New fuel's lacking detergents and quality?

[90mustangGT]

After the hurricanes, the EPA dropped the standards in which the fuel had to meet. Recently, working in a shop, I have seen quite a few fuel delivery issues. Fuel filters are unusually dirty for thier age. Bad injector balance tests, causing misfires and such. Am I the only one noticing this?

Usaully, when your replace a fuel filter, the backflow comming out of the old filter (letting it drian backwards) tends to be darker, maby some amber color if it's way overdue, but recently, filters less than 30K miles have stright grit and junk comming out. Then, three cars in the past month have had clogged injector problems, injector problems are rare. Not to mention, right now I have three cars in my bays that have bad fuel pumps.

For what we pay for gas, you think we would get a decent product.

 

[HISSIN50]

Jason, I had not heard about this. I cant say I am surprised. I wonder why the detergent requirements dropped. I am not sure what we could do in order to filter down to smaller microns though. On carbed stuff, I have always run a couple filters, and each sequentially filtering down to a smaller micron dimension (esp on the bikes).

I do appreciate you sharing the info - it is something for me to keep tabs on. Guess we will be doing fuel filters at each OCI.

 

[Rick 91GT]

Jason I had a guy burn 3 piston after he got some gas in NC on a trip in Oct, 2 weeks previous I had inspected the car and plugs and everything was great.

I can't find anything wrong with the fuel system or any other problem, bad gas with some severly low octane looks to be the culprit.

 

[Daggar]

I think I'd be holding the filling station responsible. If filling up with 93 octane then that had better be what you get! My favorite most recent gasoline scam is the one where stations are selling 10% methanol fuel for the same price as Non-Meth. Be careful of this. By law, they're required to display a sticker that labels it as Meth but it need only be the size of a postage stamp.

 

[Michael Yount]

"For what we pay for gas, you think we would get a decent product."

Actually - if you look at REAL gasoline prices (adjusted for inflation) the $1.90 gas costs we're seeing now are among the lowest in history. Gas at $2.00/gallon is relatively (compared to other costs) cheaper than it was in the 50's!

Fear not though - with the upward pressure China's gonna put on oil demand over the next 30 years, gas prices will get plenty high enough that your complaint about price vs. quality will become reasonable.

 

[Michael Yount]

An example of stations doing the right thing occurred here in Knoxville during hurricane Katrina's shortages. Pilot stations ran out of 87 octane but had plenty of 89 and 93 octane - so instead of just not offering 87, they put the higher octane fuel in the 87 tanks and sold it at the regular price. Many stations simply forced their customers to buy and pay for the higher octane fuel at the higher prices.

 

[jrichker]

Considering the level of neglect that most people have for their cars, it may not take much to push the car's fuel system over the edge.

Gas bought from the non national brands stations is probably from the spot market where distributors buy up gas in lots that are leftover and overruns from the refineries. That means the quality is inconsistent, and several lots of gasoline from different sources may have been mixed together. The result is an additive package that doesn't work like it should and may even be antagonistic to proper operation,

 

[Black1987Stang]

my fuel pump just went out 2 days ago...i dont no if it was from the gas, i use middle grade

 

[fox racer]

NYS has stricter require ments which means higher prices ( the lowest ive seen id lik $2.30-$2.40), so maybe the states' requirements are lower in the south?

 

[1988WHTGT]

I use 93 octane and got 95 miles on my last tank of gas....and the car is running fine....well, on that tank it was kind of on and off....and I buy gas at the same place all the time....who knows, its probably all gonna be crappy

 

[Camper/Pickup]

ive been losing fuel injecotors on my explorer, and filters, its been costly

 

[90mustangGT]

I am not saying this is a fact, just I have noticed a larger number of fuel related issues latley. Amaco/BP Premium (93) is usually clear, noticed the other day it was a regular amber color.

Since this, I have done a few fuel injection services throught the fuel lines, disconnecting the fuel pump or relay and then running it from the canister system. I can only do this in a few cars but I am ordering the Star TU-470 system to go along with the rest of the TU-443 fuel injection kit so I can do this in many more kinds of cars. It's suprising the drivability difference it makes, I am sure with power as well. You can really tell in the idle quality.

 

[Maryland Stang]

It is my understanding that the relaxed regulations had more to do with switching normal gasolines for boutique fuels in areas that require special blends than switching good gas for bad. In my area retailers are (were) required to sell fuel that contains 15% alcohol (MTBE). Since it is harder to make and takes longer to make the Feds relaxed that requirement temporarily.

 

[jrichker]

I am not saying this is a fact, just I have noticed a larger number of fuel related issues latley. Amaco/BP Premium (93) is usually clear, noticed the other day it was a regular amber color.

That's the reason for my comments on distributors mixing batches or lots of gasoline they buy on the spot market.