§2822 Automotive Fuel Rating Testing and Disclosure Requirements

Summary

Refiners must test each batch of automotive fuel to find its fuel rating (the number that shows how well it resists engine knocking). If a refiner sells fuel to someone other than the final buyer, the refiner must certify that fuel rating. Distributors who get fuel with a certified rating must pass that certified rating on when they resell, unless they choose to test and certify their own rating under rules the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) sets. Retailers must show the fuel rating clearly where customers buy fuel. They must use the certified rating they received, or their own rating if they choose to determine it under FTC rules. If a retailer is also a refiner, they use the refiner’s test. The FTC will set rules for how vehicle makers must show a car’s required fuel rating on the vehicle or in sales materials. Anyone who talks about a fuel’s anti-knock qualities must also give the fuel rating that was certified or determined. For blends of fuels, the rating shown must be the volume-weighted average of the parts. For non-blended fuel, the rating shown must match the certified or determined rating. These rules do not apply to other fuel traits or to brand names. Showing a vehicle’s required fuel rating does not create a legal promise that any fuel with that rating will prevent knocking in every vehicle or in all driving conditions.