Be on the lookout for cheap gas

By Staff
With gas prices soaring above $4, more people are on the lookout for cheaper fuel. But beware before buying into something that may do more harm than good.
Agriculture and Industries Commissioner Ron Sparks advises consumers that there are some measures they can take to help protect themselves from receiving “bad gas.” One of the most common complaints to the Department’s Weights and Measures Division recently has been about bad gas believed to contain sludge.
Some problems with sludge have been due to the addition of ethanol to the fuel. Station owners have been in the process of purging their fuel systems because ethanol acts as a cleaning agent in station tanks and in motors, which can cause sludge to surface in fuel.
“The problems with contaminated gas should be a temporary issue that will be resolved once station owners have purged their fuel systems,” Sparks said. “It is extremely important that we are able to use alternative fuels. Not only does it help us not rely on foreign sources of oil, but it helps farmers here in the US.”
A build up of sludge can eventually cause damage to the pump filter and allow sludge into your vehicle’s gas tank. If the pump runs slow, for example if it takes more than 10 minutes to fill your tank, the filter is probably clogged and needs to be changed. Inform the gas station attendant so that they can change the filter.
For small engines, such as lawn mowers, consumers should visually inspect the fuel filter. If you see contamination, change out the fuel filter to eliminate the problem.
If consumers suspect there is a problem with gas contamination, they should immediately call the Department’s 1-800 number with the store location and pump number. The 1-800 number is located on the Alabama shaped stickers on the pumps.