COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio needs to join 46 other states that test the accuracy of octane levels in regular and premium gasoline so drivers are sure they are getting the right fuel for their cars, state lawmakers said.
When you pump that 93 octane gas into your car, you have no way of knowing if it's 93, 92 or 87, said State Representative William Healy II (D), according to an Associated Press report. We need to make sure consumers are getting what they paid for.
Healy, along with five Republican lawmakers and 15 other Democrats in [image-nocss] the state House, introduced a bill Wednesday that would give county auditors the authority to test gasoline at the pumps to ensure that the octane ratings are as advertised.
Ohio, Pennsylvania, Alaska and Nevada are the only states that don't have quality testing programs, according to the Ohio Department of Agriculture.
Most gas stations offer three octane grades: regular 87 octane; midgrade 89 octane; and premium, usually 92 or 93. The ratings are often posted on bright yellow stickers on each gasoline pump. Regular octane is recommended for most cars; however, some cars with high compression engines, such as sports cars and certain luxury cars, need higher-grade gasoline to prevent engine knock, a rattling sound caused by premature ignition of the compressed fuel-air mixture in one or more cylinders, according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
Under Healy's bill, stations would be given a warning if their fuel is off by more than one octane point. Subsequent test failures would result in fines starting at $250, up to $1,000 for a fourth offense.
A spokesperson for House Speaker Jon Husted told AP it is too early to gauge support for the bill.
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