Fuel Check What's the point???

[buzzinhalfdozen]

Andys dad, just because they fail you at fuel check doesn't mean they;re accusing you of cheating. I've had several freinds fail fuel check, never once while I was there were they accused of cheating, they were simply told their fuel did not pass. Most all of them politely asked, Why what's not right about it? Most everytime I witnessed they stated it may be old, perhaps in the cell to long, cross contamination ect. never once did I hear a word about cheating. Now years back when there were a few racers running "enhanced" fuels, they were told their fuel was deemed illegal, using that word..."illegal". To me that's being accused of cheating. Just my take on it. Joe

[Andys dad]

My humblest appolgies to the forum members

There is nothing wrong or incorrect about the fuel check process

It does not need to be changed ever

Sorry for my intrusion


Ron

[JOE ZOOM]

Originally Posted by Jeff Lee

I suppose you think it's stupid that NHRA / IHRA may elect to tear down a car if it doesn't set a record or is #1 qualifier? Sorry, but there are many that believe it is a performance class and all should be held accountable. And often times, it's the guys that don't qualify well or never set records that have the tech issues.

Dear Jeff, the topic is fuel check .... please dont assume what i think about tear downs ,setting records or who qualifies where i could care less.Not that i should speak for anyone but i would think Dan Fletcher,Lang brothers , Biondo's etc.all have one thing in common.,there all great BRACKET RACERS .Like it or not thats what we r doing bracket racing,and i dont want to be bounced for fuel during a BRACKET RACE.

joe mocci
1424 m/sa

[Crew Chief]

So the fuel check test is flawed? How is it that 99 cars can pass fuel check and 2 fail?

The 2 that fail have a problem, not the testing procedure.

What's the point of checking fuel? To make sure no one is using illegal chemicals like Klotz or Powermist. Yes they do have a test for that too. And I have been told the test does work. Just ask anyone that works fuel check.

[Pedigo Perf]

Originally Posted by JOE ZOOM

Nice post Ron

You know im not a guy who shows up on tuesday for a event that starts friday.. Most races im showing up saturday morning get one hit and im good to go.So i take off work on saturday tow 4hrs too race and the one and only run i make im dq for fuel...this is just stupid.....no fuel should ever fail unless it has been determined it has giving a racer some sort of an unfair advantage...........

joe mocci
m/sa 1424

Joe,
I'm the same way, Carson is still in school and I work too much. When I showed up Saturday morning at Noble for the D4 race I had a hunch I was only getting 1 hit so I got a sample cup from the tech guys and had my C12 checked before I ran to make sure I was good to go. The NHRA staff has always been friendly and helpful when it comes to fuel check, pass or not. Running C12 in a hot climate it tends to NOT pass as some of the lighter compounds evaporate off if it has been left in the car for a week or more. The Tech guys know this and have been very understanding, but not to the point where they allow it for competition if it doesn't fall in range. I have also learned that not all C12 is equal from the dealers as far as testing goes. I try to buy my fuel at the track so I can point my finger at somebody on location if there is a problem.

Another thing to consider is that if your fuel goes stale, the performance falls off as well. I have no problem with the fuel check if it keeps people from trying something dangerous or illegal. I have failed fuel check enough that my golf cart, generator and mower all run on C12, and I have never felt like NHRA was accusing me of cheating either.

My .02
Tracy

[Dave Casey]

"Not that i should speak for anyone but i would think Dan Fletcher,Lang brothers , Biondo's etc.all have one thing in common.,there all great BRACKET RACERS .Like it or not thats what we r doing bracket racing,and i dont want to be bounced for fuel during a BRACKET RACE."

Joe, The performance aspect of stock and super stock make them the popular catagories that they are. Without the performance part, it would be a bracket race and would be nowhere near as popular. The names you mention are certainly great racers, and we could all learn from them. They also have dealt with fuel check and I don't remembering them getting bounced.

[442OLDS]

Originally Posted by JOE ZOOM

Nice post Ron

You know im not a guy who shows up on tuesday for a event that starts friday.. Most races im showing up saturday morning get one hit and im good to go.So i take off work on saturday tow 4hrs too race and the one and only run i make im dq for fuel...this is just stupid.....no fuel should ever fail unless it has been determined it has giving a racer some sort of an unfair advantage...........

joe mocci
m/sa 1424

I went to the Cordova Division 5 race on Saturday.One run and then into eliminations.Right after I teched in,I went to fuel check to check the fuel BEFORE the run.This is a good idea if you only have ONE qualifying run to help prevent a DQ.At least you have a little time to try and do something rather than failing after the run.(Fuel passed fine)

Originally Posted by Crew Chief

So the fuel check test is flawed? How is it that 99 cars can pass fuel check and 2 fail?

The 2 that fail have a problem, not the testing procedure.

I went to Brainerd with fuel that just passed fine a few days earlier at Cordova and the fuel was borderline.

I found this odd,so I asked how the other cars with Sunoco Purple were checking.I was told that out of 65 cars,I was the ONLY car running that fuel.

I just bought some new fuel jugs thinking maybe I have a problem there.If that doesn't work,then the problem is with Sunoco or the testing equipment.

When you have had success with a particular brand of fuel,you really don't like changing unless you have run out of options.

I'm almost out of options.

[Casey Miles]

Quote: I found this odd,so I asked how the other cars with Sunoco Purple were checking.I was told that out of 65 cars,I was the ONLY car running that fuel.

I just bought some new fuel jugs thinking maybe I have a problem there.If that doesn't work,then the problem is with Sunoco or the testing equipment.

When you have had success with a particular brand of fuel,you really don't like changing unless you have run out of options.

I'm almost out of options.

It's funny, because I buy my Sonoco Purple from a station near a track down here, It sat in my car for nearly a year. I went to fuel check, the NHRA tech asked what was I claiming, I told him Sonoco purple. The fuel was almost clear with no color, but it passed. The fuel guy told me to add some new so that it got it's color back to purple. I have not failed a fuel check ever since I went to Sunoco. When I was at the PRI show in Orlando, Fl, I asked how long the shelf life of the fuel was, they told me that it was 2 years in a proper container.

Casey Miles
248H "F" NHRA Stock!

[Crew Chief]

Originally Posted by 442OLDS

I found this odd,so I asked how the other cars with Sunoco Purple were checking.I was told that out of 65 cars,I was the ONLY car running that fuel.

I just bought some new fuel jugs thinking maybe I have a problem there.If that doesn't work,then the problem is with Sunoco or the testing equipment.

Bingo!!!!! I think you have narrowed the problem down to Sunoco Purple since other fuels seem to be passing. If racers with jugs of older Sunoco Purple can pass and those with new drums of Sunoco Purple do not....the answer looks pretty evident.

[buzzinhalfdozen]

Originally Posted by Andys dad

My humblest appolgies to the forum members

There is nothing wrong or incorrect about the fuel check process

It does not need to be changed ever

Sorry for my intrusion


Ron

I in no way suggested you were wrong on questioning the validity of the testing procedures. I merely stated they are not accusing you of cheating if you fail fuel check. I do however stand by my statement that if you're having trouble passing with a paticular brand of fuel try another brand. I buy my fuel by the 55 gallon drum, I realize some cannot or don't care to purchase such a large quantity but I like to have some control over how it's stored and how old it actually is. I'm sorry if my comments offened you. Joe