a visible sticker (think it's from the MD dept. of commerce IIRC) indicating when they were last inspected by the state to dispense the correct amount of fuel (i.e., 1 gal = 1 gal), though THAT sticker says nothing about the state doing anything to verify the quality/octane of the gas dispensed. Every pump nationwide will have a yellow sticker that displays the octane rating of the gas - I'm pretty sure THAT sticker is mandated by the feds as I see them in every state. Not sure which federal agency though, first guess would be the Dept. of Commerce or the EPA.
03-04-23, 06:55 AM
#3
Racing Rotary Since 1983
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"Pulled a bunch of timing and burned through that tank" 
everyone needs an active response to sub par gasoline as everyone will encounter it at some point.
active means a timing reduction, not a fuel cut or boost cut as both take waay too long to support the motor. rotor faces can be passing by TDC from around 30 to 60 per SECOND. boost and fuel cuts take seconds. further, if you have ditched the external oil pump and are just premixing a fuel cut is a lubrication cut and apex seals do not like to be not lubricated.
gasoline loses approx one octane point per month. look for high volume outlets.
everyone needs an active response to sub par gasoline as everyone will encounter it at some point.
active means a timing reduction, not a fuel cut or boost cut as both take waay too long to support the motor. rotor faces can be passing by TDC from around 30 to 60 per SECOND. boost and fuel cuts take seconds. further, if you have ditched the external oil pump and are just premixing a fuel cut is a lubrication cut and apex seals do not like to be not lubricated.
gasoline loses approx one octane point per month. look for high volume outlets.
03-04-23, 09:05 AM
#4
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I'd probably start with whatever CA state agency regulates gas pumps/stations. In MD where I live, all the gas pumps have a visible sticker (think it's from the MD dept. of commerce IIRC) indicating when they were last inspected by the state to dispense the correct amount of fuel (i.e., 1 gal = 1 gal), though THAT sticker says nothing about the state doing anything to verify the quality/octane of the gas dispensed. Every pump nationwide will have a yellow sticker that displays the octane rating of the gas - I'm pretty sure THAT sticker is mandated by the feds as I see them in every state. Not sure which federal agency though, first guess would be the Dept. of Commerce or the EPA.
03-05-23, 08:21 AM
#7
And I wish the OP all the luck in the world getting attention of whatever bureaucratic rats nest in that state is responsible for monitoring such things.
Not certain but in my state there are Dept. of Revenue stickers with the last date of inspection punched. But I believe it’s only to certify the quantity of gas against what’s indicated, not sure about quality.
Last edited by Sgtblue; 03-05-23 at 08:36 AM.
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03-05-23, 12:01 PM
#8
Rotary Enthusiast
I got bad gas once. Things went south with lots of sputtering and build up……I looked back to see a larger lingering cloud with a foul odor. Wife reported me to the proper authorities.
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