Fuel Check What's the point???

[Mike Croley]

There are reasons why race gas fails fuel checks. And one of the rarest reasons is test equipment or calibration. Handling of race gas by the racer and the supplier is the single most important reason for problems in fuel check. I've posted these before, but here they are again for reference.

Don't store race gas anywhere that it sees direct sunlight or where it receives large swings in temperature, inside a race trailer for example.
Don't ever allow containers of race gas to sit on the ground, concrete,asphalt,or metal. Always place containers on wood planks or wood pallets.
Cap race gas containers as soon as possible and keep them sealed tightly. The vapors you see escaping when the lid is off, or when pouring from one container into another are called light ends and you want them in the container, not floating away.
Never mix old race gas and fresh race gas if you want to be sure to pass fuel check.
Purchasing race fuel in sealed containers is the best way to make sure your fuel is fresh. Purchasing from a tank is fine as long as the tank is properly maintained.

Some racers don't do any of these things and still pass fuel check, but better safe than sorry.

[Andys dad]

You can give all of the excuses to defend the feloneous testing you want but when you buy it at the track and use it and it does not pass - it is the test which fails not your fuel

Everybody on here knows how to try to keep their fuel from failing but it still fails sometimes for no explainable reason - except the test is flawed - has been that way for many years

"all kinds of ways to CHEAT" - That is exactly what NHRA is saying you are cheating by trying to use "doctored" fuel even when you know you are NOT

FIX THE TEST

What do you think they are looking for - they do not know - they just have a job to do - stick in the meter - accuse you of cheating - have you waste your money and dump the fuel

This thread would not exist if the test was accurate and only true cheaters were tossed and I mean not just their fuel - the reason they don't toss the person is because they no the test is bogus

I have not and will not ever cheat but NHRA has accused us on a couple of occassions of having ILLEGAL fuel

Enough said

Sorry but this is a sore point for me

Ron

[Dave Casey]

I have raced stock elim every year since 1974, never failed fuel check, I am not the best storer or handler of fuel. I buy fuel at my local vp dealer, the track, a friend who sells it etc.

The only time I remember being close was with some c11 that was 1 1/2 years old

I currently use c12 in both my cars

I really don't think this is as bad a situation as it is being made out to be.

The problems that have happened are rare and correctable, someday it will probably happen to me and I will deal with it. Keep fuel check the way it is That's my preferance

[buzzinhalfdozen]

Andys dad, just because they fail you at fuel check doesn't mean they;re accusing you of cheating. I've had several freinds fail fuel check, never once while I was there were they accused of cheating, they were simply told their fuel did not pass. Most all of them politely asked, Why what's not right about it? Most everytime I witnessed they stated it may be old, perhaps in the cell to long, cross contamination ect. never once did I hear a word about cheating. Now years back when there were a few racers running "enhanced" fuels, they were told their fuel was deemed illegal, using that word..."illegal". To me that's being accused of cheating. Just my take on it. Joe

[Andys dad]

My humblest appolgies to the forum members

There is nothing wrong or incorrect about the fuel check process

It does not need to be changed ever

Sorry for my intrusion


Ron

[Crew Chief]

So the fuel check test is flawed? How is it that 99 cars can pass fuel check and 2 fail?

The 2 that fail have a problem, not the testing procedure.

What's the point of checking fuel? To make sure no one is using illegal chemicals like Klotz or Powermist. Yes they do have a test for that too. And I have been told the test does work. Just ask anyone that works fuel check.

[Dave Casey]

"Not that i should speak for anyone but i would think Dan Fletcher,Lang brothers , Biondo's etc.all have one thing in common.,there all great BRACKET RACERS .Like it or not thats what we r doing bracket racing,and i dont want to be bounced for fuel during a BRACKET RACE."

Joe, The performance aspect of stock and super stock make them the popular catagories that they are. Without the performance part, it would be a bracket race and would be nowhere near as popular. The names you mention are certainly great racers, and we could all learn from them. They also have dealt with fuel check and I don't remembering them getting bounced.

[buzzinhalfdozen]

Originally Posted by Andys dad

My humblest appolgies to the forum members

There is nothing wrong or incorrect about the fuel check process

It does not need to be changed ever

Sorry for my intrusion


Ron

I in no way suggested you were wrong on questioning the validity of the testing procedures. I merely stated they are not accusing you of cheating if you fail fuel check. I do however stand by my statement that if you're having trouble passing with a paticular brand of fuel try another brand. I buy my fuel by the 55 gallon drum, I realize some cannot or don't care to purchase such a large quantity but I like to have some control over how it's stored and how old it actually is. I'm sorry if my comments offened you. Joe

[Dan Fletcher]

I would vote for random checks during qualifying and only for heads up runs in eliminations, but as someone said earlier, sometimes its not done on a heads up run. EVERY TIME there is a heads up run in eliminations there needs to be scales and fuel check. I remember winning a late round heads up one time in Atlanta years ago, and I had gotten out to actually push the car to the scales, 'cause I knew I'd be dead on and didn't want to burn a drop of gas. When they started motioning me by, I didn't agrue, I just hauled ***, lol.

[Chad Rhodes]

Originally Posted by Dave Casey

I have raced stock elim every year since 1974, never failed fuel check, I am not the best storer or handler of fuel. I buy fuel at my local vp dealer, the track, a friend who sells it etc.

The only time I remember being close was with some c11 that was 1 1/2 years old

I currently use c12 in both my cars

I really don't think this is as bad a situation as it is being made out to be.

The problems that have happened are rare and correctable, someday it will probably happen to me and I will deal with it. Keep fuel check the way it is That's my preferance

Dave, it does seem to be a bigger problem down here with the high heat and humidity.