BETHESDA, Md. - The Shell gas station on Old Georgetown Road in Bethesda got a surprise Wednesday morning -- an inspector from the state comptroller's office checking to make sure the gas being sold there is up to par.
"I have a field test that checks octane on the spot," Jack Dickerson with the Maryland comptroller's office said as he approached one of the gas pumps for a surprise inspection. "We try to hit every station in the state of Maryland at least once a year."
There are about 2,300 gas stations in the Free State -- and about 1 to 2 percent of them fail these kinds of inspections. That means about 25 to 50 gas stations are not pumping out the grade of gasoline that they're advertising.
State Comptroller Peter Franchot says there recently was an issue with a Shell station in Jessup.
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2 comments:
very wise idea! i have noticed that at some stations (such as Shell) the gasoline smells real while at others it has an odd smell. i am not sure that is supposed to be suspicious but it makes me wonder if they are watering it down so to speak to stretch their money further.
"Watering down the gas"? Surely, you jest. Just what do you suppose gasoline can be "watered down" with? Gasoline and water will not mix for more than a few seconds before separating out. Almost any other fluid that would mix and stay in solution with gasoline would be more expensive than the gasoline itself. Maybe you should take some of that tin foil from your hat and try mixing that with the gasoline.
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