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THE RACERS EDGE

PROPER STORAGE AND HANDLING OF RACING FUELS

Premium quality racing fuels are precisely blended and carefully protected during transport and storage. Improper storage and handling techniques can result in deterioration of fuel properties which are essential for optimal performance. Stale racing fuels can be worse that not using racing fuel. Some general rules to retain fuel quality are:

Always purchase fuel in satisfactory condition—
Beware of fuel from underground storage tanks. The quality of fuel from underground tanks is always unknown and usually poor. The presence of tank water bottoms, remnants of stale fuel batches and corrosion all contribute to inferior fuel quality. Buy fresh uncut fuel in sealed steel containers.

Never store fuel in plastic containers—
Light fuel fractions, which evaporate easily, can migrate right through polymer surfaces and UV-light will cause an octane loss in leaded race fuels. Small plastic containers should only be used on a very short term basis (up to a few hours).

Proper fuel storage demands a completely full, tightly sealed steel container with a minimum air space to avoid evaporation losses. However, some expansion air space is necessary for temperature expansion. If air space in a storage container exceeds 25%, the fuel should be transferred to a smaller container where the air space is minimized. Always tightly seal any caps, spouts or spigots to prevent leakage and deterioration.

Long term storage requires weather protection—
(Outside Storage) Never store drums where they are exposed to weather changes. Ambient heat causes the fuel to expand and increase vapor pressure significantly, pushing evaporated light fractions past the seals. Cooling causes the contents to shrink creating a strong vacuum. The vacuum pulls collected moisture into the drums.

(Inside Storage) Drums can be stored in an upright position in a cool, well ventilated area, free of open flame (gas, heaters and furnaces), sparks (electric motors) and static electricity.

Fuel should be kept cool and out of direct sunlight—
If you are at a track with no shade, use a box or cover the sealed can with a damp towel. This helps insulate the fuel from heat and make it easier to handle. Most importantly, it helps retain the high performance properties of the racing fuels.

Open containers with extreme care—
Fuel agitation and high ambient air temperature contribute to elevate vapor pressures within the container. A warm container of fuel may be pressurized to more that 7-PSI. This translates into roughly 28-lbs trying to push the cap off! Don’t open a warm fuel can! Cool the can before opening. When opening, loosen the cap very slowly until the hissing noise is heard. Wait for the hissing to stop before continuing.

Pour fuel properly—
When transferring fuel to your race tank or other containers, do not overfill. Overfilling turns vent holes into fuel leaks. Spillage onto headers, ignition or other components can be a major fire hazard, which may not be realized until you are on the track.

Avoid pouring fuel into containers of uncertain history—
Do not penalize yourself by allowing race fuel to become contaminated. For pre-mix applications, use a separate container. Never return pre-mixed or drained fuel to the original container. Use drained fuel for early practice sessions or for yard equipment. Always race with fresh fuel.

Treat race fuel with care and respect—
Like any gasoline, it’s flammable and potentially dangerous. Material Safety Date Sheets are available upon request from your fuel supplier.

Courtesy: Precision Automotive Research, Bensenville, Illinois. Phone: 630-766-4402.

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