Laboratory FAQs
1. Who enforces the laws
and regulations regarding petroleum product quality, quantity, and
labeling?
The
Division of Oil and Public Safety (OPS) is responsible for the
enforcement of weights and measures laws related to the quality and
quantity, and labeling of petroleum products retailed in Colorado.
2.
What specifications apply to gasoline and diesel sold in Colorado?
Colorado fuel
product statutes adopt by reference the most current applicable American
Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) specifications for gasoline and
diesel fuel.
3. How many retail
gas stations are there in Colorado?
There are currently
approximately 2350 retail gas stations, with approximately 45,000 retail
motor fuel dispensers (gas pump meters) in Colorado.
4. How does the
Division of Oil and Public Safety
promote consumer confidence when purchasing fuel products?
We randomly and
routinely sample products in the marketplace for quality to ensure
Colorado drivers are receiving products that meet specification. We also
inspect and verify the calibration of all retail motor fuel dispensers,
to ensure that these devices are accurately dispensing fuel products.
In addition we respond to consumer complaints to prevent the sale of
substandard products.
5.
How does the Division
of Oil and Public Safety collect and test gasoline and diesel fuel to
determine if those products meet the states product quality
specifications?
Our field inspectors routinely collect
product samples from retail stations, bulk storage plants, refineries
and terminals located all over the state.
Product samples are also collected in response to consumer complaints
and tips. The samples are then taken to the OPS petroleum laboratory
for testing. Samples are tested using procedures developed by ASTM
International. Several tests are performed on each product sample.
6. What does the
Division of Oil and Public Safety do
when it finds fuel products that do not meet the specifications?
After it is
determined that the fuel product does not meet specifications, the
off-spec product is placed off sale, and appropriate enforcement action
is taken. These actions include having the off-spec product pumped out
and replaced with product that has been tested and meets specifications.
7. What methods does the
Division of Oil and Public Safety use
to determine if the gasoline and diesel fuel dispensers are delivering
the correct quantity?
Our inspectors
routinely inspect all retail motor fuel dispenser meters in Colorado,
using certified test measures to ensure they are dispensing fuel
accurately. If a meter is not dispensing accurately, our inspectors
will adjust, calibrate and reseal the meter, or place it out of service
until adjusted and calibrated by a qualified technician.
8. My vehicle
owner’s manual says the tank in my car can hold 16 gallons but I was
able to pump in 16.5 gallons, and I did not arrive at the station with
an empty tank. OR My tank holds 15 gallons of gas. My tank was
already half full, so why could I pump in more than 1/2 tank. What is
wrong?
There may or may
not be anything wrong. Many vehicle owners’ manuals list the volume of
usable space in the tank. The usable space does not include the space
within the filler pipe or the vapor head space in the tank that allows
for expansion of product. When you combine the usable space and this
additional space, the amount of product that can be put in the tank is
greater than the tanks stated volume in the owner’s manual. Sometimes
manufacturers change the design or manufacturing process, which can
result in a change to the capacity of the tank, and the owner’s manual
is not updated. Check with your dealer. Also, report your concern to
the Division of Oil and Public Safety,
and we will have an inspector verify the calibration of the pump.
9. Does a higher
octane gasoline make my car run better or increase its horsepower?
You should use the
octane level fuel for your car that is recommended by the manufacturer.
Purchasing a higher octane fuel than the engine was designed to run on
will not make it perform better or increase its horsepower.
10. I just filled up
my vehicle with gasoline or diesel fuel and now it pings/does not run
right/quit running or I do not think I got all the gasoline/diesel fuel
I paid for. How do I file a complaint?
If you experience
problems after purchasing fuel or if you believe you did not get the
amount of fuel you paid for you should call our office at (303) 318-8500
or (303) 866-4967, to file a complaint. It is very important that your
call be made as soon as you recognize that you have a problem, as some
stations receive deliveries of new fuel products on a daily basis. Your
timeliness in reporting is important, as it determines whether our
inspectors can obtain representative samples of the same product that
potentially caused you a problem. Please provide us with the facility
name and address, date the product was purchased, the type, grade and
volume of product purchased, the pump number, and specific engine
symptoms related to use of the product purchased. This will help the
laboratory focus on analysis specific to the symptoms.
11. How can I find
out the results of the testing?
We will notify you
of the results of the testing upon completion of all analysis. If the
inspector encounters water in the fuel, the product is immediately
placed off sale, and you would be notified that same day. Laboratory
analytical results for other tests are usually available within in a few
days after sample collection.
12. Does the
petroleum laboratory accept samples from the public?
Not usually,
however we will send an inspector to the facility to collect a
representative sample of the product that we have received a complaint
on. There are specific sampling and handling requirements that our
inspectors follow for each sample collected.
13. I started to
purchase gasoline at a station, and I activated the pump. I had not even
touched the handle or the nozzle and 3 cents was already displayed on
the pump. I was being charged for gasoline before I even started to
fill-up. What is happening here?
You witnessed a
phenomenon called “meter creep” or “pump jump”. This sometimes occurs
when after activating a pump and selecting a product, the dispenser
registers a small transaction, usually a few cents, even though no
product was dispensed. There are several causes for this phenomenon,
such as a leak in the system, thermal contraction, or malfunctioning
equipment. This is usually not a deliberate attempt on the part of the
gas station, and they should not charge you for product not dispensed.
Please end the
transaction and inform the station attendant of the incident. Ask the
attendant to restart the transaction at zero. Should this happen again
please call our office and we will send out an inspector to check this
pump and make sure it gets it fixed.
14. I
pulled in to a gas station to fill up after seeing the price posted on
the street sign. However shortly after I began fuelling I noticed the
unit price displayed on the pump was two cents more than that posted on
the street sign. Is this legal? What should I do?
Colorado laws do
not require gas stations to post prices on street signs. However, if
prices are posted on street signs or anywhere else to attract customers,
they are required to exactly match the price displayed on the
dispenser. A consumer is entitled to the price posted on the street
sign if it is lower than that displayed on the dispenser during the
transaction. If you notice a discrepancy, notify the station attendant
immediately so that they can correct the price on the posted signs, and
adjust the amount you owe for your fuel purchase. Also notify our
office as soon as possible so we can ensure the situation is addressed
immediately, and take appropriate enforcement action if necessary.
15. I was filling up
at the pump, when the auto shutoff on the nozzle did not work and gas
overflowed onto the pavement, before I was able to shut it off. What
should I do?
Please notify the
attendant at the station immediately so that they address the spill, and
inspect the nozzle. Then contact the Division
of Oil and Public Safety as soon as possible. We will send an
inspector out to the station to try to duplicate what happened to you,
and verify the proper operation of the nozzle. If the nozzle is found
to be defective we will place it off-sale until repaired or replaced.
16. I filled up a
portable 5 gallon gasoline can and was able to put 5.5 gallons into the
can. Am I being cheated at the pump?
Most portable fuel
containers are not considered accurate test measures, as they have room
to hold more than their stated volume to allow for product expansion and
to prevent overfilling. This additional volume allows for filling them
up with more than their stated volume. Our inspectors routinely inspect
and calibrate retail motor fuel dispensers, using certified test
measures to ensure they are dispensing fuel accurately. However like
any other mechanical device, the meters on dispensers can wear over
time, compromising their accuracy.
17. Does static
electricity commonly cause fires at gas stations?
Static
electricity-related incidents at retail gas stations fortunately are not
a common occurrence, but the potential for them to happen appears to be
the highest during cool or cold and dry climate conditions.
18. How can static
electricity be generated when I am filling up my vehicle?
A build-up of
static electricity can be caused by re-entering a vehicle during
fueling, particularly in cool or cold and dry weather. If the motorist
then returns to the vehicle fill pipe during refueling, the static may
discharge at the fill point, causing a flash fire or small sustained
fire with gasoline refueling vapors.
19. What
can I do to avoid a static electricity fire while refueling?
After exiting your
vehicle and before refueling, you should always first touch a metal part
of the vehicle with a bare hand, such as the door, or some other metal
surface, away from the fill point to discharge any build-up of static
electricity. Most importantly, avoid getting back into your vehicle
during refueling, staying outside the vehicle will greatly minimize the
likelihood of any build-up of static electricity that could be
discharged at the nozzle.
In the unlikely event a
static-caused fire occurs when refueling, leave the nozzle in the fill
pipe and back away from the vehicle. Notify the station attendant
immediately.
20. What can I do to keep me and
my family safe when refueling my vehicle or filling up gasoline storage
containers?
Here are some safety guidelines:
·
Turn off your
vehicle engine. Put your vehicle in park and/or set the emergency brake.
Disable or turn off any auxiliary sources of ignition such as a camper
or trailer heater, cooking units, or pilot lights.
·
Do not smoke,
light matches or lighters while refueling at the pump or when using
gasoline anywhere else.
·
Use only the
refueling latch provided on the gasoline dispenser nozzle. Never jam the
refueling latch on the nozzle open.
·
Do not re-enter your
vehicle during refueling. If you cannot avoid re-entering your vehicle,
discharge any static build-up BEFORE reaching for the nozzle by
touching something metal with a bare hand -- such as the vehicle door --
away from the nozzle.) |
