TRAINING FOR THE
WEIGHTS AND MEASURES OFFICIAL
COURSE CURRICULUM
MODULE 1
Introduction
MODULE 2
Laws & Regulations
MODULE 3
Enforcement Procedures
MODULE 4
Legal Action
MODULE 5
Legal Metrology
MODULE 6
Field Standards & Test Equipment
MODULE 7
Basic Weighing / Measuring Principles
TRAINING FOR THE
WEIGHTS AND MEASURES OFFICIAL
COURSE CURRICULUM
MODULE 8
Device Type Evaluation
MODULE 9
Weighing Devices
MODULE 10
Measuring Devices
MODULE 11
Weighmaster Enforcement
MODULE 12
Petroleum and Automotive Products
MODULE 13
Quantity Control
MODULE 14
Service Agencies and Agents
TRAINING FOR THE
WEIGHTS AND MEASURES OFFICIAL
Module Twelve
“PETROLEUM & AUTOMOTIVE
PRODUCTS”
Twelfth in a series of 14
General Overview
This module will:

Introduce you to the manufacturing, distribution and
sales of petroleum and automotive products

Familiarize you with your responsibilities relating to:
– Petroleum and automotive products
advertising and labeling laws
– Inspections of locations
– Sampling of petroleum and automotive products
– Complaint investigation
– End product testing
Module Objectives
Familiarize you with applicable governing laws
and regulations
Review basic labeling requirements
Learn different types and requirements of
advertising signs
Explain basic overview of conducting inspections
and sampling products
Explain how to investigate a complaint and the
basic overview of end product testing
History
California Oil Substitution Act
On June 5, 1931, a new
law was passed by the
Legislature
“An act to prevent fraud or misrepresentation in the
distribution and sale of gasoline or other motor fuel,
distillate, kerosene and lubricating oil; regulating the
distribution and sale of such products and the use of
brands and trademarks in connection therewith; providing
for the licensing of persons, firms, associations or
corporations, installing and using motor vehicle fuel
pumps; regulating signs, placards, posters, streamers,
cards and other advertising media advertising gasoline or
other motor vehicle fuel or the price thereof; defining the
powers and duties in relation thereto of the Division of
Weights and Measures of the Department of Agriculture,
and persons authorized by it, sealers of weights and
measures, and their deputies and other officers; defining
‘gasoline’ and prescribing specifications for products sold
or offered for sale as ‘gasoline’; prescribing penalties for
the violation of provisions hereof; and repealing acts and
parts of acts inconsistent herewith.”
Advertising Laws
All motor fuel advertising (price) signs must
include:

Total price per gallon, including taxes

Trademark or brand name

Word “gasoline” or name of product

Grade designation
Advertising Laws
It is unlawful to display an advertising medium that
advertises a discount or reduction in price unless it
contains the following:
Price per gallon or liter from which the discount is to
be taken
Amount of the discount in cents per gallon or liter
Conditions of the discount
Advertising Laws
Minimum size of price numerals is 6 inches in height
Brand not less than
1/3 of price
Product not less than 1/3 of price
but no more than 4 inches
Grade not less than 1/6 of price
but no more than 4 inches
Advertising Laws
When the lower price is
advertised, the higher price
and condition of sale must
also be advertised
Advertisement of products
(milk, cigarettes) and services
(tune-up, carwash) is allowed
on price signs, but the price
may not be advertised
Advertising Laws
Motor oil advertising signs, which advertise a price,
must clearly identify:
Grade
Brand
Product
Labeling Laws & Regulations
Purpose
Ensure that the information provided on the
container sufficiently informs the consumer
Regulate labels that are required on prepackaged
products, bulk containers and dispensers
Labeling - Prepackaged Products
Motor Oil
Two-Cycle Engine
Gear Oil
Engine Coolant
Prediluted/Recycled
Engine Coolant
Automatic Transmission Fluid
Brake Fluid
Labeling - Prepackaged Products
Motor Oil or Gear Oil
Conspicuously marked on label with proper Society of
Automotive Engineers (SAE) and American Petroleum
Institute (API) service classifications
Two Types of Registered Marks
Other prepackaged products require their own labeling
Labeling – Bulk Products
Spark-Ignition Engine Fuel
Outboard Motor Fuel
Oils
Hand Measures
Storage Tanks
Petroleum Products without Brand
Labeling – Bulk Products
Storage Tanks
Clearly marked with:



Product name
Brand name, or trademark
or trade name
Grade
Other bulk products require their own labeling
Inspections
Service Stations
 Obtain business and owner’s name
 Check price advertising signs
 Check additional required signs
 Check dispensers
 Check fuel storage labeling
 Observe any opened/filled
containers
 Any suspicions, take a sample
Inspections
Retail or Wholesale Locations
 Obtain business and
owner’s name
 Check for packaged and
bulk products
 Any suspicions, take a
sample
Sampling Procedures

Use extreme care and good judgment

Follow all safety precautions

Use a clean and dry container

Use appropriate size of container

Keep container closed

Fill container 80 – 85%

Screw caps down tightly, check for leakage
Sampling Procedures

Complete Sample Tag and seal containers

Submit only samples taken by
authorized personnel

Do not take samples from private
storage, vehicle tanks, etc.

Submit to lab within 2 days
Sampling Procedures
Field Screening Test
Zeltec Octane Analyzer
Laboratory Equipment
Octane Engines
Two test methods developed in 1930’s
- Research Method
- Motor Method
Laboratory Equipment
Automatic Distillation
Apparatus
Automatic Kinematic
Viscometer
Automatic Flash
Point Tester
Automatic Cold Cranking
Simulator
Laboratory Equipment
Brookfield Viscosity Cold
Temperature Air Bath
Digital Brookfield Viscometer
Freeze Point Test
Apparatus
Complaint Investigations
Consumer Complaint
Get location of suspect station, etc.
Get basic information (who, what, where, when, and how)
Ask for complainant’s information
Record date and time of call
Assign a complaint number
Investigating the Complaint

Handle open or undercover?

Equipped with everything?

Be thorough and take complete notes

Record method of inspection and findings

Contact complainant of results
End Product Testing
The Sampling Of A Product At Its Point Of Sale
Be prepared to observe and take notes quickly and
accurately when conducting an undercover purchase
Concealed tank mounted in Division of Measurement
Standards vehicle used in undercover purchases
Summary
What labeling information is required
What information is required on price advertising signs
How to conduct an inspection at a location
How to take samples of petroleum and automotive
products
How to investigate a complaint and define end product
testing
Conclusion
This training module has provided you
with a better understanding of the
Petroleum Products Program and its
purpose in the marketplace.
TRAINING FOR THE
WEIGHTS AND MEASURES OFFICIAL
This Concludes Module 12
“PETROLEUM & AUTOMOTIVE
PRODUCTS”