TRENDS IN MOTOR GASOLINES: 1942-1981

Trends in motor gasolines for the years of 1942 through 1981 have been evaluated based upon data contained in surveys that have been prepared and published by the Bartlesville Energy Technology Center (BETC). These surveys have been published twice annually since 1935 describing the properties of motor gasolines from throughout the country. The surveys have been conducted in cooperation with the American Petroleum Institute (API) since 1948. Various companies from throughout the country obtain samples from retail outlets, analyze the samples by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) procedures, and report data to the Bartlesville center for compilation, tabulation, calculation, analysis and publication. A typical motor gasoline report covers 2400 samples from service stations throughout the country representing some 48 companies that manufacture and supply gasoline. The reports include trend charts, octane plots, and tables of test results from about a dozen different tests. From these data in 77 semiannual surveys, a summary report has thus been assembled that shows trends in motor gasolines throughout the entire era of winter 1942-1943 to the present. Trends of physical properties including octane numbers, antiknock ratings, distillation temperatures, Reid vapor pressure, sulfur and lead content are tabulated, plotted and discussed in the current report. Also included are trend effects of technological advances and the interactions of engine design, societal and political events and prices upon motor gasoline evolution during the 40 year period.

• Corporate Authors:

  Department of Energy

  Bartlesville Energy Research Center
  Bartlesville, OK  United States  74003
• Authors:
  • Shelton, E M
  • Whisman, M L
  • Woodward, P W
• Publication Date: 1982-6

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 27 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Gasoline; Lead (Metal); Octane number; Physical properties; Politics; Prices; Samples; Service stations; Sulfur; Tables (Data); Technology; Trend (Statistics)
• Uncontrolled Terms: Data
• Old TRIS Terms: Octane rating; Test results
• Subject Areas: Highways; Vehicles and Equipment; I96: Vehicle Operating Costs;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00369612
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: DOE/BETC/RI-82/4, HS-033 436
• Files: HSL, TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Jan 31 1983 12:00AM