Inspectors Perform Surprise Octane Test On NJ Gas Stations

CHERRY HILL, NJ (CBS) - The NJ Office of Weights and Measures has been conducting surprise inspections at Gas stations throughout the state.

Two inspectors from Weights and Measures dropped in on a Lukoil station on Rt. 38 in Cherry Hill Friday morning and headed straight for the pump.

"What I'm doing now is I'm going to sample the gasoline coming out into our Zeltec sample holder and it's going to tell us whether it's 93 octane or not."

The gasoline sample checked out okay. Acting state supervisor of Weights and Measures, Robert Campanelli, says his office has inspected more than 200 stations throughout New Jersey over the past two weeks.

"So far we haven't had one confirmed instance of octane tampering. However, we do have 36 samples that are in the lab currently and we're waiting the results."

Nevertheless, Campanelli urges motorists to be vigilant.

"If your car starts to ping, if your car starts to stall, that could be either because of the change in the octane or because there's water in the pumps."

Violators face hefty fines and can have their gas stations shut down until they're back in compliance.

Reported by Paul Kurtz, KYW Newsradio 1060