Gas Problems

Darren Swisher · Posted: Fri Jul 20, 2001 8:04 am Post subject: Gas Problems

A few weeks ago a friend and I were at a local track where he really blew the field away by a half lap in Yamaha lt. class. After Tech they said we had alchohol in our gas. We know we did not put it in there. Do you think the gas may have been contaminated from station end?

Darren

Jeff Post · Joined: 18 Jul 2001 Posts: 16 Location: Visalia Ca.

Run race gas and you shouldn't have to worry about this problem,plus you will get a better quality of gas and know where it came from

Tim Doll · Posted: Fri Jul 20, 2001 8:30 pm Post subject: Gas Problems

Either alcohol or MTBE are pretty common in pump gas these days - they both act to 'oxygenate' the gasoline, which tends to reduce emmisions. This is especially true around large metro areas (and the whole state of California

). As has been noted, the only way to be sure it to use race gas. If in doubt, it is pretty easy to test for alcohol in gas - put about 4 ounces in a glass jar, add an ounce of water, and shake. If it turns milky and/or the 'amount' of water changes, it has alcohol. If it stays clear, and you still have four ounces gas on one ounce of water, it is alky free.

Tim

Todd Stoffer · Posted: Fri Jul 20, 2001 10:42 pm Post subject: Gas Problems

Quite a few gasoline companies are putting ethyl alcohol into the mix these days to boost octane. In Iowa the stuff is usually cheaper than regular gas (I think it's a new law there or something like that). I'm pretty sure that every state in the US requires a label on the gas pump if the gas contains alcohol. You may want to watch for that.

Rich Dunwell · Posted: Sat Jul 21, 2001 11:14 am Post subject: Gas Problems

Gas problems, try Peptobismol.....LOL

Dave Ridenour · Joined: 19 Jul 2001 Posts: 79 Location: Middlebury, Indiana

Darrin, If you want to run pump gas always usr Amaco. They do not add alcohol. Any gas, expecially in the Midwest, can contain up to 10% alcohol without labaling the pump. So the water test is a great way of testing.
Dave

Dustin Kessinger · Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2001 11:26 am Post subject: Gas Problems

I ran Amoco Ultimate the first year or so that I started karting. Then last November I went to Gateway for the CES race and was DQ'ed for having illegal fuel. We hadn't done anything to it either. Since then we have switched over to a racing gas and haven't had any problems with tech. I did a little bit of investigating after the Gateway incident however and figured out that a lot of gas stations add alcohol towards winter. The only station that I remember that didn't was Shell. Your best bet for making sure you pass fuel tech is using a racing fuel. It costs more but you know that it should be good and you don't have to wonder about it when you get tested.

Jimmy Moore · Joined: 26 Jul 2001 Posts: 664

How did you get DQed? did they specify a spec fuel or did they have limits for the digitron fuel tester? How did they calibrate the tester?

Mark Dismore Jr · Advertiser Joined: 21 Jul 2001 Posts: 1096

I can verify that our long time karting friend Amoco Ultimate is illegal to use now.

Darren Swisher · Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2001 6:52 pm Post subject: Gas Problems

Marc, The friend I was talking about was Scott miller, Bill Millers son. He said you fixed him up with some proper gas last week. No problems with tech after that.

Thanks

Darren

Mark Dismore Jr · Advertiser Joined: 21 Jul 2001 Posts: 1096

Oh okay, I know exactly what you are talking about. Yeah, I switched to race gas after I tested my fuel and it was illegal (Glad I wasn't racing at the time!). This whole ethyl-alky thing is a major pain. I'm not sure what pump gas is good anymore so I don't bother to use it anymore.

Mark (watch it with that "C" buddy!)

Darren Swisher · Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2001 7:28 pm Post subject: Gas Problems

Mark, Sorry about that. I know a few marks.

Darren

Dave Ridenour · Joined: 19 Jul 2001 Posts: 79 Location: Middlebury, Indiana

Thanks for the INFO Mark. The last batch I bought was good but I will watch close.
Dave

Alex Williamson · Posted: Fri Jul 27, 2001 9:24 am Post subject: Gas Problems

A word of hope (or caution - depending on your view), I think the metropolitain area plays a large role in whether the fuel passes. Mark Jr. and others have had problems with Amoco Ultimate. He is likely buying the fuel in what the EPA considers Indianapolis. We've been racing all summer with Ultimate purchased in Fort Wayne, IN. We likely don't have the same requirements as Indy or other larger areas do. Thus, our Amoco fuel passes tech.

Jimmy Moore · Joined: 26 Jul 2001 Posts: 664

Can anything be added to get a gas/nitro mix past the digitron tester?