Fuel check questions

Pinballer · 05-09-2016, 09:57 PM

Being new to all this I see from time to time that somebody doesn't pass fuel check at an event even though they may have bought the fuel right there at the track from the chosen supplier. What conditions and variables are there that would cause the gas to come up testing bad, short of just plain putting an illegal additive into the gas?
What is it that is measured in the fuel check and how do they go about it?

Eric Merryfield · 05-09-2016, 10:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pinballer

Being new to all this I see from time to time that somebody doesn't pass fuel check at an event even though they may have bought the fuel right there at the track from the chosen supplier. What conditions and variables are there that would cause the gas to come up testing bad, short of just plain putting an illegal additive into the gas?
What is it that is measured in the fuel check and how do they go about it?

Fellow slow stocker. The one and only time I had a fuel check issue was after swapping from Sunnoco Blue to C12..........cell had foam which caused my issue.......foam gone......issue gone.

Your 258 rocket ship should pass with flying colors like mine with c-12. Don't tempt fate with a rusty fuel tank if you are not using a cell. Only thing to watch out for with C-12 is run carb out of gas each and every time you are done for the weekend.....C-12 gets crystaline in the bowl and junks everthing up in the stock BBD, do the same with the optional 2HP penalty holley 600 with the aluminum intake setup. Just kidding.

They are checking the specific gravity and temp mostly as far as I can tell. So if your fuel is reasonably fresh and the temp isn't way off(super chilled) you should pass.

Eric

Mike Croley · 05-10-2016, 12:58 PM

The NHRA/IHRA fuel checks are actually checked against a standard spec, issued by the race fuel manufacturer. When Renegade became an accepted race fuel for both series, we submitted the test specs of each of our fuels. Those specs are then used by the sanctioning body to make sure that the fuel you say is in the fuel cell, really is in the cell, and hasn't been altered.
Primarily, the dilectric reading of the fuel is compared to the specs supplied by the race fuel manufacturer. That's the test that can result in a DQ.
The test is very precise. So sample temps, exposure to the atmosphere, and plain old contamination can have a big influence on the outcome. Something as simple as having some of the sample fuel wash across your greasy hand and then into the sample container will have an effect. And it's not unheard of to find product right from the supplier that isn't up to spec, or was in a contaminated container.
Some brands seem to have a much bigger problem with quality control than other brands.

NORMAN BARNARD · 05-10-2016, 02:11 PM

Mike, where can this data you refered to be obtained and also the brand of diaelectric testor nhra uses. Were at 4000 ft. Above sea level with summer temp's over 100 deg plus. (in the shade).

Thanks.....

Mike Croley · 05-10-2016, 03:06 PM

The dilectric constants ( DC ) can be found on the accepted products list at the NHRA web site. Page 101. Other test criteria, like specific gravity, and color, can be found on each race fuel manufacturers web site. The Renegade web site is www.renegadepro1.com
The testers can be purchased. I think Ridgeway is one of the companies that offers one.

Mike Croley · 05-10-2016, 03:13 PM

Now that i think about it, I believe Ridgeway is out of the business. I think Digitron is the company that currently produces the test equipment.

Rob Petrie E395 · 05-10-2016, 06:37 PM

Somebody in a earlier post brought up fuel temperature at fuel check. I know the alcohol classes have to be above a certain temperature. Is there a min temp for S/SS classes? Just curious because I'm curious really don't think freezing the fuel would help the problems my turd has.

Rory McNeil · 05-10-2016, 08:16 PM

Pretty sure that the temp of the fuel being tested is only checked so that the other parameters of the fuel specifications car be verified based on the manufacturers specs provided to NHRA, at various temperatures. When the fuel check guys run a test, they have a chart that has the readings the fuel should register at depending on the temperature. The same fuel will read differently on a cold spring or fall morning than on a hot summer day . The temp is a calibration factor.

Mike Croley · 05-10-2016, 08:28 PM

Yes, the temperature of the fuel sample during testing is very important. Fuel check personnel will ( or should ) have the correction factor chart.

NORMAN BARNARD · 05-10-2016, 09:14 PM

Mike, are these temp. Correction charts readily available to the public from the manufacturers? Also i found the info. On nhra
you previously told me about......thanks

05-09-2016, 09:57 PM	#1
Pinballer Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Suburbs of fabulous Lerna IL Posts: 215 Likes: 10 Liked 13 Times in 7 Posts	Fuel check questions Being new to all this I see from time to time that somebody doesn't pass fuel check at an event even though they may have bought the fuel right there at the track from the chosen supplier. What conditions and variables are there that would cause the gas to come up testing bad, short of just plain putting an illegal additive into the gas? What is it that is measured in the fuel check and how do they go about it? __________________ Brian Saunders Lerna IL '79 AMX T/SA 3790 currently being resurrected

05-10-2016, 12:58 PM	#3
Mike Croley Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 182 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Fuel check questions The NHRA/IHRA fuel checks are actually checked against a standard spec, issued by the race fuel manufacturer. When Renegade became an accepted race fuel for both series, we submitted the test specs of each of our fuels. Those specs are then used by the sanctioning body to make sure that the fuel you say is in the fuel cell, really is in the cell, and hasn't been altered. Primarily, the dilectric reading of the fuel is compared to the specs supplied by the race fuel manufacturer. That's the test that can result in a DQ. The test is very precise. So sample temps, exposure to the atmosphere, and plain old contamination can have a big influence on the outcome. Something as simple as having some of the sample fuel wash across your greasy hand and then into the sample container will have an effect. And it's not unheard of to find product right from the supplier that isn't up to spec, or was in a contaminated container. Some brands seem to have a much bigger problem with quality control than other brands.

05-10-2016, 02:11 PM	#4
NORMAN BARNARD Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: EL PASO, TEXAS Posts: 156 Likes: 0 Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Re: Fuel check questions Mike, where can this data you refered to be obtained and also the brand of diaelectric testor nhra uses. Were at 4000 ft. Above sea level with summer temp's over 100 deg plus. (in the shade). Thanks.....

05-10-2016, 03:06 PM	#5
Mike Croley Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 182 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Fuel check questions The dilectric constants ( DC ) can be found on the accepted products list at the NHRA web site. Page 101. Other test criteria, like specific gravity, and color, can be found on each race fuel manufacturers web site. The Renegade web site is www.renegadepro1.com The testers can be purchased. I think Ridgeway is one of the companies that offers one.

05-10-2016, 03:13 PM	#6
Mike Croley Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 182 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Fuel check questions Now that i think about it, I believe Ridgeway is out of the business. I think Digitron is the company that currently produces the test equipment.

05-10-2016, 06:37 PM	#7
Rob Petrie E395 VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Woodlawn IL Posts: 1,092 Likes: 162 Liked 216 Times in 77 Posts	Re: Fuel check questions Somebody in a earlier post brought up fuel temperature at fuel check. I know the alcohol classes have to be above a certain temperature. Is there a min temp for S/SS classes? Just curious because I'm curious really don't think freezing the fuel would help the problems my turd has.

05-10-2016, 08:16 PM	#8
Rory McNeil VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: from Vancouver BC Canada, now in Nova Scotia Posts: 1,291 Likes: 292 Liked 1,052 Times in 287 Posts	Re: Fuel check questions Pretty sure that the temp of the fuel being tested is only checked so that the other parameters of the fuel specifications car be verified based on the manufacturers specs provided to NHRA, at various temperatures. When the fuel check guys run a test, they have a chart that has the readings the fuel should register at depending on the temperature. The same fuel will read differently on a cold spring or fall morning than on a hot summer day . The temp is a calibration factor. __________________ NHRA 6390 STK M/S 85 Mustang

05-10-2016, 08:28 PM	#9
Mike Croley Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 182 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Fuel check questions Yes, the temperature of the fuel sample during testing is very important. Fuel check personnel will ( or should ) have the correction factor chart.

05-10-2016, 09:14 PM	#10
NORMAN BARNARD Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: EL PASO, TEXAS Posts: 156 Likes: 0 Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Re: Fuel check questions Mike, are these temp. Correction charts readily available to the public from the manufacturers? Also i found the info. On nhra you previously told me about......thanks