Arkansas Bureau of Standards offers advice on ensuring good fuel quality

LITTLE ROCK — Complaints concerning “bad diesel” or “bad gas quality” are among the most commonly received at the Arkansas Bureau of Standards, an investigative division of the State Plant Board and Arkansas Agriculture Department, dedicated to consumer protection and ensuring equity and fairness in Arkansas’s commercial marketplace.

“Bad fuel,” “bad gas,” and “contaminated fuel” terminology applies to fuel that doesn’t properly combust. Causes of gas contamination can occur at the refinery, during delivery or at the gas station. Symptoms of contaminated fuel include:

■ Vehicle sputtering, sluggishness, or begins making odd noises or pinging sounds;

■ Difficulty starting, rough idling, stalling of the vehicle, or random “check engine light” illumination.

The State Petroleum Products Division of the Bureau of Standards is responsible for ensuring standards of quality in gasoline, diesel, biodiesel, alcohol fuels, kerosene and petroleum products in commercial transactions. The laboratory conducts visual, flash point, sulfur content, octane, viscosity, specific gravity, water, sediment, glycerin content and distillation tests on gasoline, diesel, biodiesel, kerosene and aviation fuel collected from retail and wholesale outlets. In 2016, the Petroleum Products Division conducted unannounced quality tests on 3,421 stations and 242 wholesalers, testing 6,453 petroleum samples.

“The purchasing of “bad gas” or “bad diesel” fuel is not a myth; it happens with frequency,” says Bureau of Standards Director Tom Pugh.

Arkansas drivers can report contaminated fuel or any other consumerrelated complaint to the Arkansas Bureau of Standards by calling 501-5701159 or completing an online complaint form at aad.arkansas.gov/bureauofstandards.