The Petroleum Laboratory administers the Arkansas fuel quality law through unannounced inspection, analysis, and active enforcement ensuring end users purchase quality motor fuels.
The Petroleum Laboratory analyzes gasoline, kerosene, diesel fuels, and alternative fuels including biodiesel and ethanol to ensure they meet state quality and safety standards. Bureau of Standards chemists inspect retail and fuel facilities to ensure proper labeling. The Petroleum Laboratory is responsible for administering and enforcing NIST Handbook 130 Uniform Engine Fuels and Automotive Lubricants Regulations, including the Annotated Code.
Frequently Asked Questions – Petroleum Section
Q: Is there an allowable amount of water in retail stations fuel tanks?
A: Yes. NIST Handbook 130, Section 4, Retail Storage Tanks and Dispenser Filters.
4.1. Water in Gasoline-Alcohol Blends, Biodiesel Blends, E85 Fuel Ethanol, Aviation Gasoline, and Aviation Turbine Fuel. – No water phase greater than 6 mm (¼ in) as determined by an appropriate detection paste or other acceptable means, is allowed to accumulate in any tank utilized in the storage of gasoline-alcohol blend, biodiesel, biodiesel blends, E85 fuel ethanol, aviation gasoline, and aviation turbine fuel.
4.2. Water in Gasoline, Diesel, Gasoline-Ether, and Other Fuels. – Water shall not exceed 25 mm (1 in) in depth when measured with water indicating paste or other acceptable means in any tank utilized in the storage of diesel, gasoline, gasoline-ether blends, and kerosene sold at retail.
Q: Can water be present coming through any product nozzle at a Retail or Wholesale location?
A: No. There’s no such thing as watered-down gasoline or diesel.
ASTM D4814-11, 6 Workmanship 6.1 The finished fuel shall be visually free of undissolved water, sediment, and suspended matter.
Q: As a consumer, can I bring a petroleum sample to the Little Rock lab for analysis?
A: No. You must fill out a complaint form. An Arkansas Bureau of Standards investigator must collect all samples.
Q: Is there a list of Non-Ethanol Blended stations for the State of Arkansas?
A: Yes. www.pure-gas.org
Q: Can a consumer use E-10 gasoline in a 2-cycle engine?
A: First check with the owner’s manual for the engine. But here are a couple of sites that can help.
http://www.echo-usa.com/Warranty/Learn-About-Ethanol/Ethanol-Fuel-062512
http://content.ces.ncsu.edu/ethanol-and-two-stroke-cycle-engines-impacts-of-an-alternativefuel-in-small-engines.pdf
Q: What are the Dispenser Filter sizes?
A: NIST Handbook 130, Section 4, Retail Storage Tanks and Dispenser Filters
4.3. Dispenser Filters.
4.3.1. Engine Fuel Dispensers.
(a) All gasoline, gasoline-alcohol blends, gasoline-ether blends, E85 fuel ethanol and M85 methanol dispensers shall have a 10 micron or smaller nominal pore-sized filter.
(b) All biodiesel, biodiesel blends, diesel, and kerosene dispensers shall have a 30 micron or smaller nominal pore-sized filter.
Q: What are the new diesel nozzle requirements?
A: 3.3.4. Nozzle Requirements for Diesel Fuel. – Each dispensing device from which diesel fuel is sold at retail shall be equipped with a nozzle spout with a diameter that conforms to the latest version of SAE J285, about the diameters of a quarter “Dispenser Nozzle Spouts for Liquid Fuels Intended for Use with Spark Ignition and Compression Ignition Engines.” (Enforceable effective July 1, 2013)
Q: Can the Petroleum Section help me if I think I have received “bad” or contaminated fuel?
A: Yes. The Petroleum section will investigate all consumer complaints on motor fuel quality. However, the consumer can aid in this process by contacting the department as soon as possible after the purchase so we may visually inspect and pull a sample for lab analysis while the product is still available. It is very helpful if the consumer can identify the type and grade of product purchased along with the pump number the fuel was dispensed from. A receipt of the purchase can be very helpful and normally contains this information.
Q: Can the Petroleum Section help me recover any associated expenses incurred as a result of purchasing contaminated fuel?
A: No. Upon request, we will provide a copy of the lab analysis of the sample that you may use to support your claim
Frequently Asked Questions – Petroleum Section
Q: Is there an allowable amount of water in retail stations fuel tanks?
A: Yes. NIST Handbook 130, Section 4, Retail Storage Tanks and Dispenser Filters.
4.1. Water in Gasoline-Alcohol Blends, Biodiesel Blends, E85 Fuel Ethanol, Aviation Gasoline, and Aviation Turbine Fuel. – No water phase greater than 6 mm (¼ in) as determined by an appropriate detection paste or other acceptable means, is allowed to accumulate in any tank utilized in the storage of gasoline-alcohol blend, biodiesel, biodiesel blends, E85 fuel ethanol, aviation gasoline, and aviation turbine fuel.
4.2. Water in Gasoline, Diesel, Gasoline-Ether, and Other Fuels. – Water shall not exceed 25 mm (1 in) in depth when measured with water indicating paste or other acceptable means in any tank utilized in the storage of diesel, gasoline, gasoline-ether blends, and kerosene sold at retail.
Q: Can water be present coming through any product nozzle at a Retail or Wholesale location?
A: No. There’s no such thing as watered-down gasoline or diesel.
ASTM D4814-11, 6 Workmanship 6.1 The finished fuel shall be visually free of undissolved water, sediment, and suspended matter.
Q: As a consumer, can I bring a petroleum sample to the Little Rock lab for analysis?
A: No. You must fill out a complaint form. An Arkansas Bureau of Standards investigator must collect all samples.
Q: Is there a list of Non-Ethanol Blended stations for the State of Arkansas?
A: Yes. www.pure-gas.org
Q: Can a consumer use E-10 gasoline in a 2-cycle engine?
A: First check with the owner’s manual for the engine. But here are a couple of sites that can help.
http://www.echo-usa.com/Warranty/Learn-About-Ethanol/Ethanol-Fuel-062512
http://content.ces.ncsu.edu/ethanol-and-two-stroke-cycle-engines-impacts-of-an-alternativefuel-in-small-engines.pdf
Q: What are the Dispenser Filter sizes?
A: NIST Handbook 130, Section 4, Retail Storage Tanks and Dispenser Filters
4.3. Dispenser Filters.
4.3.1. Engine Fuel Dispensers.
(a) All gasoline, gasoline-alcohol blends, gasoline-ether blends, E85 fuel ethanol and M85 methanol dispensers shall have a 10 micron or smaller nominal pore-sized filter.
(b) All biodiesel, biodiesel blends, diesel, and kerosene dispensers shall have a 30 micron or smaller nominal pore-sized filter.
Q: What are the new diesel nozzle requirements?
A: 3.3.4. Nozzle Requirements for Diesel Fuel. – Each dispensing device from which diesel fuel is sold at retail shall be equipped with a nozzle spout with a diameter that conforms to the latest version of SAE J285, about the diameters of a quarter “Dispenser Nozzle Spouts for Liquid Fuels Intended for Use with Spark Ignition and Compression Ignition Engines.” (Enforceable effective July 1, 2013)
Q: Can the Petroleum Section help me if I think I have received “bad” or contaminated fuel?
A: Yes. The Petroleum section will investigate all consumer complaints on motor fuel quality. However, the consumer can aid in this process by contacting the department as soon as possible after the purchase so we may visually inspect and pull a sample for lab analysis while the product is still available. It is very helpful if the consumer can identify the type and grade of product purchased along with the pump number the fuel was dispensed from. A receipt of the purchase can be very helpful and normally contains this information.
Q: Can the Petroleum Section help me recover any associated expenses incurred as a result of purchasing contaminated fuel?
A: No. Upon request, we will provide a copy of the lab analysis of the sample that you may use to support your claim.