Survey of Service Station Fuel Temperatures

Because of a need to better understand the relationship of gasoline temperatures to hydrocarbon vapor growth or shrinkage that occurs during the vehicle fueling operation, the American Petroleum Institute conducted an extensive survey at selected service stations.

It was determined that temperature conditions favoring vapor shrinkage occur more frequently than conditions favoring vapor growth as indicated by the fact that vehicle residual gasoline exceeded dispensed gasoline temperature in 66% of the vehicles fueled. Most vapor growth conditions occurred during a three month fall/winter period regardless of geographic location. The study identified several factors other than ambient temperature that influenced shrinkage/growth conditions.