State Inspects Gas Stations
Across Massachusetts
Checks on Pricing & Octane
Authenticity, Few violations found
READING
– Wednesday, May 21, 2008 –
With regular unleaded gas prices nearing
the $4 per gallon mark and the summer
travel season set to begin this Memorial
Day weekend, state inspectors have been
conducting statewide spot-checks of
service stations to ensure Massachusetts
consumers are getting exactly what they
pay for at the pump.
The
Division of Standards, an agency of the
Office of Consumer Affairs and Business
Regulation, inspected 69 gas stations in
31 communities for price accuracy and
octane authenticity. All samples
were found to be within acceptable limits
of the advertised and posted octane
levels. In addition to octane
testing and price checks, the Division
has received and investigated 173
consumer complaints and certified 1,351
motor fuel meters since January.
“Fortunately
for consumers, pricing and fuel-grade
violations are the exception and not the
rule in Massachusetts,” said Charles
Carroll, Deputy Director of the Division
of Standards. “Unannounced
inspections have proved to be a good
deterrent over the years. Gas
stations are playing fair with their
customers because they know the state is
watching and that there are financial
consequences for deceptive practices.”
Valero
Oil of Seekonk was issued a $375 fine for
setting its pumps’ computer price
$0.04 higher than the posted price.
Officials announced the inspection
results – and demonstrated how
octane samples are taken – today at
the Mobil gas station on Main Street in Reading.
The Division will continue to conduct
spot-checks throughout the summer travel
season.
According
to AAA, the average price of regular
unleaded gas hit a record high for the
fourteenth day in a row on
Wednesday, reaching $3.79 in Massachusettsand
$3.80 across the country. This
marks a $0.39 increase in the state’s
average gas prices and a 9% increase
nationwide since just last month. A year ago at this
time, the state’s average gas price
stood at $3.04.
The high
price of fuel may force more Massachusetts
consumers to vacation closer to home this
year. In an effort to keep
consumers informed as to how they can
save money while traveling this holiday
weekend and throughout the summer, the
Office of Consumer Affairs and the
Division of Standards today urged drivers
to follow guidelines from the Federal
Trade Commission in order to achieve
their car’s best mileage.
Drive
More Efficiently:
Gas
mileage decreases rapidly at
speeds above 60 miles per hour.
Stop
aggressive driving. Avoiding
“jackrabbit” starts and
stops around town can improve
your gas mileage by up to five
percent.
Avoid
unnecessary idling. It wastes
fuel, money and pollutes the air.
Turn off the engine if you
anticipate a lengthy wait.
Combine
errands. Several short trips
taken from a cold start can use
twice as much fuel as one trip
covering the same distance when
the engine is warm.
Carpooling
and ride sharing provides savings
for you and others.
Using
overdrive gears and cruise
control improves fuel economy on
a highway.
Remove
excess weight from the trunk. 100
pounds in the trunk can reduce a
typical car’s fuel economy
by up to two percent.
Avoid
packing items on top of your car.
A loaded roof rack creates wind
resistance and can decrease fuel
economy by five percent.
Maintain
Your Car:
Keeping
your engine tuned to the
manufacturer’s
specifications can increase gas
mileage by an average of four
percent.
Keeping
tires properly inflated and
aligned can increase gas mileage
up to three percent.
Change oil
regularly. Use the manufacturer’s
recommended grade of motor oil.
Look for oil that carries the
performance symbol of the
American Petroleum Institute.
These motor oils contain
friction-reducing additives that
can improve fuel economy.
Replacing
air filters regularly can
increase gas mileage up to ten
percent.
Use
the Octane Level You Need:
Looking
for a New Car? Consider Fuel Efficiency:
Alternative
Fuel Vehicles typically operate
on fuels such as methanol,
ethanol, compressed natural gas,
liquefied petroleum gas and
electricity as designated by the
U.S. Department of Energy. Using
alternative fuels may reduce
harmful pollutants and exhaust
emissions. Federal Trade
Commission rules require
disclosure of all alternative
fuel vehicles’ cruising
ranges and general descriptive
information. It’s important
to understand the mileage on
these vehicles’ fuel
supplies because some don’t
travel as far as gasoline-powered
vehicles.
Hybrid
Electric Vehicles offer another
option for car buyers. These
vehicles combine the benefits of
gasoline engines and electric
motors and can be configured to
achieve different objectives,
such as improved fuel economy and
increased power.
Kimberly Haberlin, Press Secretary
Office of Consumer Affairs and Business
Regulation
10 Park Plaza, Suite 5170
Boston, MA, 02116
617.973.8767
kimberly.haberlin@state.ma.us
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
All pictures and
material are
(C) copyright, Valley Patriot, Inc., 2008
|
