Fixing SR-18

[terral]

Originally Posted by Jeff Stout

That would open up cheating gas for sure. Many years ago it was gravity tested only and became very easy to alter fuel and get it back to the proper specifics for the brand being claimed.

In 1964, Dr. Dean Hill and Dale Schaffer started using a dialectic meter to check the gasoline. They quit using a hydrometer because they needed something more reliable that would catch people altering the fuel. The dialectic meter is still used today. We have a new meter that came out in the late 1990's that checks to the hundredths rather than the tenths like the old meter did. The new meter has a longer battery life and is easier to use. I was told by a Sunoco rep that they use the hydrometer to check the octane level to make sure that it is as advertised. NHRA does not check the octane levels. They only check to see if the fuel has been altered from the original manufacturers spec. We also have a chemical test we use. The dialectic meter also will indicate when the fuel is getting old or flat. Most all racers ask to see where their fuel is in reference to the chart. This gives them an indication as to if they need to freshen their fuel or put new fuel in the car. At fuel check, for me this is more to help the racer keep his fuel in line rather than catch someone cheating. I can tell when the fuel has been mixed or something has been added to it. It takes years to learn how to do this. I have taught an NHRA Fuel Check School for the last several years. This is for NHRA employees as well as I have also taught several foreign track managers and foreign fuel check people from other countries. This post was not approved by NHRA. Hope this helps.